Centennial Celebration pays tribute to SU pioneers
134 Years: 100 Years on Scott’s Bluff Meagan L. Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Southern University and A&M College community celebrated its 2014 Founder’s Day, “Celebrating Southern University 134 Years: 100 Year’s on Scott’s Bluff.” The event-filled day on the flagship campus consisted of community worship/prayer breakfast, a ceremony at Clark’s Gravesite, and the Founder’s Day Convocation Ceremony. Five founders were honored throughout the Convocational pamphlet which included Joseph L. Clark, Octavia H. Clark, John L. Jones, Emma N. Mayberry, and James B. Moore. The Founder’s Day Convocation Ceremony highlighted as the second official centennial event of the year. University leaders, alumni, students, and members of the community all gathered in the F.G. Clark Activity Center Monday morning to remind the community of Southern’s rich history. Leon R. Tarver, Ph.D. was the keynote speaker for the occasion who embedded the illustrious history of Southern into everyone’s hearts. Tarver reminded everyone about the tragedies, fall backs, and victories that
Lupita Nyong’o wins Oscar for supporting actress Lynn Elber AP TELEVSION WRITER After a whirlwind of awards season attention for Lupita Nyong’o ended with a best supporting actress award at Sunday’s Oscars, the “12 Years a Slave” star honored the character that put her on stage. “Thank you to the academy
the university experienced even before landing on “Scott’s Bluff.” The program featured musical selections by The Southern University Concert Choir and Wind Assemble and a welcome from Miss Southern University, Ayanna Spivey. “Today’s convocation was a way to get back to the actual history of
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Southern which is something that we haven’t touched on in a long time,” said Spivey. Alumni came from near and far to support Founder’s Day including Reginald Joseph, former graduate and National President of The Southern University Alumni Federation from 1992-1996.
“Don’t forget from which you came. I’d like to see all students get involved with Alumni Affairs while at the university,” said Joseph. “They need to know that it is important to give back to their university.” President Ronald Mason ended by saying that the goal is not only to honor the memory of the founders, but to rededicate their work.
Courtney Jacobs/DIGEST Dr. Leon R. Tarver, Ph.D delivers the keynote address at SU’s Founder’s Day Convocation Ceremony held Monday, March 10, 2014 in F.G. Clark Activity Center.
for this incredible recognition. It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else’s,” she said, referring to Patsey, the tortured slave she played in director Steve McQueen’s wrenching 19thcentury drama. She credited McQueen for bringing attention to a dark chapter in American history and the victims of slavery. “I’m certain the dead are standing about you and watching,” she said, a sentiment she expanded on backstage. “I think he’s really honored a people that really have been unsung for a really long time in doing this film,” she said. Nyong’o, who has talked about
learning as a child to accept her dark-skinned beauty, said she hoped her success would inspire other youngsters. “When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every child, no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid,” she said. Nyong’o had been considered a front-runner in a category that included Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”; Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”; Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”; and June Squibb, “Nebraska.” Among other awards, Nyong’o claimed a Spirit Award on Saturday, the day she turned 31. BEST ACTRESS Continued P3.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Lupita Nyong’o poses in the press room with the award for best actress in a supporting role for “12 Years a Slave” during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.
Roofing mishap causes Totty Hall blaze Lauren Johnson MANAGING EDITOR On Saturday, March 1st, around 6 p.m. Southern University’s Samuella V. Totty Hall dormitory experienced a fire on the roof. After working on the leaking overlap, workers left with an assurance that the job was done and everything was clear. Soon after, the fire department responded to an offset alarm, which was detected by the fire sensors on the rooftop. “When doing roof work there is always a possibility that there is something that can
spark a fire,” said Robert Nissen, Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management Director. Nissen finished by saying, “All procedures were followed and majority of the students that were present were properly evacuated.” “There were about 30 students present,” said Housing Director Tracie Abraham. “Students evacuated properly, abided by the rules and were patient and cooperative.” said Abraham. With the recent incident in Totty Hall, attention has been brought to the roof maintenance of all roofs on campus. TOTTY HALL FIRE Continued P3.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA