VOLUME 77 - ISSUE 2 by Southern Digest

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

Volume 77 . Issue 2

Jags defeats Golden Bears in Home opener

FULL STORY ON PAGE 4.

ISSUE 2 . SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

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A Tale of Two: Students talk admissions experience Ryann Jordan The Southern Digest

COVID-19 has made life more difficult in every way imaginable for everyone, but college students in particular have had a time adjusting to what may be our new normal. With an entirely new class of students gracing The Bluff however, students from the class of 2024 and the class of 2025 have discussed their own experiences with the admissions process between the two of them. Freshman biology Presslee Robins stated that “The admissions process was pretty painless, it only took a few hours after I put in my transcripts, recommendation letters and financial aid. I didn’t really have any problems and got my decision back in two weeks. Once I decided this was where I wanted to go, my mom and I filled out my housing, paid my fees, and I was good.”

While the admissions process can be a hassle if you don’t know what all you’ll need, being prepared and having all of the necessary paperwork made all of the difference in how students perceive the admissions process. For Robins, the readiness made her overall admissions process speedy and efficient.

As an incoming freshman, a painless admissions process is something that just takes a load off the students and parents when it comes to readjusting to new surroundings. Students from the class of 2024 beg to differ on a simpler admissions process, as a student of the class of 2024 I can say that with COVID being at its peak in 2020 many were adjusting to the “new normal” and the admissions process was tiring. “I had to bring copies of my paperwork twice before I was able to complete the process. It was a headache at first, but I was glad to be able to get it straight before the semester started,” said Marcus Jeffries, a sophomore social work major from Monroe, Louisiana. Despite the negative experiences that some students may have had however, the general consensus of new students is that the admissions process was overall

Reflections on the Elections Adrienne Allen The Southern Digest

The Student Government Association is responsible for coordinating activities for their individual classes and the student body as a whole throughout the school year. This past Friday, the last members of the SGA were announced as freshman elections reached their conclusion. Election week has arrived for the class of 2025. Class of 2025 now has a vice president which is Nalone Sumo freshman majoring in Finance. “We had a long stressful campaign week but I’m glad we was able to put everything together and get this dub,’’ Sumo says during the interview. “I’m looking forward to the events we are throwing, me and my president K.T (Kevin Taylor SU president) ,we got some big things in store for our class and I’m just happy that I am able to be a part of that”. The votes for this election were announced during the first pep rally of the year, with this semester’s election being one of the closest in recent memory, especially in the race for Miss Freshman. This year’s Miss Freshman, Whitnee Davis, a freshman Psychology major won 203 votes, with the next closest candidate being Faith Woods, who won 186 votes. With only 0.8 percent of the freshman class not voting, this years freshman class elections saw widespread participation. “First off let me say I am extremely honored and blessed to be chosen as Miss Freshman,” Davis said in her statement.I love being a HBCU Campus queen, meeting new people, being able to continue a legacy, and be the face of my class”. Along with Davis, Jasmine Brown secured the vote for sophomore class Vice President, winning 27.5 percent of the vote out of the six candidates. This was the first pep rally that Southern University has had since the start of the pandemic going on two years ago. Congratulations to all winners in the fall election and additional information regarding SGA will be forthcoming.

source: Student Government Association

GO JAGS! BEAT MCNEESE

See ADMISSIONS page 5

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Updates in Financial Aid

ADMISSIONS from page 1 efficient. Compared to the class of 2024, incoming freshman were impacted less by the pandemic in their admissions process, and were able to complete all necessary paperwork with minimal hindrance.

Ciara Lee/DIGEST The Southern Digest

While not perfect, the Financial Aid department at Southern University has made more and more subtle improvements in efficiency and speed over recent semesters prior to the pandemic. Due to the introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic over a year ago, Southern University students and staff have had to handle their business virtually, but this semester, things may be on track to show improvement once again. In speaking with scholarship coordinator Christopher Levy, he conveyed that the Office of Financial Aid has been adjusting to the new landscape and has strived to create the most effective and helpful experience for incoming students. Despite their inability to contact each other and students at times due to the pandemic, the department has come together to develop opportunities for students to get the resources and answers they need. Southern Universities Scholarship Coordinator Christopher M. Levy said, “ I enjoy teaching and educating students and their families on the enrollment process, more specifically financial aid, and giving them the financial literacy they need to make the best decision for them in terms of paying for college.” Many wonder what changes

Faculty member and student alumnus, Tracey Taylor-Jerrell has said “This year’s process is better, and the First Year Experience team has done a good job. Kudos to Dr. Zackeus Johnson and the entire First Year Experience Department.”

Junior, Mass Communications major Kadir Mustafa helps a student in the office of financial aid. Sydney Fairbanks/DIGEST)

that the Office of Financial Aid has made to effectively reach the incoming students compared to last year’s accommodation. Several students have spoken out about some of the changes the financial aid department has made, including Biology major, Jashante Berry, who said: “The opportunity to receive help inperson allowed a more efficient experience [for me personally].” Berry also noted how resources like the “QLess App” made her time for waiting in line as convenient as possible. This past year, the Office of Financial Aid created recurring

workshops that begin in October, walking students through the financial aid process and how to file information on their own. As an incoming first-year, Berry felt that this development was a great idea that would connect with students on a personal and educational level. Sterling Flurry, a sophomore finance major, who also recommended the “QLess App” said that he struggled without the help of his parents during the financial aid process. Flurry noted how being an out of state student and completing the FAFSA on his own, along

with being restricted to online submission and contact adversely impacted his own process. “I know a lot of my peers who struggled this past year as well, but I appreciate the effort that the department has made to improve and create a better experience for students,” said Flurry. The first financial aid workshops will begin for students looking to improve their financial aid literacy will take place in October. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

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Jags defeat Golden Bears in home opener Evan Funchess The Southern Digest

On Saturday afternoon the Jaguars faced off with Miles college. This game would be marked as the second annual Pete Richardson Classic named after the legendary coach. Southern looked to right their wrongs after a lopsided loss at the hands of Troy University. In their previous outing, they only managed to put up 3 points so they looked to recoup in this weekend’s contest. The game started out with a bang as Southern quickly took the lead with a 55 yard drive by redshirt junior Glendon McDaniel that was capped with a five yard run from redshirt senior Devon Benn. Both teams traded scores throughout the first half. By the end of the first half Southern trailed Miles by four points 17-13. The Jags seemed to reignite their offense while their defense seemed to be in a daze. The story of the second half was a completely different one for Southern however. The Jags came out of the lockerroom looking to make a statement as they quickly made another 62 yard drive followed by a 6 yard touchdown run from Benn. The Jags opening drive set the tone for the rest of the game as they only gave up one touchdown the rest of the way. Coach Rollins spoke to their mantra coming out of halftime. “We went back to the basics”. Southern also managed to score three straight unanswered touchdowns to win the game 41-24.

Southern University Football team charges onto the field during their home opener against Miles College (Isaac Armstrong/ DIGEST)

This game had its ups and downs but it proved to be a refreshing change of pace from the previous weeks effort. Southern was able to execute offensively and defensively down the stretch and maintain dominance throughout the second half. The run game truly stood out as the Jaguars were able to combine for a 323 yard performance.

Hawked: Women’s soccer loses to neighboring ULM Dante Davis The Southern Digest

Coming off a hard-fought tie against Louisiana State Shreveport, the Southern University women’s soccer team were looking to end their out-of-conference play strong with a win versus the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Sunday, September 12. Speaking with the coach of the Jaguars pregame, Jeremy Fontenot predicted that if the Jaguars could keep the score low, their backline would create opportunities for the forwards and midfielders to score, “we feel great. This is one team we feel like we can compete against. Coming off a tie last Friday, I think we have improved, we had thirtyfive shots then so now we just need to get it into the back of the net.” Unfortunately, the Jaguars were unable to repeat the offensive production that they had seen the game prior. The first half was competitive and true to coach Fontenot’s game plan, although the number of shots and the time of possession were overwhelmingly in ULM’s favor. The first half saw about ten shot attempts for ULM with about three attempts for Southern. The Jaguar’s stout defense and excellent goalkeeping by senior keeper, Chioma Eriken, kept the Warhawks to just two goals while a pass from sophomore, Alayla Jackson, allowed freshman,

midfielder, Victoria Thomas, to juke out the Warhawk’s goalie for an easy goal. The half ended with a questionable offsides call that stopped a late, lady Jag’s advance. The half ended, 2-1 Warhawks, with Southern fans upset at the call. “We could be a little more aggressive. We’ve missed a couple opportunities, a couple missed balls. I thought there was an offsides call that was questionable but we’ve been playing hard,” commented fan, Zavier Moore. The second half saw much more of the same from both teams. The Lady Jag’s defense was unable to continue to withstand the constant pressure from the Warhawks, who started the second half much more physically than the first and, ultimately, defeated the Jaguars in a 6-1 route. ULM won because they were able to beat the Southern defense, caching them out of position during rotations, with quick touches and accurate passes. The lack of offensive production also severely hampered Southern, with the ball spending the vast majority of the game on Southern’s side. The offense just wasn’t able to get it going versus ULM’s defense. “I think we started off well but we let the goals differentiate how we would continue the rest of the game. I believe that we See HAWKED page 5

Out of the 323 rush yards gained by Southern, the bulk of those yards came from redshirt sophomore Craig Nelson who had 134 yards carrying and a touchdown. Benn’s two touchdown’s also provided a spark for the Jags. The run game for Southern became the glue as the game shifted back and forth.

This was a game of firsts for the Jags as Coach Jason Rollins captured his first career win. Also, this was Southern’s first win of the season. Coach Rollins spoke to the great performance by his second string quarterback McDaniel “He did See FOOTBALL page 5

Junior, Middle Defender, Aniya Clark uses defensive skills against ULM opponent at the Women’s SU vs ULM soccer game on Sunday, September 12. (Kalani Jones/DIGEST)

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Lavish Living; NIL Becomes Law of the Land Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest

Conversations surrounding the issue of the name, image, and likeness have surrounded the world of college sports for as long as college sports have existed, and yet, the past year has yielded the most progress on that front than any other era in recent memory. Over the summer, the NCAA ruled in favor of student-athletes being able to profit from their own names, image, and likeness. In the past, it was issues surrounding college athlete’s name, image, and likeness that saw the fall of popular gaming series such as NCAA football due to it being illegal for student-athletes to profit from their work on the field without sacrificing their amateur status. With the implementation of the new rules that began on July 1 of 2021 however, all of this is set to change. Not only will studentathletes now be permitted to profit from their image and likeness in the sense of being able to be featured on video games and media entities, but they will also be able to benefit from endorsement dollars from companies such as Nike and Jordan while still playing college ball. While football and basketball players will be the main beneficiaries of these changes, all college sports will be able to profit under the new rules,

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including soccer, bowling, and tennis, to name a few. Following the rule change, NCAA President Mark Emmert had this to say about the steps that will follow now that players aren’t inhibited in their earning power, at least in terms of being able to do business outside of the university. “With the variety of state laws adopted across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity on a national level. The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve,” said Emmert. In stark contrast to how the paying college athletes were thought of in the past, most people in administration

roles in the NCAA have begun speaking in favor of the student-athletes being able to profit from their name, image, and like. With HBCUs being home to much talent around the country, the new rules also open new avenues of thought for coaches and players on the Bluff as well. Interim head football Jason Rollins spoke to his point of view on the new rules in an interview with the Office of Student Media here at Southern University, stating: “You know it is amazing how far we have come in college football, and it is amazing to see.” Jackson State freshman quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the first SWAC athlete to capitalize on a deal with the headphone mega-corporation, with Sanders himself stating “I’m excited to be part of a brand

that inspires and represents the culture in a positive way, and that’s exactly what I want to do with my career. It’s an honor to be the first college athlete on their roster, and I couldn’t have imagined a better partnership.” While businesses and campus affiliates will likely be first in line to sponsor their HBCU student-athletes under the new rules, desks such as this one are an example of what may be to come for the future of black college sports. Whereas before, HBCUs would miss out on potential talent due to a myriad of reasons, top-tier HBCU talent will have more to think about than just what the school has to offer, such as self-marketability and similar factors.

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FOOTBALL from page 4 a great job for us”. McDaniel went 10-13 on his passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. While he also rushed for 60 yards along with two touchdowns. McDaniel alluded to practice preparation as the key to his success “the game is just like practice with just more people watching”. Now that Southern has a win under their belt they will look for a repeat performance next week against McNeese State University. The cowboys will be looking to bounce back after a 34-7 loss to LSU. The last time these two teams met up was in August of 2019 in which the Jags suffered a six point loss to their opponents.

#BEHEARD SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR EMAIL: DIGEST@SUBR.EDU HAWKED from page 4 could have fought harder,” said senior, center-back Miamour Mesa. “We let up a lot of holes. But other than that, we played okay. We have two weeks before conference play so we need to fix some things so that we can show everyone that we can play at a high level,” said Coach Fontenot. Southern looks to start conference play at home, September 24, against Texas Southern University at 6 PM.

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A group of Southern University students cheer on the Jaguars during their first home game of the season against Miles College on Saturday, September 11. (Terrell Smith/DIGEST)

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The men of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia sings a tune during the 2021 Miss Freshman Pageant on Wednesday, September 8 inside the University Event Center. ( Jayden Harris/DIGEST)

Follet Bookstore employees prepare to sell merchandise during the tailgate at the commuter parking lot on September 11. (Kailen Bourne/DIGEST)

SGA President Kevin Taylor-Jarrell and the 91st Miss. Southern University Jaden Johnson smile as they prepare to lead the Royal Court into the first home game. (Isaac Armstrong/DIGEST)

ISSUE 2 . SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

President-Chanceller Ray Belton presents former Head Coach Pete Richardson with a certificate to officially rename the football in his honor. (David Robichaux, Jr./DIGEST)

Sophomore, midfielder, Alyssa Terry uses defensive skills against ULM opponent at the Women’s SU vs ULM soccer game on Sunday, September 12. (Kalani Jones/DIGEST)

Junior, Music Education Major, Bryce Wadis, blows his tuba during the Pete Richardson Classic. (Kailen Bourne/DIGEST)

Freshman, Music Major, Darius Gaines from New Orleans, holds an adoptive kitten from the Red Barn Farm Tour during the first home game tailgate in the parking lot just outside A.W. Mumford stadium on Saturday, September 11. (Kailen Bourne/DIGEST)

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Attention SUBR Students

Wednesday, September 22

Check your sus.edu email account to activate, access and claim your Handshake account today! All students must have a Handshake account to register for the virtual career fair and interview with participating companies.

Check List ✔ Claim your Handshake account ✔ Create Your Profile ✔ Upload your Resume ✔ Register to Attend the Virtual Career Fair

Call 225-771-2200 for assistance.

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It’s Giving: #SU25 Miss Freshman Pageant Kamyrn Eugene The Southern Digest

Pageant’s are a pretty big deal on Southern University’s campus. On Wednesday, September 8th however, four freshmen ladies showcased their beauty, talents, and school spirit on stage in the Miss Freshman Pageant. The Miss Freshman Pageant is a fall semester event that allows students to meet and get to know the contestants running for Miss Freshman. Comprised of some of the biggest voices in their class, this years pageant showcased the different skills, interests, and hobbies of the women of SU25. As students gathered in the Event Center to watch the contestants, there was a DJ playing music ensuring that the crowd was entertained and up on their feet. Despite us still being in a pandemic, SGA made sure that the pageant was in person and enjoyable for the crowd, giving us a taste of what Southern University used to be like pre Covid. After speaking with one of the contestants Faith Woods, she rated her overall experience a 10, noting the opening intro to be her favorite portion of the pageant. A sophomore student by the name of Jourdynn Redd, said that her favorite portion of the pageant was watching Contestant #1 Madison Davis’ talent. “Her talent was eye-catching and

Contestants for the Miss Freshman Pageant pose in their formal wear while presenting themselves to the crown inside the University Event Center on September 8. (David Robichaux, Jr/DIGEST)

entertaining. She’s a great performer.” All contestants are made to show off different talents that are meant to set them apart from other contestants, and according to the students in attendance, these skills were the highlight of the night.

Heaven Britton was another sophomore student in attendance who was there to support her Jaguar Ambassador organization member, Faith Woods. “The energy from the crowd was great and Faith looked beautiful on stage.” While this may be the first pageant of

the year, attendees left the event looking forward to the next pageant to take place on Southern University’s campus. This has definitely set the bar high for future pageants that will be held this year!

