NEWS
SPORTS
SPEAKING CLEARLY
COMMENTARY
BLACK TO THE FUTURE
STUNG!
PG. 3
Lady Jaguars fall to Alabama State PG. 4
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015
Preparing for Black America’s Future PG. 11
www.southerndigest.com
VOLUME 64 ISSUE 7
SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP
58
Men’s Basketball
Final Score
Just in Time Ambulance respond
62
DOWN TO THE WIRE
to an on campus incident BY LAQUENCIA PARKER DIGEST NEWS EDITOR
Jaguars fall to Tigers in a close finish at the SWAC Championship in Houston BY KAYLEN SCOTT DIGEST SPORTS WRITER
This past Saturday the Southern University men’s basketball team faced Texas Southern in the SWAC Conference Championship in Houston, TX. On the outside looking in the game would seem meaningless to both teams, as probation would keep SU from entering the NCAA tournament. Due to SU’s tournament ban, TSU had already won the conference by default when they defeated Prairie View in the semifinals. Despite the fact that it seemed like the game had no serious implications, it was a very entertaining; as TSU came out victorious in the lasting moments of the game. Southern led for a majority of the game. They had an eight-point eclipse eight minutes into the second half, 34-42. However the second have would be evenly fought between both teams. After leading for much of the second half the tables began to turn on the Jags in the closing moments of the game. The Jags captured their final lead 58-56 when sophomore guard Trelun Banks drained a clutch three pointer with 1:20 left. In the next waiting seconds, the momentum shifted to TSU’s side. SU’s Adrian Rodgers missed a jump shot and TSU grabbed the rebound, which fueled a tiger fast break.
TSU’s Malcolm Riley caught a pass and made an attempt for an easy fast break bucket. However, Banks met Riley at the rim. The following seconds after that were pivotal to the outcome of the game. When Banks met Riley at the rim, Banks went after the ball; trying to strip it to prevent a layup. Upon coming down, Banks’ arm came across Riley’s shoulder and neck and he fell awkwardly to the floor. The Jags’ Tre Lynch was trailing the fast break, but caught in the air and accidentally fell on top of Riley after trying to alter his shot from behind. What seemed like a routine basketball play was deemed a flagrant 2 foul. Riley’s teammates rushed the court to check on him. There were no noteworthy conflicts. Both schools’ women’s basketball teams were entangled in a bench-clearing scuffle last weekend that resulted in more than a dozen players being suspended. Despite what was on the line, both men’s teams remained calm. Banks was called for the flagrant 2 foul, which rules state results in an automatic ejection and Riley was helped backed to their locker room with a bandage wrapped around his head. As a result of the flagrant foul TSU got two free throws and the ball. In nearly a minute’s time the Tigers had scored four points, all from free throws; and took a two-point edge 60-58.
With 22 seconds left, Head Coach Roman Banks called a time out. There was an ample amount of time to tie the game up, play excellent defense, and force the game into overtime. That’s what the plan was, but their attempt was spoiled when Rodgers, who is a marksman from mid-range, didn’t have a good attempt. “Rodgers didn’t have a shot, I came off a baseline screen and coach had given me the option to drive or shoot. Unfortunately I didn’t make the shot,” said Lynch. Lynch had a good look from three to put the Jags up one with under 20 seconds to go, but couldn’t capitalize. TSU would hit two more free throws to ice the game 62-58, and become SWAC Champions. “A lot of games came down to one possession. This was a hard-fought basketball game. They’re regular-season champs, and they played like the regular-season champs,” said Head coach Roman Banks. For SU that game meant a lot to them as a team. Despite not being able to play in the tournament, winning the game meant they were conference champions and indeed the better team.
East Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services rushed to the Student Union game room yesterday, as an Southern University female student suffered a panic attack. Rough housing with a friend caused her to black out, during which time another student called for an ambulance. “I consider her my little sister,” said Blair Goods. Goods was the other student involved in the events leading up to the students moments of unconsciousness. According to Goods, the two were just “playing around” when all of a sudden she collapsed, and wouldn’t wake up. Goods says he tried shaking her and calling her name, but she remained unresponsive. Prior injuries or accidents sustained or been in that could be determined as the reasoning for her blacking out were unknown to Goods. “If she did, she never told me,” Goods explained. Paramedics hoisted Green onto the stretcher and wheeled her into the ambulance for further examination. Goods had words for Green, but wished for her to hear them from him when she could fully understand his apology. “I just have to know that she’s okay,” said Goods. Green is in good health condition as of now, and appears to have no lasting injuries as a result of the accident.
Oklahoma University faces possible lawsuit from SAE alumni BY LAQUENCIA PARKER DIGEST NEWS EDITOR
The viral video of members of the Oklahoma University chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity chanting racial slurs has escalated from university discipline to that of the legal level. After the video surfaced, Parker Rice and Levi Pratt, two of the students identified in the video as leaders of the chant were expelled from the university for their participation in the debacle. The university and national fraternity also severed ties with the Greek organization. The video depicts members of SAE, along with other students, on a bus chanting “There will never be a ni**** in SAE,” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” An
unidentified student captured the video on their cell phone, and posted it to YouTube. Once the video surfaced, OU and the national office of SAE Fraternity severed ties with the chapter. The university also mandated the eviction of those living in the on campus SAE Frat House, and expelled two student ring leaders. Those who can be seen participating in the video have received threats of physical abuse since the video surfaced. Since then, alumni of the OU SAE chapter have hired high-profile lawyer Stephen Jones to represent the current members. Alumni worry that the university responded to
hastily, and may have overstepped boundaries in regards to the first amendment rights of the participants. “I think there was a premature rush to judgment,” said Jones at a press conference. “It would be difficult to say a university has a right to censor speech, no matter how distasteful it is.” Currently, there is no lawsuit being filed but alumni are not ruling out the possibility. There have also been rumors of racism from another chapter of the fraternity in Seattle, WA. There is an ongoing investigation into these claims.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA