VOLUME 80 - ISSUE 6

DeiDrick Johnson THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

The Association for Women Students, or A.W.S., erected a petition for the university to implement more light at the back of campus for the safety of the students.

Zion Ross, the A.W.S chief of staff, and Oliva Humphrey, the A.W.S president, both agreed that to resolve this issue on campus, Southern University should add more lighting on campus to brighten up student walkways at night.

A.W.S wanted to enforce this concern due to the new arriving darkness from Daylight Savings, as it starts to get darker between 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. This means that students that enroll in night classes that run from 5 – until, have to walk back in pitch, black darkness from class.

In order to get the ball rolling on this project, A.W.S. has started a petition that students can sign to help with trying to add more lighting to campus. Their goal for the petition is 200 signatures and currently has 100 signatures.

If you wish to sign, members of A.W.S. are at Mayberry Dining Hall Mondays and Fridays, as well as Wednesdays at the

Smith-Brown Memorial Union working diligently to get signatures for their petition.

The petition has been out for little more than a week now, and the club hopes this petition can be the thing to open S.U.’s eyes to implement better lighting.

What It Takes to Be SGA: S.U. SGA Members Give Insight

The season for student elections is one of the most exciting seasons of the spring semester as eager and dutiful students send in their applications and get their campaigns in order, but the process can be overwhelming.

Humphrey states, “Me being the president of AWS, I want me and my staff to all leave on a note that will forever be left as our legacy.” She then goes on to comment, “I will do anything in my

See SHINING page 3

Shining Light on the Matter: A.W.S Petition For More Lights at Residential Apartments Feeling the Heat: Uncovering Southern University System Deferred Maintenance

The Student Government Association is the organization that controls most decisions made for the student body. The elected officials the student body votes for act as a voice for the people.

But, what does it take to get into this organization?

Olivia Humphrey, a junior majoring in mass communications from

See SGA page 3

Karen L. Rogers-Blazio knows the Louisiana heat all too well — she felt nauseated, dizzy and weak in Higgins Hall this past February.

Since her 2019 start as an administrative assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice, she filed a series of maintenance requests all tied to heat in the building. In a form from January 31, she stated that there was no air on the fourth floor, according to documents obtained by The Southern Digest.

The heat issues in Higgins Hall are part of a series of infrastructure issues at the university. According to Kenneth Dawson, Director of Facilities Planning, the university has more than $120M in deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance is maintenance work that is postponed due to limitations in available resources, such as time, staffing or funds.

“The definition of deferred maintenance states that the practice is used to postpone maintenance due to funding levels. As you indicated last year’s stated need is over $120,000,000,”

confirmed Dawson in an email to The Southern Digest.

After filing the request on Jan. 31, Blazio had a medical emergency which ended with a visit to a hospital on Feb. 9th. “February 9 between about 12:00 and 12:15 I was feeling really bad. I informed my supervisor that I needed to leave. They let me leave, and my husband picked me up and saw how I was feeling. He said, ‘No

we’re not going home, but going to the emergency room’.”

At the emergency room, she complained of multiple symptoms, leading to her receiving fluids and other medications. “Upon arriving at the emergency room at 1 or 2 pm, I complained about how my office was full of heat and stuff like that. I was feeling nauseated, dizzy, and weak. When I got there, my pressure was

high. They gave me fluids. They gave me something for nausea, and I think it was like nighttime when I left.”

Blazio utilized the following day and the weekend to rest and returned to work the following Monday. She has continued to submit requests for the system to be fixed, but there has been no change.

Dr. Albert Samuels, Chair of the Department of Political Science and History gave insight into the deferred maintenance concerns for Higher Education. He also verified that the State of Louisiana is responsible for supporting the school’s infrastructure.

“The University will state, this is in some ways an infrastructure issue actually related to aging infrastructure, so, their defense will be efficient. What they’re doing is putting out fires. That it is actually the fact that the infrastructure itself is old. State Louisiana is responsible for that,” Dr. Samuels clarified.

The Board of Regents Division of Finance and Administration reviews the annual budget for the operating needs of public institutions before

Scene from the campus apartments at night. Lack of light in the back of the campus outside of the Universities apartments is an ongoing safety/maintanence issue.

(Taylor Haywood/ DIGEST)

sarah Griffths anD Brittany J. Patterson THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

sanDi huGGins THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Students leaving class from Higgins Hall. (Brittany J. Patterson/ DIGEST)

Director

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

SUITE 1064 T.H. HARRIS HALL

POST OFFICE BOX 10180

BATON ROUGE, LA 70813

PHONE: 225.771.2231

FAX: 225.771.5840

ONLINE @ www.southerndigest.com

STUDENT MEDIA OFFICE

Jermaine Proshee

Publications Mgr. Devin Hadrick

CONTACTS (area code 225) Student Media Newsroom

Director’s Office

Staff Writers

DeBrandin Brown

Deidrick Johnson

Nodea Sewell

Taniya Nichols

Laila Hazel

Alexis Easton

Savannah Williams

Kailen Bourne

Sandy Huggins

Thomas Walker, III

Kynnedi S. Jackson

Christopher Toler, Jr.

Aaliyah Bennett

Ashiriah Williams

Jalyn Jacobs

Vincent Pardo

Sydney Cuillier

Jaidyn Nix

Kara Porter

Sarah Griffiths

Taniyah Nichols

Isaiah Clay

Jasmine Meriedy

Staff Photographers

Terren Thomas

Ramon Johnson

Corey Quinn

Justin Moore

Christian Phillips

Stefan Davis

Terae Collins

Amaya Rosser

Taylor Haywood

Jakayvion Ashley

Clementine Rice

J’Me Bryant

SUBMISSIONS POLICY

The Southern DIGEST welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the SU family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. This newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorials, commentaries, ans speakouts. The Southern DIGEST reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. Authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. Letters should not include libelous statements. Offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. The DIGEST will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. All contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Southern University students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific DIGEST articles, please include the date and title. All materials should be directed to the editor in chief of The Southern DIGEST, P.O. Box 10180, Baton Rouge, La. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the DIGEST office located in Suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mailed to digest@subr.edu.

PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS

The Southern DIGEST is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), College Media Advisers Association (CMA), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).

The Office of Student Media is a department in the Division of Student Affairs.

Queer and Proud: Two LGBTQ+ Students Share Their Experiences

Vincent ParDo THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Last year during Res-Life Week, the Residential Life Department hosted a “Foam Party” event that welcomed all students, but that was found to not be the case. At some point in the night, a heated verbal exchange occurred between a group of students and an officer of S.U.P.D.

One student from the exchange was sophomore Drissen Scott, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native. Unfortunately, that was not Scott’s first time dealing with an uncomfortable event transpiring on campus. While eating dinner in the Dunn Dining Hall, a student in close proximity to Scott was asked if she found women to be attractive, “or would she date one?” The young woman answered, “No, I’m not going to Hell with y’all”, while shifting her attention to Scott.

Scott identifies as a “proud” gay Black man, and he found these remarks offensive. Scott said that in the moment, “I felt bad because it caught me off guard.” He would go on to elaborate, “I felt bad knowing people felt that way about me.” As a result of this incident, Scott admitted, “It made me kinda insecure.”

Luckily he was still able to find his peace, and continue growing.

Scott is not the only student, and member of the LGBTQ community, who has experienced backlash while on campus.

Junior Christian Tillery-Burton, originally from Greensburg, Louisiana, has also had his fair share of disheartening altercations.

For Tillery-Burton, also a “proud” gay black man, his first quarrel came on move-in day for the 2019 fall semester. On that morning, the entire campus

Jackson, Mississippi, currently serves as the Association for Women Students President and gracefully elaborated on the question aforementioned with her experience and thoughts.

“To become a part of the Student Government Association you must first file for your desired position, take the SGA test, and pass the test with at least 80% accuracy. The test is composed of different questions from the SGA Constitution and Election Code. Once you pass the test, that candidate is able to campaign for one week, and at the end of the week, the student body votes on who they think the best candidate for the position is.”

Humphrey was inducted into SGA in April of last spring semester, but her duties started over the summer in which she was in charge of assuring that Southern University’s women students’ needs were heard and the appropriate actions were made. She enjoyed her adventure as president and doesn’t have much to complain about.

“A few pros of SGA are meeting new people, connecting with the faculty, going to new places, and supporting and uplifting the student body. I have had a great experience. Although I can say that I would hope in the future that the administration would listen and cater to the student body’s needs, instead of doing what they feel like the students want.”

was flooded with members from various school organizations. All of these students shared the one common goal of helping freshmen move in; all but one. Noticing that Tillery-Burton was alone, one member of a group gestured for his counterpart to start helping out. After the counterpart realized he would be assisting Tillery-Burton, he responded an in uproar stating, “I’m not helping no faggot.”

When questioned on how he currently feels about the traumatic memory of move-in day, he stated, “I can’t say I got over it. I healed from it and I moved on.”

This answer is in alignment with Scott’s answer regarding his situation in the cafeteria. Scott explained, “My thoughts now is that’s her belief and that’s ok. I can’t change her heart, or her perception of me, or who I am, and that’s ok.”

He explained that after moving in, he did not want to leave his room. It would take his loyal friend group, and loving parents to help him get back on track. Tillery-Burton also attributes his new-

Humphrey indulges.

Another prominent member of SGA is Kennedy Orr, the current sophomore class president from Chicago, Illinois majoring in agricultural business. Orr dissects her involvement in her role and what it took for her to get there. She mentions the filing process and the test that Humphrey stated previously, but she also tells of the affairs after you pass the test, including a mandatory campaign workshop and election week.

“ We then attend a mandatory campaign shop to learn the guidelines and rules for election week. After that, we have a week to finish last-minute preparations for campaign week and submit all campaign materials to the Elections Committee for approval. Finally, the highly anticipated election week comes. That is the true test of a student leader…to survive election week and come out on top. It takes more than popularity and campaign promises to be in SGA.”

Just like Humphrey, Kennedy Orr loved her time in SGA by making new connections, helping out the student body, and learning much more about herself.

“ It was a rewarding experience. I met so many students, especially people from my hometown Chicago, Illinois, which was the theme of my campaign…the new ideas I brought to life that haven’t been seen on campus but most importantly the connections I’ve made within the student

found confidence, and comfort, to key positive interactions he’s had with other faculty members.

Tillery-Burton shared one conversation he had with former Southern University Professor, Dr. Lee. In response to Dr. Lee asking what his sexual orientation was,Tillery Burton became fearful that he would be judged again. After learning that Dr. Lee was actually an ally of the LGBTQ community, Tillery-Burton was “happy that she asked.” As a result of this, and other positive moments with staff, Tillery-Burton was able to be his authentic self.

Scott also knows that brighter days are on the horizon. SUniversity.U.’s chief of police, Jocelyn Johnson, has partnered with Scott in planning an event sometime in April of 2023. The event is intended to improve community relations between the Southern University Police Department and Southern’s student body. It will also be a celebration of Southern’s LGBTQ students, so stay tuned for more details!

SHINING from page 1

power to see this happen before I leave…whether that be going to a power higher than student affairs, or just getting more signatures so Southern can see how serious of a problem this is.” A.W.S.’s plans for the future are to keep speaking up for the concerns of students on campus, especially female students.

If you are interested in joining A.W.S. or have any concerns you wish to voice to A.W.S., students can speak to them in person during school events or in Mayberry on Mondays and Fridays between the times of 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. You can also reach out to A.W.S. via Instagram @subr_aws.

their budgets are proposed.

“The Board of Regents takes the request for funding and after the Legislative Session funds are distributed to the Universities. Last session the Southern University System received $7,000,000 for deferred maintenance,” confirmed Dawson in an email to The Southern Digest.

He continued, “Recently because of possible funding for the Federal Government President Shields asked for a cost that would solve maintenance issues for 20 to 30 years. That number just for the Baton Rouge Campus exceeded $300,000,000.”

body.”

The memories, bonds, and connections made in any position you hold come with words of wisdom to share with others who want to do the same. Humphrey and Orr give their insights to anyone wanting to join.

Orr continues, “These positions, both elected and appointed, take dedication, sacrifice, selflessness, and thick skin. You have to be prepared for public success and failure…Most importantly, be ready for the criticism and take it with understanding and a willingness to learn.”

She continues, “ We are always told at the beginning of every term that we give up our experience to ensure the student bodies’ experiences are better. It is not easy, but then again nothing in life is. These types of experiences build on to our personal and professional development.”

Orr also encourages more students from all backgrounds to join SGA regardless of their popularity status as S.G.A. is not only something well-known students join.

“To anyone who is thinking of running for an elected or appointed position in SGA, I say go for it. You never know what it could be unless you try! And, it’s okay if you don’t succeed the first time because setbacks are just setups for a major comeback,” Humphrey urges.

In the Board of Regents facilities policy, minimum construction standards for institutions says, “Facilities constructed and/or renovated for use by post‐secondary education shall be of such quality that they can adequately perform the intended service, can be maintained and operated at a reasonable cost, will be safe for occupants, and conducive to the learning process.”

Southern University’s Rodney G. Higgins Hall is home to the Nelson Mandela Government and Social Services departments of Sociology, History, Criminal Justice, and Social Work.

Southern University and A&M College is the biggest HBCU in the state of Louisiana with five campuses. The Southern University System has $120,811,025 in deferred maintenance.

The next meeting will be held on March 22 and can be watched live on their youtube channel “Louisiana Board of Regents”.

HIGGINS from page 1

SGA from page 1

Courtesy: Community Care

Southern Jaguar Spring football has arrived! Greatest Sports Franchise of All-Time

thomas Walker, iii THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Jag Nation, the time has come to celebrate. All eyes were glued to the ESPN App and ESPN+ for the pertinent SWAC Championship Game. This was going to be the perfect opportunity for Lady Jags to get revenge on the Lady Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas PineBluff. The last time these two teams faced, the Lady Golden Lions won 53-70. However, a championship is on the line, a ticket to March Madness is up for grabs, and somebody has to fill in and represent the SWAC. Redemption was on the Lady Jags’ mind as they took the court, but would they fulfill it?

After upsetting a SWAC favorite, Jackson State, on a game-winning shot by sophomore guard Aaliyah Fontenot, the jags advanced and ended the night on a high note. The whole game was competitive, and it came down to a crucial fourthquarter battle with a score of 41-38 with the Lady Jags on the losing end. The Jags didn’t shoot the ball extremely well, shooting only 37.5% for the entire game. However, that does not tell the story of the

fourth. The Lady Jags caught fire immediately, making 8 of 11 shots in the fourth quarter, which included three threepointers.

On the other hand, the Lady Jags’ defense undeniably kept them within striking distance. The famous line, “Defense wins Championships,” came to play

as the Lady Jags held the Lady Golden Lions to 12 points. A key factor coming into the game was stopping the Lady Golden Lions’ success in the paint. Furthermore, the Lady Golden Lions’ two elite centers, junior Maya Peat and junior Maori Davenport, were held to a combined two points in the fourth quarter.

Lady Jags: A Dream Deferred:

A dream deferred is a tale the Southern University’s women’s basketball program should be familiar with. It perfectly describes the obstacles the Lady Jags had to endure all season to finally prove to the world that they deserved to play the Sacred Heart University Lady Pioneers for the 16th seed of the NCAA tournament. Even though they failed to continue in the tournament, this game not only showed the world who the Lady Jags were but that SWAC schools were able to keep up with the level of play Big 10, SEC, and the other PWI conferences exhibit.

The game started with the Lady Jags stunning the Lady Pioneers with the way they commanded the court. #44 Sr. Forward Raven White was able to take charge of the paint and consistently put in goals to bring the Jags to a 10-point lead. White’s dominance, mixed with the fast-paced offense Head Coach Funchess undoubtedly stressed during practice, was able to put the Lady Jags in contingency to move on to the next bracket. However, not all underdog stories go according to plan. The biggest factor in the Jags’ quest for success was a 5 ‘3 freshman, who once found

her confidence, was unstoppable the rest of the night. First-Year guard Ny Ceara Pryor got her first layup; it was seemingly over for the Lady Jags. The score at halftime stood at 33-20 with the Lady Jags down. Not to mention simple mistakes throughout the entire game are the reason why the Lady Pioneers consistently outscored and put up almost a 20-point lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

To start it off, the Lady Jaguars were consistently out of position. Due to the Lady Pioneers having an advantage in size and speed, they were able to see this disconnect and force turnover after turnover. Each turnover for the Lady Jags resulted in a field goal for the Lady Pioneers. In addition, the guards were not taking care of the ball enough to set up plays for their bigs like White. They did not utilize her enough in the later quarters of the game, only setting up plays for their guards to take charge of the shooting attempts. Only for this to be combated by Pryor and senior Guard Olivia Tucker, both offensively and defensively. Then in the 4th quarter, the momentum of the Lady Jaguars started up again mainly due to #25 Sr. Guard Genovea Johnson but it was just too late of a surge. By then, the Lady Jags only had less than 2 min on the clock to close

With the combination of offense and defense, the Lady Jags outscored the Lady Golden Lions 24-12. This led to the Lady Jags bringing a championship back home to the bluff for the first time since 2019, as they would win 62-53. The Lady Jags,

See SPRING page 5

the now 13 pt and closing lead. If this newfound drive would start coming out of halftime, then probably would have all been changing our makeshift brackets for the tournament. All in all, the game came to an end, with the Sacred Heart Lady Pioneers obtaining the 16th seed with the final score of 57-47.

Carlos Funchess shared his thoughts on the game, “We took some quick shots. Some of them were questionable shots. Some of them we could have made, but we didn’t. Once they got the ball, it was like a snowball going downhill.” Furthermore, senior guard Genovea Johnson offered her words, “We got out of character late in the first quarter. They forced a lot of turnovers as a team. We didn’t move the ball as well as we usually do.”

This NCAA appearance marks the 6th in program history and 2nd under Funchess since 2019. With hopes to make a noise in the 2023-2024 season by returning to the SWAC as the reigning champions, the Lady Jaguars will undoubtedly be in a rebuilding year with 7 of their players currently in their senior year. With the season’s chapter now on its last sentence, this will not be the last time we see or hear from the Lady Jags; Simply, just a dream deferred.

Sports have an overwhelming impact; on the hearts of many who are into them. Sports, since the beginning, has consisted of comradery among those involved in the process of an ultimate goal. When sports evolved to being marketable, cities created sports franchises revolving around drafting individuals from all across America. After a while, international players from different countries started making their marks in the game. With that addition, sports became a global phenomenon that captured the hearts of millions. Their dedication, ability, and knowledge, amongst other qualities, made players global icons; that made them recognizable to almost every imaginable eye.

With great organizations, from top to bottom, people working around the facilities can help create a winning franchise that would make them seem superior to others. Coming with that is the collection of championships, players, coaches, general staff, and owners. Altogether, these men and women with decorated awards, make an all-time great franchise. One team that exhibits the best is the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees became a franchise in 1903, originally founded in Baltimore. They are now located in The Bronx, New York, where they play at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have the most championships in U.S. professional sports ever with a total of 27. The Yankees won their first title in 1923 and last in 2009. The next closest team in sports is the Montreal Canadiens, which is a hockey franchise, with 23 Stanley Cups. Next in line would be the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, with 17 championships a piece. The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers both have 6 Super Bowls.

Other than the number of championships, the Yankees had a great collection of Hall of Fame players who certified their placement in baseball history. Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter, Aaron Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, and Aaron Judge are some of the best players to play the game. This led to them having great

syDney cuillier THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

DIGEST Graphic

Jaguars Spring Practice Underway

Ending last season with a 7-5 record that led them to the SWAC Championship, the Southern Jaguars began their Spring practice on March 8th, and are gearing up early for the 2023 football season.

With 15 practices in total that lead up to the annual Spring Game, the Jags are currently one week in and are already making changes within the team and working on improvements.

“I’m looking for execution on a high level,” Dooley states when he speaks on what he wants to work on within the team. The Jaguars were able to advance to the SWAC Championship after a win against Grambling State University in the 49th Annual Bayou Classic this past November. With this win, they faced off against Jackson State University where they, unfortunately, succumbed to the Tigers.

Between the SWAC Championship, and Winter break, the Jaguars were still ready to take on Spring Ball head-on. “We hit the ground running,” Dooley says speaking on the team taking a 3-month break. When the semester began on January 17th, it was also he Jaguars football team’s first day of winter conditioning. “I believe in out of sight out of mind” he continues. “Soon as we got back, not only was academics important, but the physical aspect was important as well.”

We were able to catch up with senior defensive back, Jordan Carter and ask his thoughts on Spring Ball so far. “It was good, just to get back out there with the guys. We’re definitely getting ready for the Spring game and taking it one day at a time.”

Carter, a safety transfer from Bowie State University, will be starting his second season with the Jaguars this year. To him, the offseason in general is “definitely needed.” Carter explains “You get that time to workout and get your body back right.”

The Jaguars will be having their first scrimmage Saturday, March 18th. When asked whether it be progress or better execution that he is looking for, Dooley chuckles and says “I’m looking for both. I’m gonna always be greedy.” He

continues to say “I want to see how we respond to certain situations and then I want to see the conditioning aspect.”

This will be Dooley’s second season as head coach here at Southern and with this past season under his belt, he can say he knows his team but also is looking for certain improvements.

“How many plays can we get without being winded?” he questions. “We’re a fast break team, so both sides of the ball got to be able to move.”

This year’s team will be fairly new as Dooley has recruited numerous new players. On National Signing Day, the

Grow up it’s a new day

The true backbone of all athletes is women. From the mothers of players shouting for their babies to take the shot. How about the mothers on the court or field working endlessly day in and day out? Women in the major league work just as hard as men but aren’t receiving the recognition they deserve.

These women do a lot more work to get noticed and gain promotion deals, but because they don’t have as big of a viewing as their male counterparts, they aren’t recognized as much. But some women in the league are also mothers, and some continue playing until they

can’t, putting their bodies through tremendous changes because of their conditioning to stay fit because they must provide for their families. Take the WNBA vs. the NBA discussion that is always mentioned; there is a clear difference in the basketball league. From recent interviews with women’s athletics, numerous women’s basketball players have said that they get paid better. In addition, they probably are getting paid their worth overseas rather than getting the same treatment in the states because they are playing the same game as their male counterparts. However, since they are females, they aren’t getting the attention they deserve. Whereas the men in the league get a lot

Jaguars signed 19 new players to their roster, not including walk-on players. This included eleven on the offensive side and eight on the defensive side. There will be one more scrimmage that will be announced before the Spring Game. The Spring Game will be held on April 1st. The game is open to the public, anyone can come and watch the Jags’ offense and defense face off against one another to showcase their team’s progress.

GREATEST from page 4

success as a unit each year as they have the best win-loss percentage in Major League Baseball history with (.570). Nevertheless, they are also one of the most profitable franchises in the world. According to the Forbes list, The World’s 50 Most Valuable Sports Teams 2022, the New York Yankees ranked #4 with $6 billion. The team was purchased at $8.8 million, in 1973, by the Steinbrenner family. I must give credit to them for a smart investment. These attributes alone make the Yankees one of the most, if not the most, transcending franchises. The greatness that surrounds them goes without question.

SPRING from page 4

the SWAC champs, now await their seeding for the March Madness Women’s Tournament.

of press deals and merchandise because the NBA has more views, and people are more interested in watching a man use his handling skills and dunking when there are women in the league; with much better skills. I have seen where women and young girls are overlooked and are putting up higher rankings than men’s sports.

In high school, my senior year the girls’ basketball team was putting up numbers against their opponents and even went to regionals, but their games were never as packed as the boy’s games until the girls were trying to go to state. All this to say, every woman in sports; should receive the same treatment as their male counterparts.

Southern’s Women’s Basketball Coach, Carlos Funchess, is excited and confident in his team. As he was interviewed, he elaborated on the game by saying, “The Young Ladies stepped up. They did what they do. They kept taking good shots, and I knew eventually some of them would fall. We got hot at the right time.” Southern will be going to the NCAA tournament for the 6th time in school history and the second for Carlos Funchess. However, the downside is that Southern will be part of a pickup game to undeniably face the number-one seed of their section of the bracket, which typically leads to an early exit. Coach Funchess spoke, “We know we’re going to have a tough matchup, but we’re going to go out and represent Southern University as well as we can.” The Lady Jags’ will remember this season forever, and the school will be represented on a national stage. Senior forward Genovea Johnson led the team in scoring, with 18 points on 8 of 18 shooting. In addition, this was followed by senior guard Amani McWain, with 12 of 15 points being scored in the second half.

After Selection Sunday, The Lady Jags will face Sacred Heart University Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California. These two teams will compete to represent the #16 seed before facing the numberone-seeded University of Stanford. Make sure to support the Lady Jags on their journey.

Jasmine merieDy THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Sports Opinion

PHOTOS

A student enjoying a refreshing facial during the Clear Mind, Clear Soul NAACP week event. (Karah Rainwater/ DIGEST)

Terrance Turnage being crowned Mister NAACP, at the very first NAACP Pageant held in the Event Center on March 15. (Kynedi Nichos/ DIGEST)

Students enjoying conversations at the Oueens Week, Picnic On The Bluff event held on Sunday, March 12. (Kalani Jones/DIGEST)

Students enjoying fun games at the Locked and Loaded NAACP game night hosted in the Event Center on Thurday March 16. (Zhoee Hugger/ DIGEST)

Miss Freshman, Auriyonnie Lopez educates students on the Sickel Cell during the “Invisible Warriors” health fair in the Union during Queens Week, . (J’Me Bryant/ DIGEST)

At the Queens Week, Picnic On The Bluff event, hosted in the Event Center, studens pose for a quick picture. (Kalani Jones/DIGEST)

Students learning how to check their oil. The Car Safety Demo was hosted by Jaguar Motorsports on March 14. (Kara Porter/ DIGEST)

NAACP’s “Cupcakes & Careers” event hosted in the library to give students tips as they enter the professional world. (Vincent Pardo/ DIGEST)

Senior, Kameryn Adkins patiently waits for a chance to score a run for Southern at the Saturday’s game against Alcorn. (Knykolas Ross/ DIGEST)

Southerns NAACP takes a picture after hoasting their very first pageant in the Event Center on March 15. (Kynedi Nichos? DIGEST)

Jefferson Blackmon won 1st place in lower college Musical Theater TBB division. (pictured with voice faculty - Carolyn Sebron) [lower college means semesters of study , TBB = tenor, baritone, bass]

Keaondra Anthony, who graduates this semester, participated in the classical masterclass under the direction of rising opera star, mezzo soprano Ashley Dixon

courtesy: Carolyn Sebron

Student Media Advisory Board Chairwoman, Ashely Lovelace chats with Assistant Director of Student Media at Florida Atlanta University, Wesley Wright during his visit to SU the Student Media Office as part of the ReNews Project. (Eric White, Jr./ DIGEST)

NAACP Week of Black Excellence

kamron Williams THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Southern University’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held its week of impactful fun and learning events, some of which were completely new and brought out a whole new level of amazement to remember.

“Cupcakes N Careers”

On Monday, the first event that was happening was Cupcakes N Careers, which was all about learning about a career path, what career might interest you, and things you need to know when you want to have a good resume and headshots.

Students in attendance were not large in number, but they were most certainly interested in being there. They all presented themselves and expressed their passions and what they wanted to do in life, and it was very inspiring to see so many people confident in their lifelong goals.

The speakers talked about how if a person wants to have a successful way of

getting into their career, they should have a LinkedIn and how using it is like having a Facebook page for getting jobs. It is easier to look at the people you want to hire or bring on board because you get to see more of who they are instead of using a simple piece of paper that lacks personality.

The headshots spoke to how they needed to dress the part and look

professional, a suit and tie certainly goes a long way when trying to put your best foot forward. The event closed out with delicious cupcakes as everyone enjoyed their

Women’s History Month Profile: Chief Jocelyn Johnson, the first female police chief of Southern University in Baton Rouge

sara Griffiths THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Being the first female to do anything at times can seem quite overwhelming. However, Chief Jocelyn Johnson has shown what it takes and the benefits surrounding being the first.

Chief Jocelyn Johnson began her career as a police officer in 1999 at Southern University. Chief Johnson has held every position in Southern’s police department except Captain. She was promoted to Police Sergeant in 2005, Police Lieutenant in 2009, Interim Chief of Police in 2014, and was officially appointed to her current position as chief in April 0f 2017.

This position has introduced her to unimaginable opportunities including being invited to the White House and meeting President Barack Obama. Within the same year, she was able to meet Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jessie Jackson and later Nelson Mandela’s grandson Ndaba Mandela and countless other individuals. With these amazing opportunities, her favorite moments in her position continue to be her interactions with students and alumni, “My fondest and closest to my heart is graduation day, going into the F. G. Clark Activity Center seeing smiling faces and tears of joy of so many students that I have seen come as a freshman and knowing they are leaving having fulfilled their purpose of getting their degree. Another is being a graduate

myself and being able to hire alumni that understand the culture of being a part of The Southern University and A&M College,” says Chief Johnson.

Johnson is a three-time graduate of Southern University. She first obtained her associate degree in Law Enforcement in 1997 prior to becoming an officer and gained her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/ Police Science and

master’s degree in Criminal Justice/ Law Enforcement Administration throughout her employment. She also pledged to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Beta Alpha Chapter during her matriculation.

As a former Southern graduate, Johnson holds a special connection with students and prides herself in being able to have real-life conversations with them. She says, “Being encouraging to them. Not everything involves criminal things on campus, you have to be able to help students navigate the growing pains of campus life.”

The chief has had her own influences throughout her 24-year career at Southern’s Police Department. Some women that have impacted her include former SUPD Officers Captain Sandra Knighten (first woman interim chief) and Lt. Charlene (Anderson) Paninia, Retired EBRSO Talona Blakes, Angela Banta, and Retired BRPD Officer Carolyn Reed.

“I appreciate all the knowledge and encouragement bestowed upon me from each one of these women,” says Chief Johnson.

During her career at Southern University, Chief Johnson’s attentiveness to students has continued to aid her in creating innovative technologies in her department. “We have made our way up to being one of the agencies in the area with the latest and most up-to-date technologies in equipment, technology,

Keondra Carter and Terrance Turnage pose for a pick after just being crowned Mister and Miss NAACP, at Southerns first NAACP Pageant. (Kynedi Nichos/DIGEST)

courtesy:: SUBR Media Relations

Student Henry Steele enjoying a facial and hand massage from Esthetician at the

NAACP Clear Mind, Clear Souls event on March 14th (Karah Rainwater/ DIGEST)

Students competing in

NAACP’s Iron Chef Roman Cookoff in the Mayberry dinning hall on Thursday, March 16. (Kynedi Nichos/ DIGEST)

See NAACP page 10

Mental Health Of A Student Athlete

nursing major from Spring, Texas. Ayro gave another deeper look into the life of an athlete.

“Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” — Noam Shpancer, Ph.D.

Our mental health is valued very much here at Southern University by the students, faculty, and especially our student-athletes.

Out of state student 20-year-old sophomore, Autumn Austin from Los Angeles, California. Autumn is a vet on our prestigious Southern University cheer team. From her freshman year to her sophomore year, she has been nothing but smiles and joy while doing what she loves but behind all that things can get tough for her.

Austin speaks out and says, “Right now I am in a good state of mind. I get in my head at times because I know I can do better but overall I can’t complain. At times it’s very difficult to manage school, practice, and social life. My freshman year taught me how to manage my time wisely.”

Autumn gives us the inside of what her practice and personal time look like.“Well, practices are Monday & Wednesday from 4-6:30 pm and Tuesday & Thursday from 6-7:30 am. Games are usually Saturday during the day so I have the nights to go out. So that’s just 2-3 hours of my day and I say I spend about 4-5 hours on school work and classes. So I have plenty of free time to myself. But the only day I get to relax

and do anything I want without having anything school or cheer related would be Sunday,” she said.

The last couple of things Autumn had to say was “Cheer really brings out a different side of me. I get to be around people who are like family to me while my family is miles away in Cali. Also, it’s something I’ve been doing nearly my whole life so I couldn’t really imagine life without it yet.”

She stressed the importance of selfcare. Taking time for herself is vital. She’s very used to focusing on others and making sure everyone else is happy. Her team is very important to

her and she loves them like family. “... like they’re my blood fr. Even though we fuss and fight, families do the same thing so without them in my life, my life would feel incomplete because what is life without family?”

She has many people younger than her looking up to her, including some of her teammates. Austin says, “I feel like I do have a lot of weight on my shoulders because my teammates do look up to me. Although I’m not a captain, I am still a leader on my team & I try to set a good example so matter what.”

Interviewing Kyndal Ayro, a junior

She described the importance of mental health. “You really have to make time, this is where time management comes in” and continued saying, “It’s really something you can go all day without thinking about.”

Time management is a key part of managing your mental health as a student, but Kyndal said she handles it all “with sleep” and really makes sure she gets her eight hours. Although sleep can be a cure at times there may be times where someone gets burned out and feels overwhelmed, but Kyndall stated, “Our coaches are very caring about our mental health and wellbeing, so they let you take time away from everything.”

This step back allows students to miss practices or games if they’re not feeling their best.

Academics are another stress inducer, so Ayro discussed how she handles academics. She said, “Being an athlete takes a lot of sacrifices and some things are things you sacrifice at the moment to come back to later,” so she’s staying on top of everything.

Mental health is hard to prioritize as a student, but adding organizations and athletics on top of a student workload makes things harder.

Mental Milestones: Campus Org targets Mental Health

In today’s society, more than 60% of college students deal with various mental health issues, which causes them to be less successful in everyday life. More specifically, depression and anxiety have been increasing at a staggering rate among black students. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the number of students seeking counseling at Southern University and A&M College is about the same as pre-pandemic, after opening back to in-person sessions.

Mental Milestones Association is a new student organization on campus that promotes mental health awareness. M.M.A. is a student lead organization focused on bettering the mental health of the men and women students of Southern University.

This week, the Office of Student Media had the pleasure of interviewing founder, Jasmine Brown, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada majoring in Agribusiness with a minor in accounting, and member, Kelsey Harris, a junior nursing major.

Jasmine stated that she “believes that is important because we have to focus on mental health on a daily basis and if we start early on, we can find better habits to cope with our mental well-being.”

M.M.A. benefits Southern students by giving them a safe space with healing circles. Healing circles are

student lead peer support group sessions with student leaders where they can vent and come together. Students can use these healing circles to connect with other students and bond over any mental health issues, or everyday life issues they may be having. This will allow students to be better connected with different mental health resources within the Southern University of Baton Rouge Counseling center and the community.

Kelsey stated how M.M.A. helped her grow. “I see things within myself that I did not see before and M.M.A. also put me on the doorstep of many

opportunities,” Kelsey declared. Kelsey stated that M.M.A. also shows her that she is “never alone in situations throughout college.”

The M.M.A. meets twice a month and hosts events. Most recently, the M.M.A. hosted a wellness raffle, where they raffled off different items for Southern University students including aroma scents, personal self-care bags, candles, journals, etc.

The Mental Milestones organization also does Motivational Mondays and Flourishing Fridays, where they share inspiring and motivational quotes to keep students motivated weekly.

According to founder Jasmine Brown, some long-term goals for Mental Milestones are to continue work and help students with mental health. She believes that they can also connect with other universities and find different ways to promote mental health.

Being that Southern is a Historically Black College, Jasmine said the school should have a goal of overall development and focus on how the organization can connect with different departments such as the

terren thomas & taniya nichols THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

karah rainWater THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Digest Graphic

courtesy: Autumn Austin

The Perfect Spring Break

Spring Break is a week’s vacation from school. It’s usually scheduled in March or April. Universities have it so that students can get a bit of reprieve from hectic school responsibilities before finals and the last half of the school year. Some people go on trips, some have schoolwork, and some even use that time to sleep.

The perfect Spring Break can vary from many ideas. A few students shared their ideas for the perfect spring break.

“The perfect spring break in my opinion would be getting what you want it to be,” Tiara Johnson, a freshman from Detroit, Michigan majoring in nursing shared.

She expounded, “For me, I like going to Miami or somewhere hot during this time. Lowkey, I wish it was longer. It feels like only about 2 days go by and we are right back in school. But at the same time, I want to sleep the break away too.”

Another student shared her thoughts. Jayla Johnson, a sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana majoring in business responded, “I feel like spring break is for Miami,

well I feel like, to be honest, social media made Miami to be the spring break hot spot. People always wanna go and they make it fun, so everybody wanna go now.”

She answered the question, “Does she feel like people may enjoy Spring break for themselves or for social media?” Johnson said, “Well, I feel it can be both like Instagram influencers do it all the time. They try to have fun but have to remember their job is to make their fun look fun to everybody else.”

Johnson has mentioned that sometimes on these trips, everything is not how it seems. “Sometimes it’s not even influencers. A lot of girls could be having the worst trip and would still make it look like they are having the best time.”

Jaden Williams, a freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana majoring in criminal justice gave his insights on Spring Break.

“I usually go to my dad’s house. We usually go mud riding through his yard. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. I go during most of the breaks during school because it’s peaceful. He stays in the country part of Louisiana, so it’s nothing but grass and fun. He doesn’t

even get any cell service up there,” he responded.

Lastly, Dylan Williams, a sophomore from Miami, Florida majoring in business discussed his views on Spring Break. He responded, “I mean I would say Miami but that’s getting old real fast.”

He shared why he believed that. “Well everybody is always trying to go to Miami to the point it’s annoying.

Plane tickets are booked up, the airbnbs are high, and the rentals high too. I missed when it was just a Florida thing and it wasn’t a trend,” he responded.

Asking students their opinion on the perfect Spring Break varied too, but they mostly agreed on the same location, Miami, Florida.

NAACP from page 8 time as they left, the people who came were most certainly happy that they went.

“The

First Of Its Kind”

With the first event down, the second event and most spectacular one was the Mr.& Miss SU NAACP Pageant, which was also the first pageant the organization had held.

They had so many things in that pageant that made such a huge impression on people and gained the respect of many.

One member, sophomore Kharis Taylor, majoring in english education and contestant spoke about her experience.

“The pageant was extremely fun. It was awesome. I met a lot of great people. I got close to a lot of great people including my pageant brothers and sisters. It was overall a learning and growing experience for me that I am very, very, very proud that I was a part of it,” Taylor stated.

The winners of the pageant were also friends of hers,Keondra Carter and Terrance Turnage, which made it

Southern University of Baton Rouge counseling center which we are affiliated with.

Students can sign up for the Mental Milestones Association through Lacumba’s Landing on Presence or come to their general body meetings where women and men students

an even more pleasant experience for Taylor.

Destinee Sims, a junior child development rom Baton Rouge, Louisiana and contestant number 3 explained her experience.

“It was like Broadway and had a lot of dedication spent into It,” Sims stated.

Terrence Turnage, who was the king and is majoring in criminal justice, spoke on the atmosphere. “It was amazing and full of energy,” Turnage described.

Further into the conversation he explained all the activities they did.

“We had to do different categories and you know, dress up and perform. There was a category of school spirit, a category of untold story. We even had talent, so there was a lot going on. School spirit was based on basically they wanted us to have on gameday attire. So, you know when you come out, you wore gameday attire.

He continued describing the next category, “For untold stories, that’s where we were assigned, a Black history person who didn’t get a lot of light shone on them. So, we were supposed to basically tell the crowd in

ATHLETES from page 9

of Southern University A&M College are welcome. Be sure to follow Mental Milestones on Instagram @ mentalmilestonesassocation to stay updated on all things mental health and upcoming general body meetings.

the judges about that person without actually telling them who they were and then, you know, just put them in touch with that person and you know, tell them their story.”

Ashanta K. Gleason, the SU NAACP chapter president, was very proud of the work that was put into it.

“The pageant was really a way for us to display a lot of talents that a lot of our members have as well as look for our Mr. and Miss to represent our chapter in the public speaking engagement, training, etc.”

Gleason continued that the chapter is becoming nationally recognized.

“Our chapter is becoming nationally recognized, so we need somebody besides just me and my Vice President, to help be the face of organization, and help out in that aspect,” Gleason shared.

“Time for Struggle Ramen”

Then there was Iron Chef of Southern which to no surprise was a cook off between two groups as they were given their cooking supplies, their challenge was none other than making ramen.

and training,” says Chief Johnson.

In 2015, in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment, the Jag Safe app was launched during her first year as interim chief. The idea came to her after she noticed students didn’t look up from their phones while walking on campus.

Throughout her career, she was also recognized as the Regional Director of the

Both teams were given an hour and 30 min to finish making their ramen and many people questioned if the ramen looked right or if they even knew how they wanted to cook it. Then once it was time to prepare their dish the audience already knew who they wanted to win but it was time for the judges to take a bite from each team’s ramen.

Once the judges finished their plates it was a hard decision, but they had a clear winner between the two group. The winners cheered with excitement, once announced, one of them even ran across the cafeteria just by how happy he was to win.

One of the winners, Justin Holiday, a sophomore mass communication major, boasted about himself.

“I mean, it was good. They doubted me. They said I’m from Maryland. They said I couldn’t cook. But you know, I came down here and showed them all I proved them wrong,” Holiday expressed.

As students raved at the overall week, they can’t help to wonder what will follow this week of unforgettable events.

JOHNSON from page 8

year in July 2017 and August 2019 by HBCU Campus Law Enforcement Executives and Administrators Inc, she has obtained countless certifications and led domestic violence programs. Still, Chief Johnson continues to develop relationships with her officers and students to maintain a balanced community on our campus.

Digest Graphic

sanDi huGGins THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

SpeakOut!

(by: Kara Porter)

Is Social Media Harmful or Helpful for Society?

Obstacles Faced in the Black Community

Journei turner THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

WARREN FERDINAND PORT ALLEN, LA ANIMAL SCIENCE

“SOCIAL MEDIA IS HARMFUL TO SOCIETY BECAUSE IT PORTRAYS A POINT OF VIEW OF HOW PEOPLE SHOULD LIVE THEIR LIFE AND GIVES OFF A SENSE OF FANTASY EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE. SOCIAL MEDIA ONLY SHOWS THE GOOD IN WHAT PEOPLE WANT OTHERS TO SEE.”

Growing up, I thought America was the best country in the world—a place where everyone was equal and we were all treated the same. However, as I aged, my eyes were opened to see that I am treated differently than others. I saw myself growing up in a society where I didn’t seem to fit in, treated differently as a brown girl with curly hair, as opposed to a white girl with straight hair.

Living in America, I’ve come to face the reality of racism toward minorities. I can now see that by my

skin being brown, for some reason I am deemed as lesser than or “ghetto” as opposed to a person with a lighter skin tone.

Being a minority in this country, we put fear in the hearts of many people. For years we’ve faced racism, stereotypes, and troubles in the workforce. All of these issues a white person wouldn’t face, but we will because we’re brown. Furthermore, as if being a Black person in America doesn’t come with enough hardships on its own, we still face obstacles within our communities. For many years there have always been

issues that no one speaks upon. A major issue I’ve noticed within the community is jealousy and hatred toward others. Black people will be looking forward to the next Black person’s downfall. Black people are competing and belittling one another. We also commit crimes against each other. Blackon-black crime is very common and it’s sad because one would think that with America being against us, we would stick together. We need to work on taking steps forward together so we can grow as one, which leaves no room for us to be

stereotyped or deemed as less than others.

As stereotypic labels are commonly thrown onto Black people, it can be hard making a living in this world. However, while many of our stereotypes are just that, some people live in these stereotypes. Doing so causes setbacks for us, and tarnishes the growth we are trying to reach. A goal I wish to see the Black community achieve is unity. If we spent more time working together and trying to build each other up, a lot more of us would be more successful.

Financial Literacy in the Community

christian PhilliPs THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

ABRAHAM HERNANDEZ SANTA ANA, CA MUSIC PERFORMANCE

“I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS HIGHLY HARMFUL TO OUR SOCIETY. IT SETS UNREALISTIC STANDARDS FOR RELATIONSHIPS, MONEY, AND HAPPINESS FOR MEN AND WOMEN. IT RUINS OUR DOPAMINE RECEPTORS BECAUSE IT MAKES US EXPECT THE VISUALS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE SIMULATED...”

D’ARSHE TABOR HAYWARD, CA PSYCHOLOGY

“ I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHO FEEDS INTO SOCIAL MEDIA. IN MOST CASES, SOCIAL MEDIA CREATES AN UNREALISTIC STANDARD OF WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, WHICH CAN CREATE INSECURITY…YET, FOR OTHERS, IT CAN BE AN ESSENCE OF MOTIVATION TO ALLOW THEM TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.”

Based on a 2019 TIAA study, on average, African Americans only answered 38% of the Personal Finance questions correctly. When you look at the number, you may wonder what caused this. But instead of focusing on how this could have happened, we can find ways to become knowledgeable. We can teach one another how to manage money and even own property and businesses to build wealth. The goal of building wealth is to have more assets than liabilities and live off of it. So whether you make $20,000 a year or $200,000 a year, the goal is to function comfortably off your income.

One of the first things to do to build wealth is to manage the money you have. I recommend you start with writing down a list of things you “need” and “want” in your daily life.” Things in the “need” area are things that you must have to survive. Things in the “want” area are things you can function without. Then, you start making sacrifices out of the “want” area. I’m not saying to get rid of all the things you have that make you happy, but to start being more conscious of your decisions. For example, let’s say a man, Quan, buys $3.00 coffee from Starbucks every weekday. He notices his habit and decides to now drink coffee only for 3

days instead of 7. In this scenario, Quan saves about $12 a week. But little does he know that the sacrifice will save him $580 a year!

With all this extra money, you can buy many things, but since we are on the road to building generational wealth, let’s use the money to buy stocks and invest. Typically, people invest with brokerage firms—a way to buy and sell shares of stocks. Some brokerages allow people to buy partial shares of companies. Doing this allows people to invest small amounts that people might not normally be able to buy. Based on the S&P 500 in the past 73 years, the average rate of return is about 11.25% a year.

All of the things I listed

Ice Spice: The People’s Princess

asiah erVin. THE SOUTHERN DIGEST

Iris Naija Gaston, popularly known as Ice Spice, has blown up before the world due to her swag, fashion sense, and great flow in music. I feel like her style and lyric flow compliments and show us who she really is as a person.

made me want to listen to her songs instead of just snippets and sound bites. Her songs were very catchy and had a really nice beat to them.

are things you can do today to gain wealth over time. This is not a foolproof plan, things happen from time to time. But this is a great way to prepare for the trials you face in the future.

Good Luck to all the Candidates during Elections Week!

AMILEA MARTIN DAYTON, OH NURSING

“I BELIEVE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS HARMFUL AND HELPFUL. HARMFUL IN A WAY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES LIFE SEEM MORE LUXURIOUS THAN IT IS…. BUT, IN A POSITIVE ASPECT, SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESSES, NETWORK, YOUR SELF-LOVE, AND VENTURE OUT AND LEARN NEW THINGS.”

Gaston is an American rapper that grew up in the Bronx of New York City where she started as an underground rapper. I first heard her songs on TikTok and from there it really

Spice rose to fame in 2022 with her single “Munch (Feelin U),” but in my opinion, my favorite song of hers is “In ha Mood.” She uses the power of her lyrics and the depth of her voice to perform and is now known as rap’s new princess.

She caught my eye when she made “Bikini Bottom” where she explains that she

can’t lose because she is already the one, so the haters are just going to have to sit back. This song made her one of the biggest stars that have come to fame in recent years.

I believe her hair makes an impact statement as well. She shows that you can be a woman of color with bright vibrant curls in the mainstream media. A true icon is in the making and Ice Spice is definitely living up to the name “The People’s Princess.” Like?