Volume 63 Issue 12
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Greek Moratorium Update: Where Are They Now?
www.southerndigest.com
SU System administrative woes;
BY MEAGAN L. WILLIAMS
eDitor-in-chief
Since the end of the Spring 2014 semester, the National Pan-Hellenic Council Member Organizations have struggled to compile a consistent code of conduct and membership manual for its divine nine organizations. Recognized organizations on Southern University’s campus include: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Phi Beta. On October 28, the first campus-wide e-mail was sent entitled, “Greek Life Moratorium” which cleared the air on many misconceptions about the mandatory moratorium. Director of Student Life, Jonas Vanderbilt and Dean of Students, Marcus Coleman, ensured that nothing horrific happened, but that it was time to bring all eight organizations together in an effort to make each organization better, and the university better. As of the November 5 email, the following changes have been made since the first letter on October 28: The implementation of “Greek Pride Thursdays,” an increase in cumulative grade point average from 2.5 to 2.75 for all new membership intake, and all future Greek shows will generate 40% of their profits into the 365 Jag Fund, an annual campaign fund for the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Proceeds from these funds will be given in the form of scholarships. Three NPHC organizations from Southern are set to participate in the 41st Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands/Greeks Show later this November which will include the Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Beta Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the Beta Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Kappa Alpha Psi were not considered to be participants in the Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands/Greek Show because of prior misconduct at the SpringFest 2014 Greek Show. For more information regarding additional implemented guidelines, or the continuation of the moratorium, contact Jonas Vanderbilt, Director of Student Life at jonas_vanderbilt@subr. edu or (225) 771-2940.
SU
Courtesy Media Relations
The search for a new System President, state funding decreased BY LAQUENCIA PARKER
neWS eDitor
The search for a new Southern University System President has just begun, led by a search committee made up of students, alumni, and representatives from the Board of Supervisors and faculty. The search group met for the first time on November 4 to create a plan to quickly discover the replacement for current System President, Ronald Mason. In August, the Board of Supervisors decided against extending Mason’s contract past June 30, which resulted in months of infighting. The group hopes to make a recommendation at the board’s December 12 meeting, although the decision is ultimately up to the board members and their suggestions could be disregarded. “We are only here to make a recommendation,” said Rev. Joe Gant, chairman of the search committee. “The board can accept what we bring or reject it
Inside this Issue:
and completely pick somebody else.” Applications for the position will be posted on Southern University websites, and the committee will accept them through the first of December. Amongst the problems at system level, the SUBR campus is also lacking a definite chancellor. Finance Administrator Flandus McClinton Jr. is currently serving indefinitely as Acting Chancellor until the board makes a final decision. SU Law Center and Agriculture chancellors Freddie Pitcher and Ledorey Williams were both granted extensions to their soon-to-expire contracts. “It’s incumbent upon us to get a leader to lead this ship,” said Gant, who also believes the SU system should focus on filling the role of System President before moving on to the three chancellor openings, in order for the new system leader to have a say in the decisions. Accompanying the issues of administration,
Campus Briefs ..............................................Page 2 News .............................................................Page 3 Sports ............................................................Page 4 Photos of the Week .....................................Page 6
or lack thereof, the university is facing serious financial struggles. State budget cuts have significantly reduced the funding that the SU system receives, and the university is currently barred from raising tuition prices after failing to meet the benchmarks outlined in the state of Louisiana’s GRAD Act. The act allows schools who’ve met certain student success measures to raise their tuition by 10 percent, and those who haven’t lose 15 percent of their overall state funding. “The Louisiana legislature has grappled mightily with how to fund and even to reconfigure Louisiana’s educational system,” said Southern University’s Alumni Federation President Preston J. Castille Jr. “As it tries to make all of higher education stronger, the Louisiana Board of Regents will similarly have to decide which academic programs will flourish, be altered or perish,” Castille ended.
Arts & Entertainment ............................. Page 7 Arts & Entertainment ............................. Page 10 Commentary .............................................. Page 11 Advertisement ........................................... Page 12
AWS THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE Board Supervisors continues Novemberof 5-21. Benefits will go towards the Office of its Student Organizations Annual Big Buddy Luncheon.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA