VOLUME 77 ISSUE 9 by Southern Digest

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Volume 77 . Issue 11

A Moral Approach: The Q yron Williams Story Whitney Thomas The Southern Digest

Q yron Williams pursued Southern University as an incoming freshman with dreams and hopes to succeed and thrive in a community that accepted him. His dream came to a sudden end when two cars struck him after leaving his job at McDonald’s on Harding Blvd in the late hours of April 17, 2021. The controversy surrounding the case occurs when considering that the driver who took Mr. Williams’ life resided at Southern University and fled towards the back of campus to the university dorms. Despite the university being aware of the situation, no further action was taken to the knowledge of helping William’s mother to identify the driver. See MORAL page 3

DIGEST ART / Photo Courtesy Tijshika Williams

Cares Act: RICOH Uncovered Cost and Savings To Be or Not to Be

Jaidyn Nix The Southern Digest

Recently, it was announced that students at the Southern University at Shreveport campus were awarded $5,000 through the CARES Act. Many students on campus began to wonder whether or not Southern University would also offer the act for the 2021–2022 academic year.

The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill that was passed into law in March of 2020. The act was created to assist with the major economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. From that $2.2 trillion, about $14 billion was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education to specifically distribute funds to students at colleges and universities. The news of SUSLA students receiving the act this year made students at SUBR question why they have not received anything yet.

“It was weird to hear that SUSLA got the act but not us,” See CARES ACT page 3

Improved Experiences with Updated Services Aaliyah Bennett The Southern Digest

The collaboration between RICOH and Southern University has been improving at an exponential rate in recent years. The printing service offers locations where students can put in an order for regular prints, push cards, business cards, posters, or banners. “For push cards, the turnaround time is about 24 to 48 hours depending on how many orders were received ahead of time, while banners and posters should take no longer than three days,” said Pamela Jackson, the office manager at RICOH. During election time, the staff services offered to the student body are promotional for yard signs, banners and whatever else is in need for election season. Another service offered by RICOH includes mail services. If a student resides on campus, the use of mail services through RICOH is covered through tuition. If the student is off campus, they can elect to maintain a mailbox key, which is $17.50 for 6 months or $35 for the year.

Many students, faculty, and staff frequent RICOH for their printing and mail services needs. (Aaliyah Bennett/DIGEST)

The most recent improvements so far with RICOH have been with their technology. Students can receive a confirmation email verifying the packages have been dropped off and ready for pickup. If any students have a problem with delayed shipping, they are advised to track packages and reach out to the carrier’s site. Going to the mail room has been a very reliable and an easy process lately. Mya Mongo, a Southern University

cheerleader states, “I’ve had nothing but good experiences with our mailroom. They are very reliable. All my packages have been carefully handled, no damage. It has been a very quick and easy process. I go in, swipe my student ID, get my package and sign off.” Most students on campus find it in their best interest to constantly use the mailroom, especially being that the majority of the students on campus are from out of state.

Students are not the only ones who utilize the mailroom as well. Most of the businesses and offices on campus rely on it too. Their mail is sent and received in a timely manner, and RICOH is doing an outstanding job with all services they offer. Boasting professional and efficient service, RICOH at Southern University has established itself as a staple of service on the Bluff.

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MORAL APPROACH from page 1

Q yron’s mother, Tijshika Willliams, says that after seven months she still has not been able to find peace in the situation, and strongly feels that the university disregarded the incident to their best ability. Ms.Williams’ effort in bringing attention to Q yron continued in September when she tried to do an on-campus balloon release while putting flyers out to show students the cars that allegedly fled the scene. Photos of the vehicle were able to be obtained from the bank across the street where the incident took place from the hump leading onto Southern’s campus. Ms. Williams was directed to Mr. Cedrick Noel, director of the Smith and Brown Memorial Union, who directed her to Mandy McKinsey, Administrative Assistant to Associate Athletic Director of Administration. During the weekend that the incident took place, it happened to be home game weekend on Southern University’s campus. This led to an increase in traffic, and according to McKinsey, a shift in liability in regards to responsibility for incidents on campus. “The campus is turned over to the athletes from Friday to Sunday during game week,” said Mckinsie regarding the university policy of incidents during gameday environments. After being told to put her request in writing for a follow-up investigation into the incident that took her son’s life, Ms.Williams waited and got no reply back, even after

following up with Ms. McKinsey. Per Ms. Williams, her son had been attending the university since August of 2020, majoring in Design with a minor in music. Williams had a passion for music, entertainment and technology. His hard work never went unnoticed, with even Governor John Bel Ewdward paying his respects by honoring Q yron. India Wayde, a manager at the McDonald’s where Q yron worked stated that he was a hard worker, and deserves justice. “I don’t think the university or law officials did a good job. The people who harmed him are still out here. The only thing they have is a description of the cars and that’s not enough.” Now Q yron’s mother wants an understanding of why the university treated her so poorly and with such indifference when trying to get justice for her son, and trying to bring awareness to students. Law officials gave Ms.Williams’ contact information to Detective Bennett, a current worker at Baton Rouge police department. Detective Bennett then gave Ms.Williams hospital information, after which point, her life was never the same. “If a student is in an accident and they pass, the university has a policy through the student health center that is paid for through insurance so that the student’s beneficiary will receive a $10,000 death benefit,” says Dr. Anthony Jackson, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. Ultimately the University

The intersection of Harding and Scenic Blvd. where Qyron Williams was struck while walking from work on the evening of April 17. (Whitney Thomas/DIGEST)

fulfilled its obligations in ensuring that Ms.Williams received her $10,000 benefit and they fulfilled their legal obligations as outlined by the university constitution, but from the standpoint of Q yron’s mother, they failed her tremendously from an ethical and moral standpoint by not helping more in finding out who was responsible for the death of Williams. According to Ms. Williams, the check meant absolutely nothing because it could not bring back what she lost. Jayda

Haynes, a senior majoring in Law says it’s devastating how well the university covered this situation up. “I literally am on this campus daily and heard nothing about this incident. That’s beyond heartbreaking; he deserved more than that.” For more in-depth information about this story follow @southernu_osm on Instagram

Division of Academic Affairs Southern University and A&M College Final Examination Schedule – FALL 2021

Due to 90% of courses hosted in the traditional format (in-person), for the Fall 2021 term, final examination date and times are provided below.  Classes meeting at 5:00 p.m. or later should hold final exams during the last class meeting period.  Conflicts in examination times should be mediated by the student and the course instructor.  Examinations for times not listed should be administered during the last class meeting of the course.  Any deviations from the scheduled times below must be approved by the College Dean  Accommodations should be in place for students who were approved by the Office of Disability Services (letters were provided to the instructor). Accommodations include: o Extended time, Distraction Free Testing Environment, Private Testing Room o Contact ods@subr.edu or ods@sus.edu Instructors have the sovereignty to utilize the university’s learning management system (LMS) to administer final examinations. The LMS will protect students’ privacy and preserve the record for student grade appeals. Further, Moodle creates a record of assessment of course learning outcomes.  Faculty who needs assistance, with planning/scheduling examinations should contact the Office of E-Learning at subronline@subr.edu. GROUPED CLASSES SBIO 101B SCHE 100B SCHE 132B SCHE 133B SECO 221B SECO 222B FREN 100B FREN 101B SHIS 111B HIST 112B SMAT 211B SMAT 212B SPHY 102B SPHY 103B SPHY 211B SPHY 213B SPHY 215B SSPN 101B SSPN 102B

EXAMINATION TIME 8:00am-9:50am 12:00pm-1:50pm 4:00pm-5:50pm 4:00pm-5:50pm 10:00am-11:50am 12:00pm-1:50pm 2:00pm-3:30pm 10:00am-11:50am 10:00am-11:50am 12:00pm-1:50pm 12:00pm-1:50pm 12:00pm-1:50pm 6:00pm-7:50pm 6:00pm-7:50pm 6:00pm-7:50pm 6:00pm-7:50pm 6:00pm-7:50pm 2:00pm-2:50pm 10:00am-11:50am

EXAMINATION DATE Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021 Monday, November 29, 2021

REGULAR CLASSES 8:00am MW 8:00am MWF 8:00am TR 9:00am MWF 9:30am MW 9:30am TR 10:00am MWF 11:00am MW 11:00am MWF 11:00am TR 12:30pm MW 12:30pm TR 2:00pm MW 2:00pm TR 3:30pm MW 3:30pm TR 5:00pm MW 5:00pm TR

EXAMINATION TIME 8:00am-9:50am 8:00am-9:50am 8:00am-9:50am 4:00pm-5:50pm 8:00am-9:50am 12:00pm-1:50pm 2:00pm-3:50pm 10:00am-11:50am 10:00am-11:50am 10:00am-11:50am 2:00pm-3:50pm 12:00pm-1:50pm 2:00pm-3:50pm 12:00pm-1:50pm 10:00am-11:50am 10:00am-11:50am 4:00pm-5:50pm 4:00pm-5:50pm

EXAMINATION DATE Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Thursday, December 2, 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Thursday, December 2, 2021 Thursday, December 2, 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Tuesday, November, 30 2021 Thursday, December 2, 2021 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Thursday, December 2, 2021

REMINDERS:  Last Day of Classes: November 23, 2021  Final Grade Submissions via Self-Service Banner o Graduating Seniors- Wednesday, December 8, 2021, by 5:00pm o All Students-Thursday, December 9, 2021, by 5:00pm  Mask Up during In-Person Examinations

DROPS EACH WEEK ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAY VIA OUR SOCIALS

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A Recap: Sigma Gamma Rho Week on the Yard Taylor Materre The Southern Digest

The month of November kicked off fast with numerous organizations sponsoring weekly activities. This week’s lineup featured SGRHO and saw numerous events and activities take place through last week. In conversations with members of SGRHO, such as Raven Barnes, Vaneah Scott and Jalen Nickens, it was possible to get an idea of what being a part of SGRHO meant and what they hoped the week could contribute to the Bluff. “The women are friendly, it was a warm welcoming experience, I wanted to do something for the community, and also have a genuine sisterhood,” said Raven Barnes on the factors that made SGRHO appealing to her. The idea of community seemed to be a selling point for many members of the organization as it became a repeated aspect of what many of them enjoyed most about it. “SGRHO was different from other organizations, I wanted to be a part of something that I truly wanted to do, plus my

favorite color is blue so that caught my heart as well,” said Vaneah Scott, another member of SGRHO, in regards to what she drew her to the organization. “It was basically the uniqueness of the organization, the research is very different than the other orgs on campus. I just wanted an environment where I knew sisterhood would be real and that’s definitely what I gained,” said Jalen Hickens about her reasoning for joining the organization. When asked specifically what they wanted students to take away from their week’s events, Nickens simply said: “A sisterhood, network, education, community service, and [opportunity] for progress of development for women.” Members of the organization also asked how they believed being a part of the organization has positively affected them. “As far as benefits I really started learning how to advocate for myself, with being an SGRHO you really have to have tough skin and be strong minded. Another big thing is connections and networking,” said Vaneah Scott.

Members of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. pose for a quick photo after their Pie Event. ( Taylor Materre/DIGEST)

“So far I’ve gained leadership skills for one, I’ve also grown as a woman, I’ve gained experiences that have helped me grow as a woman, also a sisterhood that I’ve always wanted,” said Raven Barnes. As a collective, the stance of many organization members is that being a part of the 1945 Edition was overall fun, something different and unique

for Beta Alpha and the 1945. Overall the women of SGRHO have had a successful and fun Founder’s Week, all while still making sure all the important tasks were done before the fun. That goes to show that time management plays a big part in their everyday life and no matter what. “You have to prioritize and organize your schedule to see what things you can make it

to” said Vaneah Scott. “It’s really about planning and writing stuff out so that you can manage your time effectively so that you don’t miss the important things,” said Jalen Nickens. As the week progresses, think about what time management means to you and all the benefits you can gain from doing something you love just like these three women. CARES ACT from page 1

International Education Week November 15-19, 2021 ENGAGED • R E S I LI E N T • G LOB A L The Office of International Affairs and University Outreach, the Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Education recognizes that international education is integral to building and sustaining a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world. International Education Week 2021 is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

said Valerie Johnson, a junior English major. “The act really helps students provide for themselves since the pandemic hit a lot of people hard economically.”

When asked about if the CARES Act was being administered this year, the cashier’s office revealed that money is not currently available. “The money is not here on campus yet money- wise because it has not been recorded. Our office records the money that is deposited on behalf of the campus and then we disburse money based on the students’ refunds,” said Hannah Webb, the bursar for Southern University. Webb made a call to the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Benjamin Pugh, to ask about any recent updates on the act. He responded with, “There is funding available, and they are anticipating disbursing it before the Bayou Classic.” “I’m glad that we are going to get the act this year too; it really helped me last year,” said Kennedy Browne, a sophomore computer science major. Students can expect to hear more updates about funds being distributed to assist them since the CARES act has been announced. The cashier’s office stated that as soon as the funds are issued to their office, students will see the awarded amounts based upon their refunds.

For additional information contact: Office of International Affairs and University Outreach * (225) 771-2613

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Strong Efforts Come Up Short Jaguars lose late lead; fall to Jackson St. Eric White, Jr. The Southern Digest

Southern was looking to bounce back against Jackson State, who came into the weekend’s match undefeated in the SWAC to play a packed Jaguar senior night and a sold-out stadium. This game was a grudge match considering the fact Southern has not lost to Jackson State since 2013. The game left some questionable calls that would have had significant impacts on the outcome. In the first quarter, Southern defense came up strong with the tip drill leading to an interception by the junior Glenn Brown. Later in the first, Jerrod Sims would rip off a huge 21-yard rushing touchdown to give the Jags the lead 7-0. The defense would end the first quarter by stopping Jackson State with a sack by Jordan Lewis. In the second quarter, Jackson State would score late to tie the game at 7. Southern would come back and drive the football down the field and connect See STRONG EFFORT page 5

Tight end Ethan Howard is tackled near mid feild during the fourth quarter as the Jaguars took a hard fall against Jackson State in a 21-17 loss on Saturday, November 13 at A.W. Mumford stadium. (Adriana Trosclair/ DIGEST)

Close Call:

Men’s Basketball escapes Tulane Kynnedi S. Jackson The Southern Digest

The Southern University Men’s Basketball team is just getting started with an early-season start of 1-1. On November 13, 2021, the Jags took on the Greenwave in a closely contested game from both teams. The final score of the game was relatively tight at 73-70. The two teams were neck and neck for the majority of the first half. There was never a point where the teams were more than five points behind each other. However, about halfway through the first half, Southern seemed to gain a little bit more control of the ball, but the Greenwave did not let that hold them too far back. The two teams went into the second half with Junior shooting guard Brion Whitley scoring a threepoint jumper assisted by junior guard, P.J. Byrd, making the score 38-27 and creating a two-

digit lead for Southern. Although the Greenwave were behind, they still put up a fight with the Jags. Starting the second half, the teams seemed to be going point for point. However, with a missed jumper, a rebound, and a turnover, the Greenwave were able to creep back up, closing the gap from a double-digit lead by the Jags to a single-digit advantage for themselves. Quickly, the Jags had to bring it together. The Greenwave were able to keep their lead for almost nine minutes. It wasn’t until senior guard Jayden Saddler made a layup assisted by Senior guard Isaiah Rollins, making the score 62-61, securing the lead for the Jags for the remainder of the second half. There were several chances for the Greenwave to make a comeback. However, the Jags remained on top due to a few missed jumpers alongside a few fouls and blocks. The top scorers for the game were Jayden Saddler with 13 points, and junior guards Tyrone

Courtesy/SU Athletics

Lyons, P.J. Byrd, and Brion Whitley tied with 12 points each. The teamwork in this game was very noticeable. Everyone played a vital role in the victory for the Jaguars. Both the offense and defense showed through on

the court. Not only did the Jags lead in points, but they also led in field goal percentage, threepoint percentage, turnovers, and rebounds. It is still early in the season; the Jags will try to maintain

their winning streak against Rice University. The Jags will take on Rice on Tuesday, November 16. The stakes are high for both teams as both of their records are currently 1-1.

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Volleyball enters SWAC Tournament Caleb Thompson The Southern Digest

Senior, Ryleigh Taylor starts the second set by sending the ball to the Braves in their match against Alcorn inside Semoyour Gym on November 11. ( Jamie Calhoun/DIGEST)

Overlooking the Jags; Basketball Season Preview

Going into Thursday night’s game against the Alcorn State University Braves, the Southern University lady Jaguars standing in the SWAC Tournament was undecided, which they sought to change in their competition Thursday evening which also happened to be senior night for Southern University While it remained relatively close during the first set with the Alcorn State Braves holding the lead, An outstanding play by the lady Jaguars’ Nya Campbell seemingly revitalized the team, taking the lead and coming out of the first set with a winning score of 25 to 20. Seemingly maintaining their energy from the first set the Jaguars quickly took a lead in the second set quickly scoring points and even having a 5 kill run which led to a 15 to 8 differential on the scoreboard with the Jaguars up in the second set. The Jaguars continued to hold that advantage and went on to win the second set 25 to 17. In the third set, the Jaguars took off to an early lead as they scored 8 consecutive

points to catch the Braves off guard early. Despite trying to fight back towards the middle of the set, Southern maintained their lead to claim victory in the set, 2516. This concluding set saw Southern claim the game victory by a score of 3-0 in the afternoon. The Jags finished their regular season schedule with a win as they defeated the Alcorn Braves during their Senior Night. The Jags finished the season with a record of 7-9 in conference play, and 8-14. The Jags will be participating in the SWAC Tournament in coming weeks as they seek to rewrite the story of their season. When asked about the hardships that the team has had to go through to get to this point, Coach Jacobs was candid in her response. “Injuries and movement [within the team]. Having people who haven’t really played a whole lot stepping into these new roles and owning them has been really important.” This years SWAC Tournament will take place in Huntsville, Alabama as the Jaguars await seeding to find out who they’ll be playing next week.

Men’s Basketball Picked to Finish 5th in SWAC Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest

It’s no secret that among basketball teams on the Bluff, the men’s team hasn’t been the one bringing home the conference glory in recent years with numerous SWAC championship appearances and victories. Our women’s teams might be on perhaps their most extraordinary run in decades behind head coach Carlos Funchess. And yet, I still don’t feel like the boys on the Bluff are getting all of their due credit. Since the arrival of head coach Sean Woods three years ago, the Jaguar men’s basketball team has been a work in progress. As old staples at Southern such as Jared Sam and Eddie Reese became distant shadows in the past, new blood has risen to meet the challenges that lay ahead in the SWAC today. In the 2021-22 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, the Jaguars have been ranked fifth in the conference behind Texas Southern, PV, Jackson State, and Grambling. In the face of such disrespect, I feel it’s important to put a few things into

DIGEST ART

perspective for the Jaguars basketball team under Sean Woods. Under Coach Woods, Southern has finished with a winning record in the SWAC the past two seasons. In the 2019-2020 season that was cut short due to the pandemic, Southern finished with a record of 13-5 in the SWAC and proved to be as talented and well-coached as any other team in the conference. I realize that season was a long time ago now, but that was a snapshot of how good Southern men’s basketball could be. So no, Southern’s men’s team doesn’t have the championship pedigree to boast of that their female counterparts do yet,

but I know what I saw with my own eyes. I saw good defensive coaching and effective offense schemes that cut swathes through the SWAC before the pandemic hit. That said, it’s time that the mass media tunes in to what our boys have to bring to the table. From athletes to shooting, ball handling, and passing, no stone’s been left unturned with this roster from a talent standpoint. I believe that this is the year that Southern men’s basketball takes the next step and makes the first step towards dominance in their own right.

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STRONG EFFORT from page 4 big on a 32-yard bomb from quarterback Glendon McDaniel to freshman tight end Gregory Perkins to make the score 147. The defense would come up huge again by graduate student linebacker Ray Anderson forcing a fumble and redshirt junior defensive end Tyran Nash on the recovery. The half would end with a questionable call saying Southern did not score a touchdown to make it 21-7, but instead 14-7. The Jags’ defense would step up with an interception by the junior rover Jakobi Jones to start the third quarter. Southern would capitalize by having freshman kicker Luke Jackson make a 36-yard field goal to extend the Jags lead 17-7. They would end the third quarter by making a fourth-down stop credited to Jakobi Jones. In the fourth quarter, the game had an incredible amount of controversy. The Jag’s defense started strong with an early stop. Jackson State would score mid-fourth quarter on a passing touchdown to make the score 17-14. A lot of the fans were getting upset during the quarter due to missed calls for holding. The most important and most controversial call that decided the game was the no-call offensive pass interference that Jackson State scored on to give them the lead late in the fourth to make it 21-17. The Jags tried to drive down, but McDaniel threw an interception to end the game. The game ended with controversy with a scuffle on the field between players. We caught up with Coach Rollins after the game and asked him about the effort the guys played with. He responded, “They fought hard, and it is tough to lose like that, but it makes us stronger.” We followed up by asking about the lack of offense in the second half. His response was, “Just trying to figure that out.” McDaniel would finish 16 of 24 for 176 yards and a touchdown, and Jerrod Sims would finish with 104 yards off 25 carries and a score. Catch us at the Bayou Classic against instate rival Grambling State on November 27th at 4:00 P.M.

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UC hosts Real Talk Tuesday Kamryn Eugene The Southern Digest

This past week, the University College held an event titled “Real Talk Tuesday” that saw a speaker provide authentic perspectives relevant to the realities that college students currently deal with or will deal with in the future. Morgan Pete, an author and founder of Acadiana Fashion Week, participated in this event as the primary guest speaker. Real Talk Tuesdays are events that serve as informationals to the student body in a venue that encourages interaction and conversation. This particular event is annual and features guest speakers to share their own points of view with the students. As a guest speaker, Pete opened up to the students and shared her life experiences and how she handled them. “Sometimes I handled them in a good way and sometimes in a bad way. But the good thing about mistakes is that you can look at them as lessons and learn from them,” began Ms. Pete.

Album Review: Still Over It by Summer Walker Keenon Glover The Southern Digest

Guest speaker, Morgan Pete with is presented with a token of appreciation for her services rendered during the “Real Talk” event hosted by the University College on Tuesday, November 9 inside Stewart Hall. (Adriana Trosclair/DIGEST)

Pete engaged with the crowd by giving away three copies of her latest book, helping students to create vision boards, and

even offering internships and jobs working with her brand Acadiana Fashion Week. Jekeria Jefferson, a sophomore

here at Southern stated that the event was “A really enjoyable See REAL TALK page 10

Empowered Women Who Empower Jenna Bernard The Southern Digest

Southern University A&M College boasts a vast array of talented and accomplished women in a multitude of different fields and departments on campus. Some of these areas include admissions, financial aid, and even the campus bookstore. In speaking with many women on Southern University’s campus about the power balance associated with the female Jaguar community, the main consensus is that there has been progress made. Mrs. Heather Freeman, Executive Director for Admissions and Recruitment, is one of the many empowered women who lead and serve Southern University A&M. She has been at the University for nine years, maneuvering through different departments, and accordring to her, can write a book on the experiences and knowledge she has accumulated throughout the years. “I started out as the Director of Student Media, and then the Director of Student Outreach and Engagement, and currently the Executive Director of Admissions. Duties have increased but it has been very rewarding to continue to serve the University,” stated Mrs. Freeman. As she assists Southern University through many departments, Freeman noted how she enjoyed the growth and leadership with working with young adults. “... It’s given me the opportunity to work with students in different ways, and that’s my true passion.” She goes on to articulate, “Now it’s different because I’m reaching them at the

FREEMAN

ROSS

high school level and letting them know that Southern University can be a place where they can grow into the adult they want to be.” In speaking with Dr. Camecia Ross, Executive Director for Pre-College and Outreach, it was noted that while there has been progress in relation to female advancement on campus, there’s still much room for improvement. “We’re becoming more progressive in our thoughts, and as a result of that, we’re able to identify the reality that there are women [on campus] capable of leading,” said Ross. Dr. Ross alluded to a lack of progressive thinking being the main hurdle that has slowed down the progress of women in academic settings. Ross continued on to note that while progress has taken place with her being an example of such progress, it has stagnated in recent years as leadership has become comfortable with the progress already made.

According to Dr. Ross however, the progress made should only just be the beginning of female advancement on Southern University’s campus. “I’m looking forward to what the university will continue to do with identifying and recognizing the strength of the African American females on this campus,” said Dr. Ross. When asked what she hopes Southern University will do towards the end of addressing the current reality of gender relations on campus, Dr. Ross stated: “I think that with mentorship and support, we’ll be able to encourage more young females to focus on their leadership goals and aspirations here on this campus.” While Southern University is known for a lot of things ranging from sports, academics, and it’s status as an HBCU, the women of Southern University are and have been a pillar of the storied HBCU for decades.

On her sophomore album Still Over It, Atlantanative Summer Walker tells a compelling story of heartbreak and hope, across a soulful 20 song tracklist. Released on November 5th, the R&B singer’s project chronicles the breakdown of her two year long relationship with producer London on the Track, giving listeners the opportunity to hear some of Summer’s most intimate songs of her career. On the opening track Bitter, Summer begins the project with a beautiful yet threatening background chorus: “Better stop playing with me.” The track addresses the rumors generated by London’s previous lover and the mother of his child, which made headlines in early September of this year. The singer dismisses the comments confidently throughout the track, assertively defending her companion, “Just ‘cause y’all got a past, that don’t mean you got a future/This mine for life/No switchin’ sides.” The song ends with a phone call from rapper Cardi B, encouraging Summer to take control of narratives surrounding her relationship and pregnancy with London, the track’s producer. On Ex For A Reason, Summer reminds her partner that she isn’t a woman that tolerates disloyalty, bringing on City Girls’ member JT for the uptempo pop-rap effort. This track is followed by No Love, the highly anticipated collaboration with singer SZA. The two join together to fantasize on a life of lust and pleasure with their exlovers. Summer ends the song with a plea for clarity, “Tell me what’s changed, is it my status? Is it my fame?” From here on, the singer grieves the steady collapse of her relationship, expressing her disappointment and alienation in the tracks Throw It Away, Reciprocate and You Don’t Know Me. The songs show a wide range of melodic

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See WALKER page 10

ISSUE 11 . NOVEMBER 16, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

Fact Checking: #AstroworldFestival

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Keenon Glover The Southern Digest

Following the unfortunate deaths of 10 individuals at the massively-attended Astroworld Festival, social media has caught fire attempting to unravel the issues that unfolded at the NRG Park event on November 5th. Hosted by Travis Scott in his hometown of Houston, Texas; the tragedy has caused conversation among members of ‘Rage culture’, the demographic that Scott’s shows are marketed towards. The casualties at the concert - with approximately 50,000 individuals in attendance - has prompted heavy response across the nation. Various theories have been developed across social media, ranging from blatant irresponsibility from the showrunners to the event being an occultic sacrifice. With this in mind, the importance of fact-checking information couldn’t be more apparent, as the effects of misinformation can be problematic. Amelyun Nguyen, a 17 year old TikToker, experienced the effects of said misinformation, with her death at the concert being falsely reported. This information startled Nguyen, who lives in Australia, and is not a fan of Travis Scott’s music. “I was honestly very confused and was wondering how people found my pictures” she expressed, after her family and friends were contacted over the falseclaims. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former Mayor of Baltimore and spokesperson for Scott, has provided clarity on the operation of the concert, and what Scott was - and wasn’t - in control of. She provided an in-depth perspective on this,

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saying “They have a 59-page operations plan, and it clearly says the only two people that have the authority to stop the concert, were the executive producer and the concert producer. He was not responsible for this, but he wants to be responsible for the solution.” Rawlings-Blake found accusations that Scott intentionally ignored the casualties as “ludicrous” as reported to CBS Mornings. She further elaborated, “It was hours and hours after the concert when they actually found out the tragedy, how the tragedy unfolded. And he has not stopped grieving for these families.

He knows that he is who he is because of his fans. His love for his fans is so deep.” An investigation regarding the event is still ongoing, as Houston Police Chief Troy Finner spoke publicly on previous conversation between him and Travis Scott. “I had no reason to believe that it wasn’t going to be safe,” he explained. “But I’m the kind of chief that I meet with people whenever I can, and that includes him. We had a very respectful, few minute conversation on my concerns.” It is still undecided as to what caused the mass casualties, though it is highly suggested by officials that oxygen

deprivation during the crowd surge and alleged drug abuse is partially to blame. Scott has made arrangements to pay for the families’ funeral costs, as well as fully refunding concert-attendees. The most significant and unquestionable fact in this tragedy is how the lives of the victims’ family and other attendees will forever be altered. The New York Time reports the identities of the deceased in detail. “Franco Patiño, 21, a senior at the University of Dayton in Ohio; John See ASTROWORLD page 10

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ISSUE 11 . NOVEMBER 16, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

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WALKER from page 8

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experience that inspires students to open yourself up, discover more about yourself, and meet new people.” Morgan wants students to encourage students to continue to go after their dreams and goals regardless of the obstacles that they face. Real Talk Tuesdays at Southern University are meant to be venues where relevant information and perspectives can be shared with the student body, and this past week’s edition of the event did just that for its attendees.

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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 on its editorials, commentaries, ans speakouts. 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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The Office of Student Media is a department in the Division of Student Affairs.

REAL TALK from page 8

ASTROWORLD from page 9

courtesy/google

sounds, from sensual R&B to an acoustic ballad. This continues into Circus, which’s whimsical production and metaphor-riddled lyrics describe the foolishness and testing nature of her connection with her lover. Summer compares the confusing situation to a circus show, saying “Got my heart doin’ gymnastics/I never feel this magic/Your sheets pull me like magnets.” The tracks Insane, Constant B*****t and Switch A N***a Out describe even more of the complexities of this relationship, with Summer switching from states of disgust to mourning as she unravels her feelings in poetic form. Summer also features Ari Lennox and Lil Durk on the tracks Unloyal and Toxic, respectively. On the former, Lennox joins Summer to cut off dead ends in their fallen relationships, crooning over a sultry ensemble of jazz instrumentation. On Dat Right There and Screwin, Walker rediscovers the pleasure and confidence of sexuality, with the former being an uptempo pop collaboration with producing duo The Neptunes, and the latter being an erotic experimental joint effort with singer Omarion. Broken Promises and Session 33 follow these, with the latter alluding to the singer’s hit Session 32. Summer expresses her realization that the potential she saw in her lover was never actualized, and likely was never there. This brings her theme fullcircle, with the man she defended in the first track being removed from his pedestal and exposed.

4th Baby Mama and its accompanying prelude, courtesy of singer Sean Garrett, find the 25-yearold songstress expressing her final thoughts on London, sampling 2009 hit Liar by R&B group Profyle. Summer explicitly calls out London for his disloyalty, by saying “Tellin’ people that I’m your queen/But all you mean is just of R&B.” This track is Summer’s final words on the album, with her finally accepting the end of this 2-year relationship, after exploring a full range of emotions throughout this project. The final track of Still Over It is an impassioned prayer by fellowAtlanta native singer Ciara, properly titled Ciara’s Prayer. The singer recites a heartfelt passage, a reference to the prayer she made prior to her successful relationship with NFL player Russsell Westbrook. This perfectly remedies the ills that Summer experiences, providing a hopeful closing to an emotionally intense body of work. If any other evidence is needed to signify the intensity and heartfeltness captured within the 1 hour and 3 minute run of Still Over It, one may look to the album’s jaw-dropping reception, projected to sell over 210,000 in its first week. This would make this project the 4th highest selling of 2021, as well as the highest selling R&B project since Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. With this in mind, it’s fair to say this is definitely a body of work worth listening to and crying to—so grab your tissues and enjoy.

Hilgert, 14, a freshman at Memorial High School near Houston; Brianna Rodriguez, 16, a student at Heights High School in Houston; Rudy Peña of Laredo, Texas; Danish Baig, whose brother said he was trying to save a sisterin-law from being trampled; Jacob E. Jurinek, 20, a junior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Axel Acosta, 21, a junior at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash.; and Madison Dubiski, 23, who worked at a Houstonbased advertising agency. Bharti Shahani, 22, died in a hospital nearly a week after becoming separated from her sister and cousin as the Astroworld festival turned chaotic. And on Nov. 14, Ezra Blount, 9, died” It is hopeful that they will be remembered by their loved ones in peaceful memories.

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ISSUE 11 . NOVEMBER 16, 2021

COMMENTARY

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Tragedy Strikes at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival Isaiah clay Southern DIGEST

On November 5, 2021, Travis Scott held his annual Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas. What began as a fun celebration of music and entertainment ended in tragedy and catastrophe for far too many festival-goers. The mayhem started early on into the festival when a stampede of attendees decided to rush past security and managed to plunge themselves into an exclusive VIP area without paying. One by one, bystanders and security alike got trampled over, all in the name of selfishness and greed, amongst other things. The chaos did not end there,

and it got much worse whenever Travis and his fellow performers took to the stage to perform. More than 50,000 people attended this event, yet the venue was nowhere near accommodating that number, and the lot where the concert took place was quite claustrophobic, to be frank. The large number of guests paired with the inadequate venue accommodations was a pure disaster waiting to happen. Members of the audience began to collapse as the masses squeezed into one another, leaving very little room to breathe, let alone enjoy themselves, and causing many to pass out. Those who became

unconscious were left to sink into the pit of the crowd. All these people could do was groan and scream for help, but no one could hear them over the music that continued to play. They were essentially getting smothered alive by the swarm of feet above them—stomping, jumping, and shoving each other endlessly. No one seemed to bat an eye except a handful of brave souls who realized that these people were beyond being in need of help; they were dying. Videos have surfaced of people dancing on top of ambulances, staff continuing to film even after being alerted of danger, and even Travis himself watching an unconscious member of the

crowd getting carried away and then continuing to rap. This mass hysteria resulted in death for at least 8 people, two of which were children. Additionally, 300 people were injured and rushed to hospitals at the hands of the poorly-managed and highly irresponsible staff at this event. One question remains: why was nothing done to put an end to this madness? When Travis and his team were aware of the first stampede, the event should have shut down. Both the organizers and the artists alike are absolutely to blame and should be held fully accountable for all the deaths and injuries that have taken place.

Into the Meta-Verse: Good or Bad? Hey SU, Where’s the fairness Keymonte Avery Southern DIGEST

Terrell Smith Southern DIGEST

As an incoming freshman, you might hear around campus, “Get involved” or “If you join an organization your experience will be better.” But my question is: is it even possible to get an opportunity? Many students have talked about how political some organizations go about how they pick members and affiliates. After current events that I myself went through, I have to question just how deep these politics run. In recent weeks, there was the Mr. AWS pageant that was hosted by the lovely women of AWS. Many applications including my own were put forward to compete in the pageant. Of that number, only a few were selected with no answers or advice on how to improve and possibly be a part of the pageant next year for those who fell short. After talking with La’Tavia Roberts about her selection prices and requirements, she stated “There were none, we just picked who we wanted.” Is this fair to students who actually want to participate but can’t because they don’t know the right people or aren’t in any organizations? After that, I later found out that there were originally seven contestants, though only four would ultimately participate. Could they have not been replaced? In some situations and scenarios, some students might be more qualified for a position in an organization, but can be overlooked because of their looks, who they know, and even because blatant favoritism is shown a lot. This needs to change. How can we be The Southern University A&M College if everybody can’t have a chance to show what they have to offer?

Facebook has announced the creation of a meta-verse virtual reality to serve as a 3D augmented reality platform. It can serve a purpose as a way to socialize with friends, family, to work, learn, play, shop, exercise, create, and create new categories that aren’t the basic way we think about technology. “The meta-verse will be the successor to the mobile Internet, we will be able to feel in the present no matter how far apart you are,” as stated by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in

the keynote. In my opinion, the meta-verse is a great idea for people to get around and meet new people and even get together with friends. Users can finally do some of the things they dreamed of through the meta-verse. It can also make some people lives more enjoyable and even interesting. The meta-verse would be an appropriate way to navigate through your thoughts that haven’t come into fruition just yet. As far as education and learning, the meta-verse technology can be of some assistance. It could allow for a more focused and interactive

The Attack on Blacks Jenna Bernard Southern DIGEST

Black people in America are one of the most neglected and disrespected marginalized groups. We tell the majority our needs, and they go in one ear and out the other. Flint, Michigan is a big example of environmental racism and how the needs of Black people aren’t received. I’ve noticed a pattern throughout low-income Black communities, and they usually have a domino effect. For example, a low-income

Black household may generate $20,000-$40,000, and as we all know, because of inflation the price of living is higher than the amount of money we receive. This household could have certain expenses that eat through their paycheck such as rent, car note and insurance, utilities, groceries, and their children’s needs. Someone in this household may have diabetes or some other health issue that needs prescribed medicine or insulin (which is around $200 out of pocket). The next answer to this would be to, “Eat healthier” or learn how to budget. Budgeting is a luxury that

People go to concerts to enjoy themselves, and it is hard to imagine attending one for your favorite artist and getting injured or losing your life in return. It is quite haunting to think of how greed and affluence can overshadow a person’s morality. The lives of Travis’s fans should have mattered more than the success of this event, and quite candidly, the notes app apology he issued after the fact seemed very dehumanized. No amount of excuses nor compensation can bring back a life, and the blood is whole-heartedly on his and his team’s hands.

environment for learning subjects like history and geography. For example, virtual reality has been used in real estate, so why not use that same technology and build and learn from it. But on the other hand, it can have a negative orientation. It can become an addictive realm that people use to escape, but if they’re too addicted, they’ll retract from interaction in the real world. Internet addiction can have a physical and mental effect over time, such as depression and anxiety. Users may actually begin to think the virtual world they’re experiencing could overflow into

their real personal lives. For example, if a member of the meta-verse was to spray paint graffiti on the wall in their space, and then think it’ll be okay in the real world, when in actuality it’s not. Another disadvantage of the meta-verse, would be the information privacy. It’s already bad enough that our personal information is easily accessible through the internet, but with the meta-verse, companies can use our interaction to get a hold of us. In short, be safe, or the good time that is the meta-verse could be just as bad as it is good.

some people can not afford because just to even live comfortably is an arm and a leg. To budget means that your paycheck and day to day job(s) pay for your expenses and you have some left over. Furthermore, around lowincome Black areas there aren’t many healthy food options nor are there fresh produce coming into the stores. If there is, it’s a drive out of town or ridiculously pricey, and eating healthy is a habitual event. So, this household has to eat fried chicken baskets and other fast food meals to feed a family of four that is quick and easy. Or, as most Southern

people know, make a quick meal of red beans or pasta, with a choice of meat. This diet in itself is unhealthy, and in turn, creates more health problems for this family; older members, little children, and the future to come. White America and anyone in association with it needs to have a quick reality check on the lives of Black people that don’t either play sports or popular celebrities. If you want inclusiveness and equality, there should be equity for all, and Black people should be heard.

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, editorials, opinions and commentary pieces, including sports commentaries. 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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ISSUE 11 . NOVEMBER 16, 2021 THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

BAYOU CLASSIC ‘21

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