SU Votes: Students rally to the polls Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Keenon Glover The Southern Digest
The Louisiana gubernatorial elections has become a topic of increasing relevance, as the outcome of this intense election can be interpreted as a statement on Donald Trump’s influence in the state legislature. The two candidates for the runoff elections are democrat John Bel Edwards and republican Eddie Rispone, with Edwards running for re-election. Both politicians have touched on many topics, most notably in reference to the state of Louisiana’s education system. Edwards has been extremely vocal in his support of HBCUs, particularly Southern University and Grambling University. Throughout the past week, the Southern University chapter of the NAACP and SGA have done their part in ensuring that students make their way to the voting polls. Over the course of four days, registered students were given the opportunity to be bussed to the Baker DMV and City Hall to participate in the runoff elections. SU NAACP
Volume 73, Issue 11
“I think that students should be more proactive... Just this group that is here today means a lot.” - Dr. Barbara Carpenter, Dean of International Education and Representative of Districts 14 and 15,
president Kelsey Perine was vocal in her desire to amplify the voice of Black students, “I want students to know that they do not have to feel afraid of politics or the political process. I want students to feel like they have a say in the runnings of this state and community. I want students to understand that voting is demanding a seat at the table and participating in conversations about policies that affect us.”
Along with transportation, students were offered refreshments and entered into raffles as part of these events. Animal Science major Colby Bonier from Natchitoches, LA expressed her appreciation for
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this opportunity, “SU Votes hosting the ride to the polls encrypted in my mind how important it is to vote. I chose to participate because I wanted to exercise my right as a citizen of Louisiana and to make sure that my voice is accounted for.”
On that Wednesday, Governor John Bel Edwards came to Southern University to witness the organization and mobilization of students himself. Edwards encouraged students to continue their involvement and criticized Rispone’s stance on education: “This is what’s at stake if we go back to where we were, and we start entrusting those decisions to be made by someone who really believed that Bobby Jindal was a phenomenal governor… [Eddie Rispone] already said he wants to restructure higher education. This is what restructuring higher education would look like: it’s gonna mean cuts, it’s gonna mean consolidation and it would mean closures. Anytime there’s a problem with higher education, See SU VOTES page 3
Southern University students boarding a shuttle bus in front of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union to head out to early vote on Wednesday, November 6. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards talks to Southern University students about the campus and how he plans to improve it in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union food court On Wednesday, November 6. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
Up In the Air: Banner Consolidation with DoIT Louisiana Abortion Hangs By a Thread Whitney Thomas The Southern Digest
Diamond Butler The Southern Digest
Southern University’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is planning on replacing the current Self-Service Banner system for the entire Southern University System sometime around November 26. The new, replacement system, dubbed BannerSUnited, is a combination of the three Self-Service Banner systems across the three campuses Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport, into one, updated system.
The new, updated system is intended to allow students to have the same online experience, regardless of physical campus location, and to allow greater connectivity between the three campuses. Currently, three separate Banner platforms for each campus are in operation and are being funded. This means that the Systems Department of Information Technology has been paying for what is essentially the same product, three times over. By consolidating all three systems into one, the cost of maintaining and running the system will be drastically reduced.
DIGEST ART
With the new system, students now have the ability to move between the three campuses almost seamlessly as the new system merges all the student records from the three campuses into one central location. This will eliminate the long process of sending transcripts between the three campuses and will reduce the amount of online-systems that individuals will have to learn. Autasia Jewels, a junior nursing major, is one of the students the
banner consolidation is intended to help, “I think this is a perfect idea. Consolidating the systems will make things easier on students and staff. When I first came to Southern, I had trouble with their online system when I first transferred. I thought I was a SUBR student but they couldn’t see me in the system.” Another long-term benefit the See BANNER page 3
Arguably the most controversial topic in the United States, the argument surrounding abortions has been getting more and more intense as states with a Republican majority have begun creating laws that effectively end the practice. Currently nine states have created laws like Louisiana’s Heartbeat Bill and Act 620 that either make it illegal to perform an abortion once a heartbeat is detectable or force abortion clinics to conform to unreasonable requirements. The goal of these laws is to make abortion clinics close and effectively end the practice in Louisiana. The bigger picture though is that Republicans are attempting to use laws such as these to force the Supreme Court to review the landmark case of Roe vs. Wade that ensures the
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legality of abortions. With a Republican majority in the Supreme Court, Republicans are hoping to overturn Roe vs. Wade and make abortions illegal across the country in one fell swoop.
According to a CNN article, as Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bell Edwards was signing the Heartbeat Bill into law, he stated that “I have been true to my word and my beliefs on this issue... sincere belief that being prolife means more than just being pro-birth.” Adding to his statement, “As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.” Act 620 has not been in use since 2014 due to its See AMMONS page 3
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College of Business The Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics is offering ten $2,000 scholarships to current freshman and sophomore students to provide support to Finance majors who are pursuing a concentration in risk management and insurance. Contact Ms. Holmes at 225-771-5934 or adela_ holmes@subr.edu for details. Food Pantry SU students are able to visit the Jaguar Eats food pantry located next to the computer lab in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union every Mon, Wed, and Fri from 4:00pm-8:00pm to receive free food items. Student IDs must be present. Camphor Memorial UMC Wesley Foundation Bible Study, Fellowship, Food and Fun! Join Pastor Elenora M. Cushenberry and Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church every Wednesday at 5:30 pm at the Wesley Foundation. ALL students are welcome! Please call (225) 7754106 for more information! SU One Card If you have completed the registration process and have not
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received your Southern University ID “SU1 Card”, please follow the attached instructions to obtain your card. Only first time students, transfers and returning students who require an ID at this time should complete the SU1 Card ID Form. The ID office is currently located in J.B. Moore Hall auditorium. Fling Golf Calling all athletes! Harness your competitive spirit while making new friends and learning a new sport. For more information, call Curtis at 225202-1821. Spring 2020 Registration Registration for the Spring 2020 semester is officially underway: Cohort Registration Nov 9 - 13 (btwn. 31-59 credits) Intramural Sports 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for Males and Females November 13-14 from 5pm-9pm.For more information, contact Coach Tanner at 225-7713212.
