March 9, 2021 . Volume 76 . Issue 5
Hot takes with Blake: What’s ahead for SU Student Government Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest
On Southern University’s campus, the Student Government Association has long since shouldered the burden of not only serving as student leadership on campus, but of strengthening the university and its students in the face of an ever-changing society. If you were to ask whether or not COVID has rained on this year’s SGA’s plans, the answer that senior senator Blake Reddick would give is a resounding “negatory”. This spring semester has seen an uptake in in-person gatherings as they have adapted better to COVID-19 safety regulations. When asked how he would rate the success of this year’s campus activity plans, Reddick noted how there have been both good and bad that the SGA has had to take in stride. “I would say that despite COVID, we were able to accomplish the things REDDICK
Sew Let’s Talk: AKAs Create for a Good Cause Kynnedi S. Jackson The Southern Digest
Women’s History Month Feature: SU Shines the Light on Mrs. Tracy Jerrell-Taylor Ryann Jordan/ The Southern Digest
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that we set out to. That being said, the semester isn’t over with yet, so we have more in store,” said Reddick on how he’s viewed the success of the SGA in reaching their semester milestones. The success of week-long events such as Freshmore Week and Queen’s Week were some of the examples noted by Reddick as some of the more successful undertakings. As midterms are upon the
student body at Southern and the first half of the semester ends, SGA elections have become a topic of major discussion in current SGA circles, with Blake noting the seriousness that this time of the year should be afforded. The biggest compliment from Blake however came about his admiration for the new generation of SGA hopefuls, whom Reddick
has said to stand for an even brighter future for Southern University. “I’m excited. These new student leaders are going to bring good things to Southern University. They’re young, they’re eager, and they’re talented. I’m excited to see the future of the Student See SGA page 3
An updated looking into the SU Daycare: COVID Edition Jamien Williams The Southern Digest
COVID-19 had a significant impact on a person’s everyday life, On Wednesday, March 4, 2021, job, responsibilities, and priorities. the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority COVID has caused many Incorporated Beta Psi Chapter of businesses to close either until Southern University hosted their the pandemic is more controlled third part of the “Sew Let’s Talk” or it has forced them to release series via Zoom that evening. staff members. Some parents may On Zoom, the ladies created see that as a blessing because it pillowcase dresses that will be allows them to spend more time donated to girls in Haiti. This with their children. However, for event is annual and, according other parents who may not have to the chapter president, Nicole a spouse to aid them in watching Moore, this is one of her favorites. their children, this pandemic The “Sew Let’s Talk” event caused them to look for daycares is not unique to just Southern like the Southern University University’s campus. The AKA Daycare Center. sorority has a national goal to The Southern University collect 29,108 pillowcase dresses Daycare Center has remained to help the little girls in Africa. open and stayed faithful to allow The Beta Psi Chapter plans to parents who work for the school have 60 dresses donated to Real and student parents to watch their Hope for Haiti, a nonprofit children and keep them safe. The organization based in Indiana. director of the daycare center, Dr. This organization focuses on a Keisha Dandridge-Caesar, has particularly impoverished part been very careful in keeping the of Haiti, also known as Cazale. children and other staff members safe. Due to the pandemic, See AKA page 3 there have been additions to the daycare’s policies, one being the
Children interacting at the SU children Daycare Center during playtime. Jamien Williams/DIGEST
daycare center having contactless pickups and drop-offs. These contactless pickups and drop-offs allow parents to pick up or dropoff their children without having to come inside or get out of the car. It is also required that before the child can enter the building that both the parent’s and child’s temperature are checked. If both temperatures are within COVID guidelines the child may enter the facility. Along with staying within
COVID guidelines, the daycare staff makes sure that everything remains sanitized. Dr. DandridgeCaesar says that “We are washing more than ever before, and now the children only come together in the morning and after that. They are separated by age group, and they eat with their age group in their classrooms most days and play with their age group with their assigned teacher.” Another See DAYCARE page 3
In honor of Women’s month, it is time to reflect and celebrate women, their accomplishments and struggles that have shaped them into the upstanding women they have become. This month’s feature shines light on Mrs. Tracy JerrellT a y l o r and her JERRELL-TAYLOR experiences that have molded her into the woman she is today. Mrs. Taylor’s philanthropic attitude shaped her outlook on life. Coming from humble beginnings, Mrs. Taylor credits her willingness to help others to her mother, the late Mamie Johnson. She describes her mother as “a lady of character and always positive and giving to everyone.” Her mother taught her that family always comes first and Mrs. Taylor has carried that same philosophy having a family of her own. Graduating in 1992 with a degree in marketing, Mrs. Taylor went to work at the Department of Revenue of Louisiana and later moved to Texas working with various oil and gas companies: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon Oil, and Lynn Oil. After being laid off, she started to question her path and where she stood in her life. In 1997 after the loss of her cousin, Mrs. Taylor helped plan the funeral where she eventually found her niche and aspired to become a funeral director. She found this to be her way of helping others and realized this is what she wanted to do. After a while she was unsure if that was what she wanted until her mother’s death in 2003. After losing her mother, she helped prepare the body and continued to pray about her path and for God to lead her in the right direction. Years later Mrs. Taylor finds herself back at her alma mater, The Southern University, helping students and faculty while pursuing her doctoral degree. In spite of layoffs and disappointments she See TAYLOR page 3
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA