Browsing Better Opportunities: Tuesday . November 14, 2017
Volume 69 . Issue 10
www.southerndigest.com
Louisiana Run-off DoIT Leads Efforts to Keep Southern Connected Election Set for Mid November BY JAMES EAGLINS, JR.
SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER
In a changing society, technology has grown to become heavily relied upon. Southern University is doing its part to ensure that its students are benefitting from it. This school year marked a shift in the way students experienced matriculating through college. New networks, software programs, and mobile apps have been implemented throughout the Southern University system to try to make life easier for students, with the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) leading the way. Throughout the month of October, several housing and classroom buildings on campus have been cited by students as having unsatisfactory wireless network connection. Some of those buildings were brought to the attention of DoIT, and a quick response was given, stating that work is in progress on fixing those issues. Associate Vice President for Information Technology (IT) & Chief Information Officer, Dr. Gabriel Fagbeyiro, gave an update on the Department of Information Technology during the 2017 Technology Summit, held October 18 in the SmithBrown Student Union. “Currently, the Southern University [system] operates in silence,” he stated. “Southern
BY ALEXIS FINDELY
SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER
just between [the Baton Rouge and New Orleans] campuses. In saying that, we could save even more if we were not running three separate instances.” Telephone systems are also being united, with the goal of being able to communicate across the system by only dialing an extension. Several mobile apps are available for download to students who possess
November 18, 2017, is the day for voters to vote for vacancy in Louisiana’s statewide office of Treasurer, and other positions in municipal offices in specific parishes. The forerunners of this Runoff are former State Representative, John Schroder (Republican) and a New Orleans lawyer, Derrick Edwards. In the state primary, Schroder finished second to Edwards with a 24 percent vote and Edwards with a 31 percent vote. Edwards has only been able to raise a few hundred dollars for his campaign due to his minimal campaigning techniques. He has not been endorsed by the Louisiana Democratic Party for his campaign, partly because he neglected to meet the state legal deadlines for his finance paperwork over the past months. According to NOLA.com, Schroder told a crowd for his campaign party in Covington, LA that, “We have a lot of work to do still because somehow we have to get people to come out and vote again.” He went
See DoIT page 3
See ELECTIONS page 3
A sneak peak at the audience taking in a presentation during the Annual DoIT Technology Summit, held in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union inside the Cotillion Ballroom on October 18. (J.D. Eaglin, Jr/DIGEST)
University-New Orleans doesn’t talk to Southern University-Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is not talking to Southern University-Shreveport. Baton Rouge doesn’t even talk to the Southern University Law Center.” The solution Fagbeyiro has in place is to consolidate all IT operations across the Southern University System. “Even though we’ll be physically divided, we’ll be virtually united.”
There are three separate Banner and Moodle services for the Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans campuses, meaning multiple bills are being paid for the same service. The consolidation efforts would reduce the costs associated from paying three accounts at once, while increasing efficiency and eliminating barriers. “We transitioned to Moodle about a year ago from Blackboard. We were able to save about $330,000 in licenses
Helping Hands: African-American Millionaire Gives Money to Houston Flood Victims
BY JORDAN VICTORIAN
SOUTHERN DIGEST - STAFF WRITER
This past August, the historic flood in Houston devastated many of its citizens. During this time of tragedy many people helped out in different ways. Whether it was rescuing trapped citizens, or giving to victims who lost everything, the outpour of support for the flood victims was extraordinary. On October 29, Dr. Willie Wilson made a special presentation to flood victims, at Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. According to his official website, Dr. Wilson was born in Gilbert, Louisiana on June 16, 1948. He was raised through poverty,
but worked extremely hard and founded multiple successful businesses. Dr. Wilson was one of the first African American owners of a McDonald’s restaurant. He started out as a custodian at a McDonald’s in Chicago, Illinois in 1970. Although he only worked for $2 an hour, he progressed through the business ranks and eventually purchased a struggling McDonald’s restaurant and turned it around within a year. After Dr. Wilson found success in the fast food industry, he decided to venture into the entertainment industry. Eventually, Wilson sold his McDonald’s restaurants and dedicated his life to creating
Source: Twitter.com @Dr.WillieWIlson
Gospel music. Simultaneously, he began singing in church and performing with the Norfleet Brothers. In 1989, Wilson created Singsation, which is a half-hour
weekly program of Gospel music and news. He won an Emmy in 2012, for one of his performances on the show. Dr. Wilson has had many political ventures. He ran for president in 2016 as a Democrat, but dropped out of the race in June of that year. Southern University Spring 2017 alumna, Patrice Lazard, said, “It is amazing to hear Dr. Wilson’s story. It is not common to hear about African American success stories like his and it is great to hear him giving back.” According to Chicago News Station, WGN9, Wilson made the announcement to give $100,000 to those affected by Hurricane Harvey on September 2, 2017 at
a press conference at The Chicago Baptist Institute. On every fifth Sunday, a combined service is held between four churches in the Houston area. As a friend of one of the Pastors, Wilson decided to make his donation during this service. Wilson had previously instructed each pastor to list 30 people who they knew who were affected by the flood. At the time of service, he called each member whose name had been written down and presented them with envelopes, each containing $500. In addition he gave $10,000 to each pastor to help others in need, as well as $10,000 to a nearby
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
See WILSON page 3