Doing Numbers: First Pep Rally of the Year Christopher Hunter/DIGEST The Southern Digest

As the fall semester at Southern University resumes following Hurricane Ida, much of the love and hype for the school continues to return as well. On Friday, September 10th, the first pep rally of the year was hosted on campus, and members of the Jaguar nation got to experience a little taste of what it feels like to bleed blue and gold again. “I’m having fun, I’m coming straight from Shreveport where we don’t do stuff like this, so it’s been fun!” said freshman Iyana Collier. As far as game day goes, Collier says “I’m most excited about the band. I’m a band head!” With it being just one day prior to the first home game on the bluff, everyone was in such high spirits. Students were entertained with music, games, and of course the amazing Human Jukebox made an appearance! It was a great way for many freshmen and sophomores to see just how the bluff really likes to celebrate. The energy remained through the roof as students continued to celebrate the start of football season! For the first time in a while student were gathered in large crowds and were full of excitement. Especially when the mighty and powerful band marched through and graced the audience with their sound. If you were in attendance you might have also gotten a chance to see Southern University’s cheer team show up and show out, as usual! They amazed the crowd

Southern University Students, faculty and staff do the “SU Shuffle” during the first home game pep rally on Friday, September 10 outside on the lawn near Mayberry Dining Hall. (Christopher Hunter/DIGEST)

with their risky stunts and technique. All eyes were on them as they tossed cheerleaders in the air and executed their routines with ease. While the pep rally continued, fall elections also came to a wrap as the results were finally announced. Students had been campaigning all week long and we now know who some of our new

student leaders are. “We had a long and stressful campaign week, but I’m glad we were able to put everything together and get this done for our team,” said newly elected Vice President Nalone Sumo. “I’m looking forward to the events that we’re throwing. My President KT and I have some big things in store for our class.”

As things begin to make a slow return to normalcy, it’s great to see the Jaguar nation come together like old times! The first pep rally was not only a way to hype students up for game day, but also a way to celebrate everyone being able to come together once again on the bluff.

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Adversaries of the Ages; CLB vs Donda Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest

For the past couple of years, the music industry has witnessed a shift in nearly all aspects as new generations of music listeners have expanded their listening pallets and reevaluated what makes a music project truly great. No greater example of this shift can be found than in the fan reaction to the newest projects from Kanye West and Drake. Legends of their respective eras, there’s been no shortage of drama between the two creators as the countdown to their respective albums ticked down. This tension reached a head with the release of Kanye’s Donda, which dropped to extensive praise from music critics and fans alike. Despite the gospel approach that Kanye has taken to his everyday life as well as music, Donda felt more like classic Kanye than any project he’s released in the last decade. With inspired production and passionate instrumentation, Donda can make a solid claim to being the best produced album of the year. As the name would indicate, Donda is a tribute to Kanye West’s late mother, Donda West. The album is filled with references to the West family matriarch and the spiritual connection that West still has with her. While no one would ever mistake Kanye for an all-time great lyricist, the passion that was put on

Terrell Smith The Southern Digest

Many HBCUs across the country advocate for different causes. Southern University A&M College is the first of many to advocate for mental health awareness. Students are taking the initiative to spread their own creative way of positivity, through a multitude of creative ways. Students Jazmon Derouselle, Taylor Curtis, and Corimonae Bay decided to start their own way to spread positivity on campus by spreading sticky notes with positive messages on them to encourage students to not give up, and strive for whatever they want. The message included statements such as “Smile, today’s a new day,” and “The

Adhki Hine/ DIGEST ART

display on tracks where West did rap was palpable. Looking at Certified Lover Boy by Drake, listeners get more of the same of what can be expected from the Canadian rapper with a mix of rapping and R&B. Unlike Donda, CLB was built around

sky isn’t the limit.” Jazmon Derouselle, a sophomore Mass Communications major from Houston, Texas states, “We love to spread positivity and figured it would be perfect timing to do this with everything negative going on. We are all college students so we understand when time gets stressful and sometimes you just need a little motivation. It’s all about being kind to someone you don’t know and spreading the love.” Taylor Curtis, a sophomore Elementary Education Major from Houston, Texas states, “ The goal of this was to restore joy and bring back the immaculate vibes that were once here! Just spreading positivity and reminding everyone here on campus