Social and Behavioral Sciences The Departments of Psychology is proud to sponsor their 20th annual research conference from 9am - 1pm on November 14. Students are encouraged to submit abstracts by Oct. 27. For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley @ 771-2990. SUPD Jaguars! You can bring any unused medication to the Southern University Police Department for safe disposal. It’s anonymous, and no questions are asked. For additional information or help, dial 225-771-2770 or email Officer Mary Erler at mary_trahan@subr.edu
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Jaguar Athletics Football Saturday 11/16 ~ 2:00pm at Jackson State Jackson, Miss. Men’s Basketball Thursday 11/14 ~ 7:00pm at NM State at the Pan American Center in New Mexico Monday 11/18 ~ 6:30pm vs Ecclesia F.G. Clark Activity Center Women’s Basketball Wednesday 11/13 ~ 6:30pm v. Tougaloo F.G. Clark Activity Center Sunday 11/17 ~ 2:00pm at Wichita State Wichita, Kansas Women’s Bowling Fri 11/15 - 11/17 Hornet Classic in Montgomery, AL Combined Cross Country Friday 11/15 NCAA Regional Championship Fayetteville, AK
CAMPUS DEALS 7
Westgate Church Prayer Westgate Church has prayer, “Burden on the Bluff ” every first Sunday of the month at 3pm. Our prayerful support is extended to Southern University’s student body, administration, professors and staff. If you have a prayer request, come out and join us on the bluff. You can also call the prayer line for prayer if needed. Westgate Prayer Line 1-857-232-0357 (code 300114) Tuesdays & Thursdays (8:00 p.m.)
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Hygiene Drive Now - November 26, the SUBR Lambda Omicron Chapter of Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society will be collecting all hygiene products on the 3rd floor of Higgins Hall for the NOLA mission. Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management 20 for 20 Scholarship The 20 for 20 Scholarship fund was established to support students with unmet financial needs. Applicants must complete and submit an essay that identifies why they selected Southern University, academic or co-curricular opportunities in which they have engaged in as a student, an outline of their academic and career goals, and how the scholarship will help address financial needs and academic goals. Applicants must demonstrate financial need for the scholarship as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Applications for this scholarship must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management by December 2, 2019.
REMINDER! GO VOTE!
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Stewart Renovation Updates
Garland Johnson The Southern Digest
beginning to assign more work, including end of the semester final projects. Stewart contains top of the line technology that students in the building need in order to be successful in their classes that they otherwise would not be able to find anywhere else on campus. This includes Mac desktops that have applications installed on them specifically for certain classes and an active news studio with camera and recording equipment.
For the past 3 weeks, Stewart Hall has been subject to serious construction and remodeling. Workers have started construction on the first floor and have been slowly improving the physical conditions of one of the first buildings built at Southern University. The improvements include new flooring, better lighting, new ceilings and new insulation. Construction workers have also put fresh new paint on the walls and are in the process of remodeling and renovating the restrooms.Tia Jones, a Sophomore Therapeutic Recreation major from Houston had this to say about the improvements in Stewart, “I decided to walk through the building one day as a short cut and I was very pleased with the results. It looks like an entirely new building and it just makes me happy that Southern is making improvements.” Prior to the renovation, Stewart Hall was starting to show its age with missing ceiling tiles, bad flooring, and frequent flooding of the restrooms. As Stewart Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus, students and faculty are glad that the building is finally receiving attention. This is especially true for the people who call Stewart Hall home, the Mass Communications, Elementary Education, SUSLA, and tutoring departments, as they actively use the building. Those very people though, while grateful for the renovation, have criticized the timing of the
Renovations undeway in Stewart Hall (Lealer Sims/DIGEST)
construction as it has displaced a couple of the departments who traditionally have been in the building, such as the SUSLA department that has had to relocate to the third floor, and has been a general annoyance as workers are constantly moving in and out of the building and areas are repeatedly off-limits due to the construction. One of the Academic Advising Specialists for SUSLA, Kevin Vital, understands
questionable legality as it requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. However, there are now governmental officials who are fighting to have it reinstated. If the Supreme Court decides to allow the law to be used again then it will have dire consequences for women of Louisiana. According to an article from WAFB, Nancy Northup, the CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, states that “Abortion access in Louisiana is already hanging by a thread. The number of abortion clinics has fallen from seven in 2011 to just
that renovations are an important part of keeping buildings safe and up to date, “renovations are what they are. I have still been able to do my job even though they [administration] did relocate us to the third floor. It’s amazing what some paint, some new LED lights, and a new floor will do for the aesthetics of the building.” As the end of the semester approaches, professors are
three today. If this law is allowed to take effect, there will be only one doctor left to provide abortion care for the approximately one million women of reproductive age in Louisiana.”
Organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Women with a Vision, Louisiana Right-toLife, and so many others fight and protest so women can remain control over what they do with their bodies. Makdlia Johnson, a 23-year-old Law student, thinks that “It shouldn’t be the choice of others. Nobody but that person will take care of the child.”
There have been entire weeks where students weren’t able to access certain parts of the building due to the construction. The Mass Communications hallway had had its floors completely redone but because the floor was still drying, classes had to be canceled which resulted in incomplete assignments. Keaton Dishing is a sophomore therapeutic recreational major that uses the building for work study. “I am happy that the building is being renovated and it is turning out very nice, however, I feel like it could have been done at a better time over the summer or during the winter break because a lot of my friends have been complaining about not being able to use the computers in the computer lab.” He also plans to change his major to Mass Communications next semester and is “looking forward to enjoying a fresh new building”. The construction can be described as bittersweet. But students and faculty are aware that the construction is necessary and will have to adjust to the current conditions until the project is fully finished.
AMMONS from page 1 As of now, there haven’t been any updates on the decision to reinstate Act 620, and the Heartbeat Bill will not go into effect until the federal appeals court decides whether the law is or isn’t constitutional.
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Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - Page 3 SU VOTES from page 1
generally, there’s an acute problem at HBCUs...We’re in a much, much better place today because my administration and I, working with these legislators and others, have stabilized our state.” Edwards answered questions from various students as well as addressed topics relating to Southern, particularly the restoration and revival of Fisher Hall.
Dr. Barbara Carpenter, Dean of International Education and Representative of Districts 14 and 15, supported the activism of students both in presence and acclaim: “I think that students should be more proactive...Just this group that is here today means a lot. Because, I’m of that generation - back in the day - that we fought to get the rights to do this and that and go in these places. It starts with the students...The energy and action comes from the student body. Put the pressure on the legislature.” BANNER from page 1 student body can look forward to is an easier transition between semesters. The way that registration and the financial aid process are being updated. Dr. Fagbeyiro, Associate Vice President for IT for Southern University system, goes more in depth about the beneficial changes being made, “One of the things that students always complain about is how they’re tired of the paperwork...The time it takes to package your financial aid will also be streamlined. Some of the documents that have to go off to the feds, are uploaded and downloaded, but now they’ll be automated. Students will now have the ability to do online deferred payments and will no longer have to be on campus to complete paperwork.”
Student functionality and maximizing the user-experience is the ultimate goal of the new system. As students are doing more and more tasks from mobile devices, the DoIT is also launching a new app, ‘MySU Mobile’, to go along with the new banner system that will allow users to access online files from not only a computer, but also a phone. Dymond Barrow, a sophomore nursing major, explains her thoughts on the new upcoming system and what she thinks will be the end result, “Anything that helps cut back on cost at this point is good. What they’re doing is a wonderful idea. I’m happy we have a good IT team to make changes like this. In the end I think students and staff will be pleased.” The set launch date of BannerSUnited will be sometime after the Bayou Classic in late November. This is to ensure students and faculty can become adjusted to the new system before a new semester begins.
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Scorched: Jaguars torch Dragons in Mumford finale
Page 4 - Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Garland Johnson
The Southern Digest
The last home game of the season came on a beautiful sunny day on the Bluff. It was the last time 15 seniors would putting on the uniform for the home crowd in A.W. Mumford stadium on Senior Night. The stadium was filled with students from high school day that got to experience how football is played at Southern University. The home crowd was pumped before the Jaguars even took the field as fans anticipated a great matchup against the Virginia Lynchburg Dragons. LaDarius Skelton drew first blood with an 8-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead. After the defense had forced the opposing team to punt, Brandon Hinton returned the punt 43 yards for his first touchdown as a Jaguar. On the following possession, Skelton was able to stand in the pocket and deliver a beautiful bomb down the field to senior Hunter Register for a 53-yard touchdown giving the Jaguars a commanding 21-0 lead in the first quarter. The Dragons were able to score their first and last touchdown of the game after Southern’s only turnover of the game. The team never took their foot off the gas and continued to dominate in the second quarter. Jamar Washington caught a short pass and used his speed and elusiveness to maneuver his way through traffic for a 45-yard gain. RB Devon Benn forced his way to the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown run. Benn finished the game with 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Craig Nelson added to
Senior Night Sorrows: Volleyball loses to UAPB Debrandin Brown
The Southern Digest
The team stuck to the game plan and approached the game with the same urgency to win just as any other game. After the victory, Southern has won 7 consecutive Senior Night games ending their run here at Mumford with a win. Senior center Jaylon Brinson said that “As a senior, I’d just like to thank the Jaguar Nation for a great five years. “We wanted to play a complete game like we do every week, but the guys also wanted to put some emphasis on the seniors and making sure we went out with a bang.” They did indeed go out with a bang
The Southern University Jaguars volleyball team looked to go into the SWAC Tournament with one final home victory as they took on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Senior Nights. The game was previewed by the Jaguar seniors on the volleyball team being recognized by the home crowd one more time before graduation. This year’s senior class included names such as Brianna Hawkins, Shelby Jolly, and Arabella Hall. Additionally, players such as Sameera Mohamed and Darrah Moore recorded successful senior seasons enroute to the SWAC Tournament. The game began with the Jags falling behind early in the first set. Despite not leading throughout the first set, they managed to bring the game within six before Arkansas-Pine Bluff ultimately went on a set-clinching run as the Jags fell 20-25 in the first set. The second set was much more closely contested than the first for Jags as they kept the score within five for most of the game set. Despite a more focused effort for the Jags, Arkansas Pine Bluff continued what they started in the first set as the Jaguars lost the set 23-25. The third set saw the Jags best blocking effort of the match as they held ArkansasPine Bluff to a match-low 18 points. The
See SCORCHED page 5
See VOLLEYBALL page 5
Redshirt Junior running back Devon Benn, rushes for a touchdown in Saturday’s nonconference matchup agaiinst Virginia University-Lynchburg. (Bailie Boyd/DIGEST)
the rushing attack after muscling his way 9-yards to the end zone. By halftime, the Jaguars had already accumulated more than 350 yards of offense and led the Dragons 41-7 and an early blowout. At halftime, there was an agreement between Odums and Lynchburg head coach Bobby Rome to finish the rest of the game early. In the 4th quarter, the game clock had changed from 14 minutes to 8 minutes. The final score was 58-7 as the Jaguars improved to 6-4 on the season and left Virginia-Lynchburg remaining winless on the season. Odums was very pleased with his team that didn’t let up against an outmatched opponent.
A running start: Men’s Hoops starts season strong versus Loyola Evan Funchess
The Southern Digest
Last Wednesday night, the men’s basketball team played their home opener against Loyola (NO). Both teams split their seasonal games the previous season. Southern started the game fast on a 7-0 run. Loyola wouldn’t go away, however, as they responded soon after with inside jumpers. The first half for the Jaguars would take them into half time with a 5-point lead over Loyola. The team was plagued with turnovers, tallying 8 in the first half. The second half for the Jaguars was a different story, however. They played much better defense on the perimeter. Loyola guard Terry Smith Jr., who shot 4/7 from three in the first half, was held to just one three in the second half. The Jaguars also racked up 18 steals for their efforts on defense. They were led in steals by guard Ahsante Shivers, who had four. The second half also showed the depth of the Jaguars. Senior Osa Wilson came off the bench and provided a muchneeded spark. He scored seven points in See RUNNING START page 5
Senior, forward, Darius Williams, makes a crowd roaring dunk in the second half of the Men’s game vs Loyola game on Wednesday, November 6. (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)
Redshirt Junior, point guard, Brendon Brooks, works his way through two Loyola defenders during the SU vs Loyola game Wednesday, November 6. (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)
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For the Love of the Game: Coach Dawson Odums Debrandin Brown
The Southern Digest
For the past eight years, Dawson Odums has held the mantle of Southern University’s head coach, and has led the team to success that it hasn’t seen in decades on The Bluff. In the grand scheme of Southern University coaches, the argument could be made that Odums could one day become the greatest. According to Coach Odums however, the talk of his legacy is more about the lives he’s been able to help and impact more than anything else. “Really, I don’t lose focus of what’s the mission at hand. Although one day, you’ll look back on time and reflect on the accomplishments and what you were able to do, the biggest thing [for me] is being able to graduate these young men and give them a program that allows them to be successful. And I think we’ve been able to do that during our tenure here.” said Odums. All the same, Odums tenure has produced an overall 50-27 record and multiple Bayou Classic victories. In the pantheon of great Southern University coaches, Coach Odums has a track record as accolade filled as any Southern University great. Despite this recent success however, the rebuilding process wasn’t always as smooth as current records and standings indicate. Up until Odums first year as head coach, Southern had lost four straight Bayou Classics and recorded consecutive losing seasons. “We were blessed and fortunate to be able to come in and win in our first year and give Jaguar Nation a taste of winning, and the taste of a championship,” said Odums. Up to this point, the Jaguars have made the SWAC Championship game three years in Odums tenure, with the Jaguars claiming the title in 2013. According Coach Odums, he believes that his team is in a prime position to win a championship once again this season. “It’s hard to be at the top; it’s hard to be consistent. How do you measure someone as a head coach: You look at the consistency in which they won. It’s hard to do; it’s to duplicate that success.” said Coach Odums on the day-to-day process of trying to maintain consistency from his players and team as a whole. Odums continued on to say, “You need a process.
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after a blowout victory that left everyone in the Southern University community more than satisfied. In the press conference post game, Odums said “We got a chance to reflect on the journey of these young men. They started out four or five years ago. ... It’s tough, because each year you say goodbye to a group of guys that have been resilient and done everything you could ask for as a coach.” He also praised Skelton who threw for 193-yards and two touchdowns and completing all of 2 passes. “It is November, he’s
SCORCHED from page 4 going to play well. He’s going to do the right things and prepare the right way. Next week we are going to challenge him to take it to another level.” said Odums. “I know if he plays well our offense has a chance to be successful.” The Jaguars can clinch the SWAC west with a win vs Jackson State next week November 16 and with a Grambling lose. The team also has a high chance to be able to host the SWAC Championship game if they win their final two games.
DIGEST ART
Our process is being committed to the process and being disciplined...We don’t want losing to be the consequence [of us not be committed enough or disciplined]. It’s a constant effort to be great.” With the SWAC being the most competitive it’s been in a while, this years Jaguar team’s consistency has played a role in the teams overall success on the field. As far as the competitive nature of the SWAC in general, Odums had this to say of the conference he currently sits at the western head of. “I think that any given Saturday, anyone can win. You have to go out there with the right mindset and you have to get the right bounces.” said Odums. For Coach Odums, his main focus is trying to get consistency from his team both on and off the field in the classroom and weight rooms. By holding his players to a high standard in the classroom as well as on the field, Odums stated that this has gotten the absolute most out of them. “November has been about zero tolerance. We turn the dial up in November and we try to be consistent in our approach and what we’re doing. I think that’s why our players have been so successful.” said Odums. Coming towards the end of the season, Coach Odums admit that the team is still a work in progress and that they will take advantage of these next few games to be consistent in all three phases. The Jaguars will have a chance to prove they can duplicate their efficient play as they take on rival Jackson State before facing another rival Grambling in the Bayou Classic enroute to what the Jaguars
VOLLEYBALL from page 4 Jags went on a concluding run to win the third set 25-18. Despite the Jags comeback attempt to bring the match to 2-1 in favor of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Jags fell behind once again in the fourth set. A short run from the Jags brought them close late in the fourth set, but the Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff closed the match out 18-25 as the Jags lost the match 3-1. The Jaguars will travel to Itta Bena Mississippi for the SWAC Tournament which is geared to begin on November 22.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - Page 5
just six minutes of play. They also received consistent contributions from guard Brendon Brooks, who went 4/4 at the free throw line while shooting 50% from the field. “For a brand new team and for some players their first time playing at this level it wasn’t bad,” said Head Coach Sean Woods following the game. The game toward the end brought much excitement to the Mini Dome as Loyola went on a late run. However, due to late game adjustments by Coach Woods, they were stopped in their tracks as Southern came right back with a run of their own. They would end the game on a 13 to 3 run as Southern closed out to get their first win of the new year. Southern ended their first outing with a 17-point win 87 to 70 against Loyola.
RUNNING START from page 4 The Jaguars were led in scoring by Ahsante Shivers who had 18 points on 6 for 8 shooting from the field and going 4 for 4 from the line. Consistency at the line and stellar defense were the standout traits in the win. Overall, it was a solid win to build off of for Southern. The team played very solid defense and were able to score with some consistency. Woods said that he liked what he saw from the team.”The things we want to improve on the most going into our next game is rebounds and turnovers.” The Jags were outrebounded 31 to 28 by Loyola and they also finished the game with 20 turnovers. Following a weekend loss to Murray State in Kentucky, the Jags look to keep the positive momentum going Thursday at New Mexico State.
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Photos of the week southerndigest.com
Page 6 - Tuesday, November 12, 2019
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YOU GOT SERVED: Sophomore left blocker/defensive specialist, Khari Woods, prepares to serve during the Jaguars match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Seymour Gym on November 7.(Lafayette Collins/DIGEST)
GEAUX VOTE: Marcus Thomas from the Louisiana Association of Educators talking to Southern University student, Dantrel Bonner about the importance of voting on November 6 in front of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
SU AND BEYOND: Sophomore electrical engineering major, Cierra Cage observing Mercury as it passes across the face of the sun held by Timbuktu academy and LS-LAMP behind James Hall on November 11. (Ella Dodor/DIGEST)
A ROYAL GREETING: 89th Miss Southern University, Alacia Brew, talks to students as they attend Jaguar Preview day in F.G Clark Activity Center on Saturday, November 9. (Adriana Trosclair/ DIGEST)
TOUCHDOWN: Junior, running back, Devon Benn and Senior, wide receiver, Hunter Register celebrate a touchdown in the first half of the SU vs VA Lynchburg football game on November 9 (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)
Men: Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the Power of Men event educating a group of men on how to dress business casual on November 8 in the intramural complex.(Andrea Parker/DIGEST)
J.B.E.: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards speaks with some Southern University students about the campus, student life and his plans to improve things for the better on November 6 inside the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
PAJAMA JAM: Southern University students enjoy the Pajama Jam in the Activity Center on Friday, November 8 hosted by Association for Women students. (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)
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Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - Page 7
JUMP IN: Southern University students, Tyree Gordon, Tray Lang and Ja’Colby Ambeau participate in a jump rope activity for AWS Week outside the Union Courtyard, on Wednesday, November 6. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
LETS DANCE: The Association of Women Students holds “Fun Girl,” a heel dancing class hosted by Danielle Stamper at the Recreational Center on November 7. (Shania Sims/DIGEST)
SING: Freshman music major, Cleve Vinning performs at the Southern Grind Cofe during the SU Tiny Desk Concert sponsored by JBL inc. on Thursday, November 7. (Kiyanna Givens/DIGEST)
SKATE NIGHT: SU students skate during the “Skating in the Girls Room” event with AWS at the Event Center on November 5. (Joseph Delaney-McAllister/DIGEST)
ARMY STRONG: Members of the Army ROTC officially completing their 5k run in honor of Veterans Day in front of L.E. Galter Hall on Saturday, November 9. (Delmonte Williams/COURTESY)
CONTESTANT #1: Mr. AWS contestant, Clifford Coates, singing during the talent portion of the Mr. AWS pageant in the Event Center on November 6. (Joseph Delaney-McAllister/DIGEST)
AND ONE: Graduate Point Guard, Micah Bradford, goes up for a successful layup in the first half of the SU vs Loyola University basketball game on November 6 in the F.G. Clark activity center. (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)
SU VOTES: Mr. Rico Ambition, from the Men and Women Empowerment Inc., receiving a SU Votes shirt on November 6 in front of the SmithBrown Memorial Union. (Diamond Butler/DIGEST)
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
Page 8 - Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
Debrandin Brown
Racist Ravings from Walk-Ons
Fun Run 5000: SU Edition
The Southern Digest
Southern University’s AROTC serves the purpose of preparing students at the university interested in becoming officers transition. Saturday marked the group’s Veteran’s Day Fun Run at the AROTC building. Held annually in honor of Veterans Day, which fell on November 11 this year, the Fun Run is an event created to show support to the armed forces as well as meet with the community and surrounding students and staff. Open to the public, the event was a 5000 meter run that kicked off at the AROTC building on Saturday at 7:00 am. While the marathon would consist mainly of AROTC members, it was encouraged for the public to join as well. There were around 35 runners in total, with all of them being members of the AROTC. While there were several onlookers during the 3.2 mile marathon around campus, the 36 degree weather kept non-AROTC members on the sideline. “Overall, I thought the event was amazing. I had so much fun. It’s for a great cause and it’s an honor to be apart of something so great,” said Jacara Glover, a junior nursing major from Riverside, California. The running cadence seemed to be one of the favored parts of the marathon for participants and spectators. “I honestly believe my favorite part of the entire event is the running cadence. It’s fun to see everyone get so hyped and to see all the participation,” continued Glover. Leading the run was Colonial David Marshall in front of the formation. The AROTC members participating in the marathon sounded off multiple cadences as they made their way around campus. “I myself felt that a Veteran 5K Fun Run was a great way to show just how much we
Shakearah Winston
The Southern Digest
Courtesy Delmonte Wiliams
Courtesy Delmonte Wiliams
appreciate their service.” said JaKeya PrinceLumpkins, a junior chemistry major from Jeanerette, Louisiana. Price-Lumpkins continue on to say, “I loved the cadences that we sounded off with. They were also the motivational to keep pushing all
the way to the finish line. I am ready for next year’s Veterans Day Fun Run!” Refreshments were provided for runners in the aftermath of the event, which lasted until around 9:30 am on Saturday morning.
The Tale of the Black Raven: SU student publishes Children’s Book Diamond Butler
The Southern Digest
L i k e any other profession, being a writer is a lot of hard work and it requires dedication to reap the HICKS benef its t h a t comes along with it. This fact is visually represented in the work of 21-year-old junior Southern University student, Devon Hicks. Devon is from Antioch, California, and has recently self-published his first children’s book, Black Raven. As a person, Hicks describes himself as someone selfless, who enjoys spending time with friends and family. When he would return home, along with seeing his family and old classmates, Hicks would spend a lot of his time
traveling the coast, volunteering at the Contra Costa Food Bank, or maintaining his motivational website and YouTube channel. In an interview, Hicks states that “I was very active in extracurricular activities at school and my community. I love spending quality time with family, friends and traveling.” From an early age Hicks enjoyed reading and writing stories. In the past, he has created his works and poems and would share them with his friends, family and at several different events. Hicks and his brother would be encouraged by their mother to dive deeper into their creativity, and this led him to start publishing his work. Growing up Hicks had a vast interest in different types of birds, especially ravens. He made a realization that these types of birds often seemed to be being ostracized from others in a similar fashion to how humans are ostracized based on the color
of their skin. This served as the inspiration to why Devon decided to write this book. Black Raven is about a young bird named Sebastian who goes on a journey to find his true self after trying to change his feathers to look like another bird. Through this creative storytelling, children are able to relate what they hear in the book to what they see in everyday life. When creating any type of story, there are certain elements that need to be present. A writer needs to draw in the readers and make them feel apart of the story. The reader should be able to feel like they can relate to the characters. “If you put your heart into what you’re writing about, your talent will show...Make the reader’s emotions pop, keep them guessing and have fun during the process.” said Hicks when asked what it takes to successfully complete a book. When writing Black Raven, Hicks has been
Walk-Ons franchise owner Brandon Hargrave has been fired after a racist tirade that the business man went on in a Facebook live stream. The Covington Walk-On owner went to Facebook to speak about his experience on Halloween. According to the livestream, a group of black boys were seen taking more than one piece of candy when his sign clearly said “take one”. He started off by saying, “You can hear these little ****** reading the sign that says “Please take one so everyone gets one..” He goes on to say “It’s not a kids thing, it’s a culture thing.” After receiving backlash from social media, he was released from his position as a Walk-Ons franchise owner. Hargrave took to social media to apologize and address the public on the issue. He stated that, “I’m regretful for making the post and am deeply sorry for the offense and pain it caused.” Hargrove continued by saying that, “This action is not a reflection of my values or who I am as a person…”
working on it since earlier this year, and was able to complete it in a span of only months after he was sure of the direction he was going in. According to Hicks, he hopes that Black Raven will be something that the younger
A social media poll was taken to see how many of our Southern University students actually went to Walk Ons and to what extent the comments made by Hargrave were out of bounds. Notably, in a survey where forty nine Southern students voted, 73% voted that did NOT eat at Walk Ons. Des’Monté Scott, a sophomore animal science major from Baton Rouge, LA said, “Being a resident of Baker ,Walk-Ons is not a “common” spot to eat at but I’ve eaten there once. Sadly, it will be my last time because of the present racism in the company . I would not give my money to a place where I am being slandered and degraded by a white man. Black Business me please!” Similarly, there were sentiments from all over
See BLACK RAVEN page 10
See WALKONS page 10
(Courtesy/Devon Hicks)
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Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - Page 9
Blakk Diamonds: SU Alum, former Drum Major releases debut album Diamond Butler
The Southern Digest
musical talent in its own right. From growing up around singers and musicians and playing the drum set, Guerin has moved on to create his own music. The first time he got a taste of creating music was when he was in a recording studio for the first time. In 2010, he and his brother were placed in the studio by their father. This was the beginning of Guerin sharing his voice with the world. With the encouragement of his father, Guerin has been making serious moves since 2018. Brendon has performed both on and off the Southern University campus. He has done performances at pageants and the Apollo Theater in the past, and recently he performed at the Southern Grind Cafe for a JBL campus ambassadors event. His album, Blakk Diamonds is inspired by Guerin’s current relationship. This album shows how deep their relationship is and that even though they are not perfect, they are still each other’s soul mate. As stated by Brendon, “...we work hard for where we are on a personal
Many celebrities were born and bred on Southern University’s campus over the years. Brendon Guerin, a 25-year-old graduate, is yet another notable name on the rise to stardom. Guerin is a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has just released his new album, Blakk Diamonds Vol. 1: Mixed Emotions. According to Guerin, nothing about being a student and creating his music at the same time has been easy, but with the help of those around him, he’s managed to make it work. When not working on school assignments, instead of going to parties, he would be in the studio working on his sounds and creating new concepts. When attending Southern University, Guerin was drawn to the Human Jukebox, as well as the cultural experiences. According to Guerin, “The energy and student body is unmatched and the traditions run deep. Being able to leave such a legacy at a university with such a tradition is an honor.” Guerin’s musical talent didn’t start with him however, as Guerin’s family is home to a long line of
See BLAKK DIAMONDS page 10
(Courtesy/Brandon Guerin)
Important Women of Southern University 1
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Across 1 She is the Executive Director for the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. 4 6 9
These sisters are the hardest working faculty members and both won the Best Custodian award. Is one of the best role models for the students of the Mass Communication Department. Serves in the Office of Ombuds as the Student Advocate.
1 2 3 5 7 8
Down Is the Vice Chancellor for Southern University Student Affairs and Enrollment. Stationed in Higgins Hall this woman has been deemed the best Political Science professor. Ever in need of career advice, this lady is one of the ultimate go-to's. Both located in Student Affairs, one's job is to reach the community, the other reaches the students. Director of Residential Life and Housing Assistant Director of FYE and SYE Programs
Arts & Entertainment southerndigest.com
Page10 - Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
BLAKK DIAMONDS from page 9
level for each other. She gets on my nerves but she’s my best friend and we’ve been through the trenches just to love harder.” For instance, the song ‘Chills,’ which is one of Brendon’s personal favorites, gives more insight into just how much goes into a relationship. As a whole, this album will bring its listeners back to real feelings. In the interview with Guerin, he expressed how currently a lot of songs are about people who only want to be playas and “city
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generation will be able to understand. It will teach them a message about it being okay to make mistakes, how to treat others with kindness and respect, and that they should not be afraid to live their life. As of now the future of this book is that it will possibly being turned into a series. Though for Hicks, a future goal for him is being able to travel around Baton Rouge and in his hometown and read his book to children. Hicks says that “I would be honored to have the opportunity to read to kids. Kids are very creative and adventurous so I feel like Sebastian would hugely relate to them.” “Have faith in your genius. The road will be very challenging but do not quit, do not give up on you! If you have something that the student body regarding the verbal actions of Hargrave, and if these comments are any indication, Walk-Ons will have lost more than a few customers to the actions of Hargrave. Opinions range from ordinary members of the student body to the Graduate School as to just how bad of a look this is for the restaurant chain.
you are passionate about, write about it.” said Hicks when asked if he had any advice for learning writers. Currently, Black Raven is available on Amazon Kindle for the price of $5, and on Wattpad for free. To read the book on Wattpad, readers can go onto the website or download the app and search ‘Black Raven by Devon Hicks.’ Sometime soon this book will also be available at local libraries and elementary schools. With Hicks’ writing career just beginning, he plans to continue writing stories and maybe turn one of his stories into a short film. As of now, this is the first chapter of Devon’s career, but Southern University students should be on the lookout for any other work he does in the future. WALKONS from page 8 Graduate student Rashad Murphy from Atlanta, GA stated that “We need to make sure our money supports our beliefs as a people so I wouldn’t support or eat at any establishment that decides to attack me as a black person, when it comes to my desire to eat there, there’s nothing special about walk ons that pluckers TJ Ribs or any other sports bar can’t offer.”
ATTENTION STUDENTS: GO VOTE! YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT
(Courtesy/Brandon Guerin)
girls,” and they do not know the true love language. As stated by Guerin, “My goal is to let people get back to real and unapologetic love...Love is a beautiful thing, but it’s also a tough task, and the music has a lot to do with the way this generation responds to love.” The message of this album is that it is okay to love and that love is not perfection. With a relationship, when you find the one person you are willing to put up with and accept all of their flaws, without it being forced, that is how you know you have found the one. The album is now available on all musical platforms. A goal of his is to be at the top of the R&B list and to inspire the world through his art and music. When it comes to creating your music, Guerin advises any future artist to BE YOURSELF. That you should not change your flow for what is considered “hot.” As an artist, you should be you to the fullest, stay consistent and unique and you will go as far as you allow yourself to go. In the future, Southern University students should be on the lookout for Guerin’s success in entertainment as well as the future businesses he has planned.
BLACK RAVEN from page 8
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Commentary southerndigest.com
The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926
SU Gains Celebrity Status Shakearah Winston
The Southern Digest
Southern University has officially gained celebrity status. Homecoming was a little over a week ago yet we have gained national recognition! Emmanuel Hudson claimed Southern to be the most lit HBCU in the nation! Lil Baby flew on a private jet to our concert after canceling AND he performed for free. What a concert right? Students were able to take part in Lizzo’s music video and all. Southern was so lit that we have artists such as Ari Lennox and Wale ready to do an HBCU Tour! Ari Lennox states on
Twitter that “Southern University was so [redacted] fire. I only want to perform for y’all for the rest of my life.” She continued with “If 90% of my shows were at HBCUs I’d be so damn happy. Ain’t nothing in the world like it...” Students and faculty went viral all homecoming week from dancing videos to memes. We definitely set the standard when it comes to homecoming, concerts, tailgates, and etc! Scott Hendson, a junior political science major from Tallulah, LA shared that, “It’s already a known fact that Southern University is a trendsetting institution. I wasn’t surprised at all that Ari Lennox spoke out about having an HBCU tour after visiting Southern solely because we
are the preeminence of HBCU Culture. I’m excited that SU was able to give her and a few other celebrities that life changing experience. This just goes to show that the SU HBCU Experience is miles above the rest. If someone won’t believe me just ask Emmanuel Hudson, Lizzo, Lil Baby, Ari Lennox, Boosie, and so many others!” Talaya Johnson, a sophomore nursing major from Baton Rouge, LA stated that “ I love the fact that celebrities have fallen in love with our institution just as much as we have! It’s an amazing feeling to be recognized nationally for the love and support we show at our HBCU! I also like that Wale and Ari acknowledged that they should do an HBCU tour even
at small HBCUs. Sometimes it seems like celebrities only mention the very known HBCUs in rotation so it feels great to put smaller ones like us on the map.” Jalen Brooks, a sophomore junior computer science major from Arlington, TX stated that “It was just crazy because before my senior year I never even heard of Southern and I know we’re nationally-recognized for our band but our homecoming made Southern’s name even bigger. We showed every entertainer and they all vouched for us. Southern is the most live school and the place to be.”
some even almost forgot about the game, everyone was having fun, which is the whole point. Of course you are probably not going to be thinking about finding a trash can while you’re trying to drive the boat. That’s understandable and hopefully nobody crashed it. But it is after the tailgate. It is after all the shenanigans. It is after you’ve realized that you might have actually crashed the boat. It is after your soul comes back into your body and you regain all of your common sense. The conversations of trash and cleaning up behind yourselves is so redundant. And technically this isn’t a conversation that needs to be had, since studies have shown mostly everyone has working hands, fingers and feet. So why not use our hands
and fingers to pick up trash, and then use our lovely lamberfeeties to walk to a trash can or dumpster. Not to mention we just got some brand new trash cans thanks to our good SGA President, Donald Dunbar, and we appreciate that. But, y’all be so quick to have a campus clean up for everything else but not one for after homecoming. Unless there was one, then please prove me wrong. Correctly though. And if there was a campus clean up, why not make it more publicized? Why not make it something that can be fun so students can maybe halfway not see it as just picking up trash, but having that same school spirit to take care of our campus? We know, it was homecoming and no one was worried about the trash at that moment, and that’s fine. Homecoming is
a time where you can briefly forget about your problems, escape your hopefully not miserable life and make memories. But this is still supposed to be our home right? Why not take care of our home afterwards? If you had a house party, and it was trashed, what are you going to do after you get yourself together? Clean up, right? Because who really wants to leave their house dirty after a party? And if you do - never mind, I am not even going to hold you. I’m not asking for us to pick up every single piece of trash in the world, which would be cool, but that is also a reach. I just ask to not look at a dumpster for a campus and people to continue to pick up after themselves. That is it and that is all.
students to even attempt to go to class, let alone, it was homecoming week and most people decided to stay indoors due to the weather. With that being said, it seems like a flu virus has been going around campus and the health center has been giving out free flu shots. This will further lower the chances of getting colds in this weather as well. Weather like this, which has you questioning if it is hot or not, makes you most prone to infections and diseases and some might say it is “bae weather” and I disagree to agree keeping in mind that tea bags cost way less than baby diapers. I would say the idea is flattering but it is just food for thought.
In addition, what I can say about Baton Rouge weather is that it is confusing. As a student, you need to be prepared in case it rains, freezes or decides to get incredibly hot. This is pretty much inconvenient and due to the brutal weather most students resort to skipping class due to sickness like colds and flus. There’s not much to say about how to better the situation but to just get used to it. It is great to have the weather cool down for a while after having been scorching hot when the semester commenced. That too was horrendous because the humidity gets high and that too is uncomfortable. In conclusion, keep warm and go get that flu shot!
Campus Cleanup, Where? Rocelyn Hamilton
The Southern Digest
It’s Monday morning. You wake up and it hits you: homecoming is over. You cry a little bit on the inside, (or maybe a lot, I don’t know, do you) as you get ready, realizing that you have to come back to reality and send your alter ego off back to their respective school. You finally reach campus, mentally preparing yourself for whatever mess Southern might be on. As you’re walking on campus, you’re greeted with the lovely sight of all the trash from homecoming. In reality, the amount of trash that you saw on the ground coming straight out of the football game was actually worse. Of course, it’s a tailgate, everybody was lit,
Is it hot or cold? Nandi Munyulwa
The Southern Digest
Louisiana has a humid, subtropical climate with long hot, humid summers and short mild winters. Coming from the dry savannah, down in the southern part of Africa, the weather is definitely different here than it is there. African weather down south mainly consists of warm sunny days and cooler nights. I said that to say, Louisiana’s weather baffles me. You can never tell if it is going to rain up a storm, be extremely hot, freezing cold or better yet, have insensitive air quality. For the past week, we saw how it has been freezing, with temperatures ranging from 30 degrees to 50 degrees. As someone who is still getting used to the weather, it
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - Page 11
certainly feels like negative degree weather for me. The downside to this weather is that despite having freezing temperatures in the mornings, it gets undeniably hot during the afternoon. Now this can be very agitating if you decide to layer your clothes because you have to experience walking around campus drenched in sweat. Here in Baton Rouge, to be exact, you need to use your weather forecast app, but that too can be failing sometimes since the weather is always changing. Louisiana, being a very swampy area, probably endures extremes as well due to the abrupt change from low to high temperatures which is very off putting. After hearing what other students had to say on campus, it has come to my attention that it has been a difficult task for fellow
DIGEST COMIC by Lafayette Collins
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 in submissions, comics, editorials, opinions and commentary pieces. It is the sole opinion of the writer and does not reflect the views of any professional faculty, staff or administrator of the University. 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.
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