VOLUMe 73 ISSUE 7 by Southern Digest

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Volume 73, Issue 7

www.southerndigest.com

(Tiren Cosey/DIGEST)

Benn, Defense seal Jags’ victory over Prairie View Jalyn Garner

The Southern Digest

After a blowout win against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Southern went into Saturday’s game against the Panthers from Prairie View A&M with hopes of controlling their own destiny in the SWAC West. The Jaguars came out to play with a fast pace, as they opened the game with a quick scoring drive, echoing their start against Arkansas Pine-Bluff last week. Leading rusher Devon Benn kept up his strong 2019 campaign with a couple of good runs to start the game. Additionally, QB LaDarius Skelton made use of his scrambling ability and led the Jaguars into the red zone. On the very next play, a jet sweep to Jamar Washington put the Jaguars up to start the game. Prairie View’s offense came on the field with a big play from the run game to start their first drive. Showing some risky play calling early, Prairie View converted on a 4th &9 before the defense made its presence felt early as well with a sack from Hunter Clay on third down to force the

Panthers to kick a field goal. Skelton proceeded to throw an interception on the Jaguars next drive to give possession to the ball back to Prairie View. However, the “Dog Day D” that the Jags have so infamously become known for showed up again in the red zone, as sophomore defensive back Tamaurice Smith intercepted the ball in the endzone, stopping the threat of a Panther touchdown. “You gotta make plays,” said head coach Dawson Odums following the game. “We were fortunate to make enough plays,” A 38-yard bomb from Skelton to TJ Bedford landed the Jaguars down the field into the red zone. Skelton proceeded to throw a dart to Hunter Register for a 3-yard touchdown, extending the Jaguar lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter. On the next possession for the Panthers, the Panther’s offense elected to go for it on 4th&12. The Panthers couldn’t convert, and with a Jordan Lewis sack, Mumford Stadium erupted into cheers at the defensive stand. The Panthers opened the second half

missing a field goal. The Jags hoped to build on that momentum, but a pick 6 by Prairie View created a tie game for the first time since early in the first quarter. A questionable decision by the Jaguar special teams to take the ball out of the end zone on a punt return caused them to start their next drive deep in Panther territory. A series of productive runs from the tail backs, as well as QB Skelton who opted to start using his legs as the Jaguars drove down the field, sparked a 14 play drive that spanned 64 yards . A dropped pass from Christopher Chaney ended the drive. SU ultimately had to settle for a 44 yard field goal to go up by 3 late in the third quarter. A big momentum shift for the Jaguars came on a huge play from defensive back Kordell Caldwell who blocked a punt going into the fourth quarter. To start the 4th quarter, Skelton took it to the end zone on a quarterback keep for a 5 yard touchdown, giving the team their biggest lead of the game of 24-14. After another Panther touchdown cut the Jaguar lead to 3 points, the Jaguar offense

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answered as Benn carried a Panther defender into the end zone to give the Jaguars another ten point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Jaguar lead again falling to three, the Jags begin milking the clock down as they go on a slowly paced drive that took up a total of five minutes and forty one seconds drive, settling for a 29 yard field goal to bring their lead to six points. On 4th&8 with under one minute left, the Jaguar defense answered the call and ended the ball game with a defensive stand to end the ballgame 34-28. Odums was very pleased with the effort of all his special teams units. Kicker Caesar Barajas was recognized as SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week. With this huge win against Prairie View, the Jaguars are now in control of their own destiny in the SWAC West as they remain undefeated in conference play. The next game is October 19,2019 in Dallas, Texas against Texas Southern in the State Fair Classic Showdown.

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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 editorial and commentary pages. 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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Honda National Quiz Bowl Competition Calling the Best and the Brightest!!!!!! Become a Part of the Southern University National Quiz Bowl Team The local Honda National Quiz Bowl Competition will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at 6:00pm in Smith Brown Cotillion Ballroom. 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.

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926 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) 775-4106 for more information! SU One Card If you have completed the registration process and have not 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. 2019 Bayou Classic BizTech Challenge Students have an opportunity to win $10,000 by entering business ideas into the Fall Pitch Competition. Proposals must be submitted by teams of 3-5 members no later than Oct 22 at 5pm. Visit www.biztechchallenge.com for more info. 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 scheduled to begin Mon Oct 21 as follows: Priority Registration Oct 21 - 25 (Athletes, Band, First-time, First Years, Honors, Online, Transfer, and Veteran students)

Cohort Registration Oct 26 - 30 (Grad students/Undergrad students with 100+ credits) Oct 31 - Nov 3 (Undergrad students btwn. 90 or more credits) Nov 4 - 8 (btwn. 60-89 credits) Nov 9 - 13 (btwn. 31-59 credits) Intramural Complex Sign up for co-ed volleyball in the Rec Center with 8-people teams. Fore more information, contact Coach Tanner at 225771-3212. Social and Behavioral Sciences The Departments of Psychology is proud to sponsor their 20th annual research conference from 9am - 1pm on November 18. Students are encouraged to submit abstracts by Oct. 27. For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley @ 7712990. Jaguar Yearbook The 2019 Jaguar Yearbook will be released during Homecoming 2019. Library Student Advisory Council The John B. Cade Library is launching a new Library Student Advisory Council (LSAC). Join your peers and library faculty and staff in shaping and developing library spaces, services and resources to meet the needs of SU students. Applications are being accepted through October 31, 2019. Visit subr. edu/library or email Vanissa Ely (vanissa_ely@subr.edu) for more information. Social and Behavioral Sciences The Departments of Psychology is proud to sponsor their 20th annual research conference from 9am - 1pm on November 18. Students are encouraged to submit abstracts by Oct. 27. For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley @ 7712990. Jaguar Athletics Football Sat 10/19 **State Fair Showdown** v. Texas Southern Dallas, TX Soccer Fri 10/18 ~ 4pm at Arkansas―Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR Sun 10/20 ~ 1pm at Grambling State Grambling, LA Volleyball Tues 10/16 ~ 5pm v. Southeastern Combined Cross Country Sat 10/21 at SWAC Conference Championships Bowling Fri 10/18 - Sun 10/20 Allstate Sugar Bowl Colleigate Bowling Invitational New Orleans, LA

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Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - Page 3

Fungus outbreak in Boley Hall: Mildew, not Mold Whitney Thomas

The Southern Digest

There have been anecdotal and circumstantial evidence of mold in several of the dormitories among the student body for some time now, but it has been officially confirmed that Boley Hall has multiple cases of mildew growing in various rooms as of Wednesday, October 9. The cause of the recent mildew outbreak appears to be the lack of ventilation and circulation within the rooms. Being one of the oldest dormitories on campus, Boley Hall lacks a robust ventilation system. When the air conditioning is on in a room, the fan is blowing cold air in a circle. Because that air has no place to go to, the moisture in the air collects on surfaces. Once the air conditioning is then turned off, and the temperature rises, any surface that has an excess of moisture or any remnant food particles turns into a breeding ground for mildew. Many of the rooms in Boley Hall have had their window style air conditioning units replaced and/or upgraded, which has only further exacerbated the mildew outbreak. Anna Slayman, a current resident in Boley expresses the frustration she feels about the lack of support from student housing, “In the beginning of the semester, the mold wasn’t there and then about a week or two later it started appearing in many people’s rooms, including mine. I’ve put in several requests to Maintenance and nothing was handled, which wasn’t a surprise because I went through the same thing last year. They’ll say it’s being fixed or cleaned but really they’re just pouring bleach everywhere.” Students also complained that the mold was beginning to grow on to their clothes and personal items within their rooms. Amber Johnson another resident of Boley was in rage as she explained how not only her stuff could not be replaced

Mildew growth on celing tiles in Boley Hall. (Whitney Thomas/DIGEST)

but even after putting in multiple work orders nothing was handled until weeks later, “They didn’t come in here to begin cleaning until October 8th. My room had been full of mold for weeks now. I had to replace clothes, and personal items because of the mold growing on them. My mom and grandmother have now begun to search for a lawyer because whatever they’re using to remove the mold isn’t working. Days later it grows right back.” It is important to reiterate that Boley Hall does not have mold, it has mildew. While very similar, mildew is a less severe problem than mold as it often times does not leave lasting damage to surfaces, it is a very common problem in homes, is less likely to be either a skin and/or respiratory irritant, and is fairly easy to treat and, ultimately, remove. With that being said, however, several students have either chosen or been forced to move to other housing options due to allergic reactions such as skin irritation and coughing. Executive Director of Student

Example of potential Renter’s insurance students can invest in to protect their property. (Whitney Thomas/DIGEST)

Services and Residential Life University Apartments, Tracie Abraham, wants it to be clear that what Boley Hall has is “a circulation problem” and that “Boley Hall has no instances of mold.” Other staff members affiliated with Boley, such as maintenance workers and resident assistants, could not be reached for comment. This latest mildew outbreak is only the most recent example of Southern University failing to maintain safety and health standards. A report back in 2016 from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor cited life safety concerns in over 21 buildings with the report noting that “some buildings on the SUBR campus show deteriorating conditions, including buildings with plumbing backups; interior/exterior moisture causing potential environmental issues such as mold,” with the report going on further about other federal and state safety violations and concerns stretching as far back as 2007.

The state of Boley Hall can ultimately be traced back to a lack of funding by the state. The same report that found the laundry list of failed compliance, also notes that a primary factor for the violations could be due to a lack of funding. Administration submitted over 41 repair projects over a two year, fiscal period totaling $21.7 million. Only 7 of the 41 were approved, totaling a mere $4.8 million. If the current trend continues, Boley Hall is not going to receive the improvements that it needs in order to operate long-term. Based on the financial history of the university, it can be speculated that the building is not going to exist in the next ten to fifteen years which is why the building is not going to receive any major upgrades, like a ventilation system would entail, but instead is going to be repaired and upgraded as needed. Either way though, it appears that the mildew is here to stay.

SULC Student Mental Health Day Keenon Glover

The Southern Digest

Southern University’s Law School hosted an event raising awareness for mental health on Thursday, October 10. This coincided with the National Mental Health Day at Law Schools and served as a great way for law students to not only learn more about mental health, but also learn more about the resources on campus that could help students struggling with their own mental health. The event saw the counseling center educating students about the services they offer along with two classes being offered: an exercise class provided by KEDS Fitness and a meditation class. The event also gave faculty members of the law school the opportunity to receive a free, thirty minute message from a professional masseuse. The event’s main goal was to help law students combat

SULC students socialize with staff and a vendor from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center during the SULC Law Student Mental Health Day in the Southern University Law Center on October 10. (Keenon Glover/DIGEST).

the stress and pressure that comes from wanting to succeed, “Coming here, theres alot of pressure, of course, to succeed

in your first year and be number one. Everyone is trying to basically be over everyone else or outwork everyone else. So

it’s a competition. What a lot of people hear is that most people in your class won’t make it pass the first semester. So everyone is trying to secure their spot to get back here, and that can be very stressful,” said Zhayana Yarber, a current Southern University Law Center student from New Iberia, Louisiana. A survey from the American Bar Association in 2019 found that “of 303 graduates who took a bar prep course, only 29% reported that their schools did enough to help students with academic-related stress, compared with 40% who reported that their law schools did not do enough and 31% percent who did not know.” For anyone familiar with the rigour of a law school course, this comes as no surprise as they are often times harold as some of the hardest courses offered on a college campus. The organizers of National

Mental Health Day at Law Schools hope that by starting a dialogue and hosting events that the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health wane as more people become familiar with mental health. Candice Hawkins, the Southern University Law Center’s Assistant Records Coordinator, feels that as more people get educated about mental health, the less ostracized individuals suffering from some form of mental health will feel, “[many people struggle with mental health] because people have not been educated, diagnosed or feel ashamed to seek help for mental health. If I could give advice to students, I’d advise them to do research on mental health and seek the help they may need, if needed, to help save them and the world.”

Jaguar Sports southerndigest.com

New Beginnings: Pandemonium takes over the mini dome Page 4 - Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

Evan Funchess

The Southern Digest

On Sunday night, the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams were formally introduced to their adoring fan base. The night was filled with many activities from a three-point contest to autograph signings from all the players. With each new season a new standard is set for both teams respectively. For the women’s team who is coming off back-to-back championship seasons; they hope to capture glory once more. In the case of the men’s team, they are coming in with a brand-new team and a renewed focus on a championship. Both teams had their eyes set on hardware this upcoming season. The energy that was exuded from both teams also was reciprocated from the crowd. The fans were very active in this event from the threepoint contest all the way to the dancing portion towards the end. Freshman SaVeon Dents was taken aback by the energy from the crowd “I really enjoyed the fan interaction throughout the night”. The dunk contest was filled with different high-flying acrobatics from the men’s team. There were many ambitious attempts from the players. It was all in good fun as each player brought something unique to the table. Outside of the pageantry there was an astute feeling of ambition coming from the coaching staff. Coach Woods spoke about the essence of champions that he smelled in the gym. He also spoke about how much the fans help the team to succeed by showing up to the game and bringing in energy. Fans were treated to autograph signing and postevent pictures from the players. Many were excited to get their schedules signed. The event was a grand start to the season for all involved. The women’s basketball team begins their journey for another championship on November 7 at Iowa State. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team begin their season on October 25 against Wiley College.

MArk Long

AP Sports Writer

The 2019-2020 Southern University Women’s Basketball team hyping each other up on the court after introductions during Jaguar Pandemonium at the F.G. Clark Activity Center on October 13 (Rocelyn Hamilton/DIGEST).

The Men’s 2019-2020 Basketball Team shooting on the court in the F.G. Clark Activity Center during Jaguar Pandemonium on October 13 (Rocelyn Hamilton/DIGEST).

Bridge water now 4-0 as starter after Saints top Jaguars

Southern University Cheerleaders perform at the F.G. Clark Activity Center for Jaguar Pandemonium October 13 (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Teddy Bridgewater probably should have had another multi-touchdown day for the New Orleans Saints. He’ll gladly settle for remaining unbeaten as the starter. Bridgewater missed wideopen receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn for would-be scores in the 13-6 victory Sunday, two of just a handful of mistakes for the backup quarterback. Bridgewater was on target when it mattered most, connecting with Jared Cook for a 4-yard touchdown on a thirdand-4 play early in the fourth quarter and improving to 4-0 in place of injured star Drew Brees. “We had a couple struggles early in the game, but great teams always try to find a way to win each football game,” Bridgewater said. Bridgewater closed out the victory by gaining 2 yards on a quarterback sneak just after the two-minute warning. Coming off a 300-yard, fourtouchdown performance against Tampa Bay, Bridgewater was less effective against the Jaguars (2-4). But he did enough for New Orleans’ defense, which turned Minshew Mania into mush. The unit sacked Minshew twice, kept him from scrambling and took away his top target. Minshew completed 14 of 29 passes for 163 yards and an interception. “I told our defense I felt like if they played eight quarters they were not going to score a touchdown today,” coach Sean Payton said. Bridgewater was considerably more efficient than Minshew, finishing 24 of 36 passing for 240 yards. Thomas caught eight passes for 89 yards and Cook finished with three receptions for 37 yards. Running back Alvin Kamara was limited because of an ankle injury and left the game late See SAINTS page 5

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A Run at the SWAC The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

Debrandin Brown

The Southern Digest

The Jags came into Sunday’s game against UAPB with hopes of improving their standings in the SWAC after early success in the conference. The Southern University volleyball team was looking to build on their latest victory against UAPB earlier this week where the Jaguars won 3-2. Coming into the October 13 matchup against the Tigers, Southern looked add another win to their record in the SWAC. The afternoon was filled with dominance from the Jaguars, who’s blocking and fast reaction time demoralizing Grambling early in the game. The first set saw the two teams exchange points in the

early action of the game. Despite Grambling trying to stick around, it was only a matter of time before the Southern offensive threats to the game away. Winning the first set with a score of 25-15, the Jags didn’t have to sweat too much early on vs the Tigers. The second set was much of the same as the Jags continued where they left off on a strong start. The second set saw Southern claim a lead early as they dominated the Tigers for much of the set. With contributions from Shelby Jolly and Princess Stark, Southern was able to handily win the second set despite passionate play from Grambling.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - Page 5

Senior, Arabella Hall, middle blocker, makes a kill in the first set of the SU vs. Grambling Volleyball game at Clifford Seymour Gym October 13 (Tiffany Williams/DIGEST)

Sensing the game getting out of hand, Grambling came back in the final set in an attempt to extend the match to four sets. Due to good blocking by the Southern front in latter parts of the set, these goals were short

lived. The Jags closed out the third set convincingly to sweep the Grambling Tigers with a match score of 3-0. Southern will look to keep the momentum going as they play Southeastern

Louisiana on October 15 in Hammond. Southern will resume SWAC play on October 25 against Mississippi Valley State in Jackson, Mississippi.

Looking For Answers: Soccer Struggles in the SWAC Debrandin Brown

The Southern Digest

The Southern University soccer team took on Prairie View as they looked to secure their first win of the year in the SWAC. Previously the Jags have fell to both Alabama State and Alabama A&M among others en route to a 0-3-1 record in the conference. The game started out with both teams protecting their individual goals well. Good and efficient defense from both sides spoiled any hopes of scoring for either team in the first half. The first half of play also saw the Jaguars take only three shots compared to Prairie View’s eight. The Jags finished with 8 shot attempts for the game. Chioma Eriken, who has made a name for herself as one of the better goalies in the SWAC, tallied a GA of three while not recording a save. The Jaguars played hard the entirety of the first half as they kept Prairie View scoreless heading into the

Forward, Lauryn McKinney, dribbles down the field past a Prairie View defender on Sunday, October 14 at Jaguar Park. (Joseph Delaney-McAllister/DIGEST)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) releases a pass just before he is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Najee Goode (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

after tweaking a knee. He finished with 31 yards on 11 carries to go along with seven catches for 35 yards. Backup Latavius Murray added 44 yards on eight carries, most of it coming in the second half. “We know that when we’re out there playing it’s going to take all 11 guys on the football field to win these football games,” Bridgewater said. The Saints (5-1), who play at Chicago next week, have won games a variety of ways since Brees went down with a thumb injury in Week 2. They beat Dallas and Jacksonville with defensive gems and outscored Seattle and Tampa Bay. “Each week we just talk about how do we win that game,” Payton said.

breaks. The second half saw Southern’s defense break after bending all day as Prairie View recorded three goals in the concluding half of play. In total, the Jags allowed 18 shots by Prairie View on the afternoon. The first score of the day came at the 52nd minute mark, with the final two coming at the 81 and 86 minute marks respectively. Jessenia Rivera, a senior defender and criminal justice major from McKinney, Texas, led the Jaguars with three shot attempts on the day. Additionally, Prairie View was able to put three corner kicks onto the scorecard as well to take a 3-2 advantage over the Jaguars in this category. The Jags fell to Prairie View with a score of 0-3 as they fall to 0-4-1 in the SWAC this season. The Jaguars next game will be on October 18 as they take on UAPB in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

SAINTS from page 4 “Honestly, in a week or two weeks from now, we’re not going to look specifically to how we win certain games. Hopefully, we’re going to learn and get better from how we won. The key is understanding wins in our league.” Bridgewater hasn’t put the offense on his back. He hasn’t had to, either. But he’s been fairly consistent and played mostly turnover-free football. “I’m definitely getting comfortable just with all the guys,” Bridgewater said. “We work extremely hard throughout the week just trying to continue to build that chemistry. ... It’s good to just continue to get those guys involved and they help this team win football games.”

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Page 6 - Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Sentinel Of An Enlightened Student Body since 1926

SUGC Takes Houston: Choir Tyler Perry Debuts New attends College Night 330-Acre Studio James Eaglin, Jr.

Lealer Sims

The Southern Digest

Members of the Southern University Gospel Choir (SUGC) spent last Friday traveling to Houston, Texas to attend College Night hosted by Evangelist Temple Church of God in Christ. For more than 40 years, Evangelist Temple offers college choirs from across the country the opportunity to fellowship and perform for each other and the congregation in attendance. SUGC has been a regular amongst the invited guests over the last decade. In total, 7 colleges and universities were in attendance this year, including Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M, Lamar, and University Of Houston. “Definitely a 10,” said junior elementary education major Imani Savory when asked to rate her experience. “[SUGC] brought the heat...and turned the church out! I would most definitely do it all over again.” The choir also managed to give an impromptu performance at a nearby shopping center that was well received by shoppers. A video of the performance was posted on the choir’s social media pages, receiving hundreds of views on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, with many people leaving likes and positive comments. “It was fun singing and worshipping with our choir mates and just

Saturday, October 5 was the grand opening gala for Tyler Perry Studios. The successful Black film producer opened his film studio on a converted army base in Atlanta, Georgia. According to TylerPerryStudios.com, it is a 330-acre lot on the former Fort McPherson army base. It is now one of the largest motion picture studios in the United States. It has twelve stages, over a dozen sets, a green space and a historic district, all precursored by signs on the highway in Atlanta that lead to Tyler Perry’s Studios. Many African American celebrities were in attendance, including Beyonce, Cicely Tyson, Oprah Winfrey and many more. Actress Tiffany Haddish was there and she said, “Every time that I came in to work here at Tyler Perry studios, it was the biggest smile on my face. ‘Cause I know the history of this place — It was a Confederate union military base, trying to keep us enslaved. Now it’s owned by a black man.” Tyler Perry is in inspiration to many actors, actresses and creative people all over the world. Perry’s studio is not only viewed as a personal accomplishment, but it has also created jobs and internships for people that want to work in the film or entertainment industry, even inspiring students at Southern University. Renaldo Ruffin, a sophomore

Southern University Gospel Choir is celebrating it’s 50th year. (DIGEST ART)

enjoying ourselves, giving God all the glory, honor, and praise,” said Ciara Anderson. SUGC’s trip to Texas is one of many appearances the choir has made during their 50th year anniversary. Since 1969, the gospel choir has traveled across the country to perform for various audiences. The marquee event SUGC is gearing up for this year comes in late November, as they will formally celebrate their anniversary with a 50th Anniversary Jubilee. “Although I’ve only been a

part of the choir for two years, every song we sing is preparing someone somewhere for a major breakthrough,” says Savoy, “... and I know that as long as we sing as a whole, breakthroughs will happen the night of the 50th Anniversary Jubilee!” Follow the Southern University Gospel Choir on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@su_gospelchoir) to learn more details about upcoming performances and booking information.

Mass Communications major from Virginia is more than impressed by Tyler Perry’s new studio. When asked how Tyler Perry inspires him, he said “I have always been a fan of his movies and plays. They were a part of my childhood growing up. I have seen almost every Madea movie. That man is a creative genius and hopefully my career is as successful as his.” When asked his favorite Tyler Perry creation he said “It’s hard to pick because they are all so great, but one of my personal favorites is I Can Do Bad All By Myself. It is very funny but teaches a lesson ... Tyler Perry is a good inspiration for young Black actors and filmmakers. At one point, he was homeless, and now he owns a studio bigger than Disney. He’s also creating jobs which is a plus for the Black community. I would even apply for an internship or job at his studio. That would be cool.” Tyler Perry Studios is a new step in Black Hollywood. Black actors and actresses will be able to showcase their talents. People are really looking forward to new movies and plays and whatever else Tyler Perry has under his sleeves. This studio is also going to make Black history, because Tyler Perry is the first Black man with his own studio. Tyler Perry’s empire will probably live on years and years from now. Who will be the next Black film maker?

The FINAL 6IX: FYE keeping freshmen busy Aliya Creecy

The Southern Digest

At a certain point in a person’s life, they are given the option to leave the “nest” and attend college. No longer under the guidance of their parent or guardian, they must fend for themselves. Or do they? Executive Director of First and Second Year Experience, Zackeus Johnson, sought out to provide that guidance.“The purpose of First Year Experience is to ensure a seamless transition from high school to college for first year students.” FYE consist of Mentors and Mentees with specific roles to follow. Johnson explains the expectations of Mentors and Mentees. “FYE Mentors strive to assist mentees set goals, manage their time, network and build a sense of self-motivation…I expect mentees to utilize the advice given by mentors, ask questions, and serve as ambassadors for

Students waiting in line for food at the Office of First and Second Year Experience’s Midterm Breakfast inside the Smith-Brown Memorial Union lobby on Wednesday, October 9. (Te’yanah Owens/DIGEST)

the Office of F/SYE so they can one day serve as a mentor to incoming first year students.” When asked about the purpose of the program, Falyn Hollins, a Business Marketing Major from Baton Rouge, LA and mentee, stated “I believe the purpose of First Year Experience

is to help keep students on track by providing any assistance to make sure they graduate.” Hollins disclosed “I’ve had a good experience with my mentor. He checks in with me and makes sure I’m informed on what’s going on around campus. He has been very beneficial.”

Likewise, Mentor Marlin Williams, a Senior Chemistry Pre- Med Major from New Orleans, La projected “We help Students with anything… with their classes… we help them with scholarships. We give them the extra push… The motivation in the corner.” Williams delivers a word of advice by saying “My main advice is that you miss half of the shots you don’t take.” He also discussed in an interview that “Its okay that you don’t know anything”. He proclaimed that there shouldn’t be shame in ignorance because one can always learn just like those who had to learn before to be where they are now. FYE encourages “15 to Finish in 4”, a campaign that Originated at the University of Hawaii . Students are encouraged to enroll in no less than fifteen credit hours a semester, in order to graduate “on time” in four years. Staying on track of academics is a major part ofFirst

and Second Year Experience. In Freshman Seminar, the students are required to complete a JAG Plan. As stated by Zacheus Johnson “The J.A.G Plan stands for JAGUAR ACADEMIC GOALS Plan. This plan allows students to not only become involved, but utilized the wrap around services and participate in events and activities that will bring students out of their comfort zone and commit to institution.” The Final Six is a portion of the JAG Plan which requires the students to complete and attend 6 tasks or events. This includes Mid-Term Grab-N-Go, Think Win-Win, Ecumenical Service, Miss Southern’s Coronation, Collegiate Talks, and an International Walk. For more information, email FYE@subr.edu of checkout the First Year Experience social media outlets: @FYE_SUBR on Instagram or @FYEsubr on Twitter.

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Dorm Maintenance: Lack Thereof

Sydney Brown

The Southern Digest

Do you have problems with a leaky faucet, toilet not flushing, or the outlet not working? Shannon Sharpe would tell you “that ain’t no problem”, but apparently at Southern it is a major problem. When we have problems in our dormitories and/ or apartments, we are told to submit a work order form and someone will come to help us. However, this has not been my experience, just like it has not been many others’ either. Since the beginning of my academic career at Southern, I have submitted or made my residential assistant aware of a problem within my dorm on several occasions, and only once has a work order request of mine been fixed. In this fall

semester alone, since move-in week, I have made several complaints about our apartment toilet not flushing and even mentioned a couple of our lights being out, but we have yet to see maintenance personnel come to our room. Many students have this same issue, constantly reporting problems and those problems never being resolved. As students living on campus, we pay too much for housing to have so many unanswered problems. Our maintenance requests go unanswered for so long that we start to ignore the problem and eventually adapt and this is not okay. As paying students of the university, it is unacceptable that we just eventually shrug off the issues within our living situations, or even having to temporarily fix it ourselves.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Bailie Boyd

The Southern Digest

targeted or being knocked down. We, as a student body, have to do better. There are better ways to approach someone or get their attention and that is not how y’all mothers taught y’all. I am not targeting men, but I am speaking up for the women who think their voice doesn’t matter. There are some true gentlemen out there who know how to approach and talk to a woman with respect. If that is you, then you were taught right, but this is for this is for your friend with the reckless mouth and the other men and women who don’t have manners. Yes, men do get targeted too, verbal abuse is real and it happens to all people. We need to teach the younger generations how to treat and talk to folks because if not, it’s going to continue. Disrespect will be non-stop and the problems will grow and become worse. Treat people how you want to be treated, and talk to people with respect because you never know who you are dealing with.

On a regular basis, students jokingly compare what all is wrong in their rooms. Just the other day I had several conversations on this topic alone with no connection to this article, where the student would sarcastically describe their room. In one conversation I was told that on occasion half of the room’s power would go out. A lot of these unanswered maintenance requests can result in an unsafe living environment. Many times I have been told about outlets not working and how when the student tried to use it, it would spark and start to smoke or would shock them and still proceed to smoke. Imagine going to plug in your laptop so you can finish an assignment and sparks start flying, this is very hazardous to student’s living and health. As students we need to take initiative

and report these issues instead of shrugging off the problem. We are creating unsafe and squalor living conditions for ourselves and we should be more aware of that. If us as students show that our maintenance problems are important by consistently reporting them and staying on maintenance personnel, then maybe they will start to tend to our needs. We need to enforce that they come to our rooms and fix our problems in its entirety, and not come and put a bandage over it like most times. It is not fair that at the end of the semester we get fined for something that is wrong in our room even though we have reported the issue. We have rights and if we have to pay so much for housing, our maintenance request need to be answered.

Why SU vs LSU Should Not Happen

Diamond Butler

The Southern Digest

In September 2022, the Southern University Jaguars could play against the Louisiana State University football team (allegedly). This event could be one of the biggest events in SU history. Southern is already known for our Human Jukebox Marching Band, but this will help spread our name on a more national scene. Not only that, it could give Southern a chance to gain more sponsorships to pay for updates and new additions to the campus. Along with the other benefits, this game can show how amazing the Jaguar football team is. It is not an unknown fact that no matter which school goes up against the Jaguars they can never beat the SU swag. The Jaguars will forever be THAT team. PERIOD!! When going up against LSU, the Jaguars are expected to go at it with everything they have. Regardless if they win or lose, the Jaguars need to make their

mark and show why we are a force to be reckoned with. When the Jaguars go out to play, they do so intending to dominate. When I think of LSU the first thing that comes to mind is the controversy. The school would try any and everything to prevent black students from attending, but now when black highschoolers apply for colleges LSU is one of the first schools they try to attend. Why would you attend a school that did not want blacks there in the first place? Even though LSU has all this money to buy a bunch of things for the campus, black students today cannot be comfortable to be going there knowing its history. However, their black students sure are comfortable going off the LSU campus and coming to the SU campus to have a good time. For instance, during our pretty Wednesday, the black students and Greeks would come to our campus to party with us. When you think about it, if it was not for those contracts the football players have to sign

they would not be attending LSU, they would have gone to a different college. A poll was posted by Jacques Doucet, WAFB Sports Anchor, on whether Southern should play against LSU, 51% of people said no. So why play against the school when people don’t even want to see us play? Our team is small. Is it that we are not big enough to play LSU? Is it because we are not “worthy” of having the opportunity to play and make a better name for ourselves. I know Southern does not have the same amount of money LSU has, but saying that we are not wanted at the school will only make us want to come and play harder than any other school they ever faced. At the end of the day, Southern is not trying to be LSU. We have our ways of doing things along with a family environment of the campus. No matter whom the Southern University Jaguars face, they are going to show why SU is one of the best schools in Louisiana

DIGEST COMICS “DA COLLEGE LIFE”

I’m walking back to my dorm at 11pm after a full night of studying in the library. As I get to the circle, I see a group of men. Per usual, I walk up and all I hear is “Say love” multiple times. As I ignore it, they start walking my way, and stop me and attempt to speak their piece. Yet when I tell the men that I, in fact, have a man, they then choose to curse me out... like I’ve disrespected them... Have you ever felt uncomfortable going to the back alone as a woman, having all those men breathing down your back saying derogatory things to you? We as women go through a lot. We are constantly looked at as a type of item, it’s something we cannot shake. Black women in general are targeted as a whole. We are constantly being put down for being ratchet or ghetto compared to other races who try to do the exact same thing. Black women just can’t catch a break whether it’s being

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - Page 7

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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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Page 4 - Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Perception Vs Reality: Do You Really Know About Africa? Nandi Munyulwa

The Southern Digest

A s k someone who has never been to Africa what comes mind MUNYULWA to when they hear its name and it is likely you will be painted one of two pictures: one of a man running around in skin hides chasing after an impala for game, or another less savory one filled with poverty, diseases, violence and fear. What people do not seem to understand is that Africa is more than those stereotypes. It is land boasting of lucrative oil and diamond mines which inhabits the seven natural wonders of the world, not forgetting the Great Pyramids. As the second largest continent in the world, it supports over one billion people including bustling major cities. The first misconception people have of Africa is that people there are dying from AIDS. In the 23.8 million people in Africa that have the virus, only 1.2 million died from it in 2010. In fact, a higher percentage

of people die from malignant cancers in the United States than died of AIDS on the entire continent of Africa in 2010. Rather than tying the whole continent to this fatal disease, we should say that the sub-Saharan Africa has an AIDS epidemic which governments are ensuring to lower by implementing various solutions like informational workshops where people learn about the dangers of the HIV and AIDS virus and how to prevent it. After interviewing a few students on campus, four out of eight people thought that Africa was everything showcased on the media. Africa has what we can call an image problem. The way Africa is portrayed in the media is completely different from what it is. From what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gathered, some students rely on what they are only taught from high school and think that Africa is a vast jungle where lions meander freely around, and that it is still primitive. Though it is a third world continent, most of the privileges Americans have, Africans most definitely have too. Including cars and communication systems

like cell phones or airplanes. Which also brings us to a misconception that Africans are illiterate. Quite a number of people assume that Africans are uncivilized and uneducated people, but literacy rates in countries like Zimbabwe are above the stated average and also keeping in mind that the literacy rate differs in each country. The positive images of Africa include Africa as the ancestral home of black people, African festivals and attire, African history and traditions and African spirituality which have further structured underlying dimensions of how Americans see Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including their heritage, inseparable African identity, their fantasy of going back to Africa and the failed stereotypic portrayal of Africa over the centuries. People should not put Africa in a box because it is beyond the poverty, beyond civil wars and the violence. Africa is the cradle of humankind. It is a safe place which I feel people should give a chance to learn and research about and maybe in the future, visit.

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