its features and lacked a solid direction theme wise, taking a more abstract approach compared to the classic albums of the Boy’s hay day. While Donda and CLB both featured long track lists, Drake’s final song count of 21 felt more bloated than West’s project,

that we are all family!” Corimonae Bay, a sophomore Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism Major from Houston Texas states, “ The motivation behind the project was to restore the joy here at Southern, Especially with so much going on, I believe everyone could use some words of encouragement and positive affirmations. As students we tend to lose faith and forget that life does get better despite everything!” The focus on mental health that’s become present on college campuses across the country is evident in actions such as these taken by Curtis, Bay, and Derouselle. Whereas before it was stigmatized to even mention mental health or request affirmations from your

despite Donda having a grand total of 27 songs. While Donda leaned heavily on its production, much to its benefit, CLB banked on star power, sometimes at the sacrifice of fit on a given track. While CLB’s production was by no means lackluster, this lack of fit with guest features proved to be a detriment to the final product as the audience received it. Despite all of this however, Drake performed as a rapper to his highest level since Views in 2016, with tracks such as Champagne Poetry, Girls Want Girls, and Fair Trade being some of the album’s standouts. Regardless of the rapping ability that was put on display on CLB, there were a fair share of skippable songs that appeared during the middle parts of the album. There were more hit songs on CLB compared to Donda, but this is mainly due to the makeup of each project, with Donda’s clear theme working if it’s fa or. While neither album was bad, they were both made for different purposes and audiences. If you’re a fan of great production and instrumentation, Donda is the project to go to. Likewise, if you’re looking for good beats and pristine rapping, CLB would have the advantage. Ultimately, it would have to come down to personal preference and what you as a listener value more in a song, but it definitely wasn’t a landslide in favor of one album over the other.

friends and peers, the new generation has begun changing the conversation around how they feel and how those feelings should be addressed. Positive affirmations such as those shared in this story have the potential to make a difference in how someone’s day is going, and given the environment that we are in on a college campus, it can’t be underrated how important these gestures could be.If you or anyone that you know is dealing with issues related to mental health or has hinted at feeling down, the SU Counseling Center is open MondayFriday from 8 am to 5 pm. They can be contacted at (225)771-2480.

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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.

PUBLICATION ASSOCIATIONS

The Southern DIGEST is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), College Media Advisers Association (CMA), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).

The Office of Student Media is a department in the Division of Student Affairs.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F S O U T H E R N U N I V E R S I T Y A N D A & M C O L L E G E - B A T O N R O U G E , L A

ISSUE 2 . SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

COMMENTARY

THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM

Back of the Bluff; Return of the Tailgate Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest

HBCU culture has many aspects that many would consider to be crucial in appreciating the overall feel of a football game day. These includes pregame shows, band performances, SWAG surfing, and of course, tailgating. Tailgating at any sporting venue generally includes music, barbecue, and good vibes, but HBCU tailgates brings an entirely new perspective. On the Bluff leading up to Southern kickoffs though, the music plays a little louder, the barbecue is a bit better, and the vibes are just a little cooler. Due to the pandemic that we are still going through, it’s been close to two years since Jaguar Nation has been able to have a proper game day sleight of events. If you were in attendance on the Yard over the weekend, the

Macy Vessell The Southern Digest

Covid-19 has taken away many memories that could have been made, especially for college students. Spring 2019 is when everything went into an uproar. The virus came and isn’t something pleasant to remember. In one week I witnessed students being excited for Springfest that was right around the corner, to being rushed out of dorms and sent back home. Being a freshman, it didn’t affect me until I realized that I’m now a junior and students are now fully back on campus, almost two years later. Though over the months, vaccines have been made to help curb the impact of pandemic, many have doubts about its legitimacy and necessity. Being one that was fully against the vaccine to now being

electricity in the air was obvious as the Jaguar faithful got to make up lost time. While we of course want to show out for the team and show support for the studentathletes, it’s the opportunity to be social among friends and peers that makes SU game days on the Bluff so appealing. Especially after the initial quarantine period of 2020, most people were desperate to have moments in the places that matter most, which for many, is on the Bluff. Despite all of this, the extra emphasis that must be put on safety during these game day events can’t be understated. Tailgating on game days features a diverse cast of characters from all corners of the globe, and as such, we must be mindful of the times we are living. This mindfulness includes staying masked up around large groups of people, with or without the vaccine, and being mindful of

how we interact with high risk members of the Jaguar family, including the elderly and those who have preexisting conditions. It’s also important to note that not everyone on campus in vaccinated, and even with the vaccine, you can still spread COVID. So while we all want to have a back-to-normal game day experience every Saturday going forward, we must also be responsible when it comes to our health. If we stay mindful of the health of others around us and take the necessary precautions by masking up, then perhaps next year will mark a time when such precautions will be unnecessary. Until then, protect yourselves, be mindful of your surroundings, and enjoy the season as we currently have it.

fully vaccinated, I can understand both sides of why you should be vaccinated, as well as why people are against it. The side effects have affected some tremendously, and others are totally fine. I was one who was scared of the side effects because my brother was taken to the hospital hours after receiving the Johnson and Johnson one. After seeing other loved ones receiving the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines with no bad stories, I realized it may not be that bad as my head was thinking. The unvaccinated worries are understandable, but some comments are really excuses. The comments about the government trying to kill us off are actually pretty crazy, because it’s many other ways they could have gone about it instead of a vaccine that many doctors stand behind.

Though it did come out faster than many products or cures, we never fully know what goes into our body. We were vaccinated and given shots growing up that we have no clue what was in them, our parents will take us to the doctor and minutes later a needle was in our arm. Some vaccinated people can be annoying which makes the unvaccinated not want it more. Forcing others to believe in what you believe is not the way to go. Everyone has different beliefs, and no mind thinks alike, so while you’re calling the unvaccinated selfish, educate them on why you got vaccinated. Refer them to a professional because social media has everyone’s head in a pothole, and some are too deep in to pull out. Although it is not mandatory for students to be vaccinated, it is highly encouraged by faculty and staff. Continue to stay masked up Jags.

Naughty by Nature: The Air All Around Us Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest

An hub of higher education for black people throughout the South, many see Southern University as a representation of hope for black academia. Like many predominantly black areas in the South and throughout the country however, when it comes to what we can achieve, it’s mostly all about location. As it so happens, just down the road from our esteemed HBCU is the ExxonMobil Refinery, a silent but diligent bane to the daily existence of black people throughout the area, including the students, faculty, and staff of Southern University. Maintaining operations for 24-hours a day and 7 days a week, this particular refinery is the personification of meaning different things to different people. For the masses throughout the greater Baton Rouge area, this refinery represents employment, stability, and economic prosperity, but for the minority of black people who live in the homes surrounding this area, it represents poor living conditions and less than favorable air quality. Regardless, this refinery

and hundreds like it around the state are staples to the economies of the cities that they inhabit, and as such, the bad that comes with them is ignored. Between toxic air quality that’s present for multiple days per month, to the never ending exhaust of the refinery chimneys that creates huge clouds of toxic gas on the daily, to the snow-like sand-aluminum composites that rain from the sky onto our campus as a result of refinery waste, there’s no respite for the communities whose homes have been here for decades. At one time, Cancer Alley was just a plot of land near St. Gabriel that represented how bad plant activity could become if left unchecked. However, now it’s become clear that this trend of plant activity near predominantly black communities is more far reaching than we could have ever before thought. Too many black children with respiratory issues and black elders with preexisting conditions are made to breathe in this toxicity every day or abandon their homes to the industries, and while we are constantly fed propaganda that would make us believe that these plants are necessary evils to our economies and

daily lives, the reality is that they are killing us. Slowly but surely, these refineries and plants have grown in scope all around us, and if we the people don’t take a stand and lobby for regulations on said refineries, there won’t be any more ‘predominantly black’ areas in South Baton Rouge to border our esteemed HBCU; just graveyards and memories of what once was.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F S O U T H E R N U N I V E R S I T Y A N D A & M C O L L E G E - B A T O N R O U G E , L A

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.

GO JAGS! BEAT MCNEESE

ISSUE 2 . SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 THE SENTINEL OF AN ENLIGHTENED STUDENT BODY SINCE 1926

SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM