ISSUE 3, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
The Southern DIGEST Volume 71 ● The sentinel of the enlightened student body at Southern University and A&M College ● Since 1926
SUPD Updates: A new eye on campus Miranda Thomas● DIGEST Staff Writer
With an increase in incidents occurring here at Southern University, SUPD is pleased to announce that they are currently stationing one new feature of the notification system that has not yet been unveiled, police pull stations. These high tech pull stations are designed to make it easier for law enforcement to access the student body within an emergency. Pull stations are in a box located on a building, mounted on a wall or outside of a building. “SUPD is constantly looking for new ways to create a safer environment for students”, says Chief of Police, Joycelyn Johnson. Chief Johnson is personally working with Open Eyes, a trusted Surveillance Company, to ensure the security is adequate and presentable before being see SUPD on page 3
Imagine 20,000: A HBCU System dream Jacqueline Morgan ● Editor-in-Chief
SUS President-Chancellor Dr. Ray L. Belton has announced a new initiative, Imagine 20,000, as his vision for the Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) campus to eventually host 20,000 students.
Questioning the university’s capacity for this vision, sophomore criminal justice major, Joshua Johnson expressed his concerns. “I thinks it’s a great idea as long as they can be properly accommodated . And we can barely handle what we have now, so we would really have to tighten up as a university before we start adding more students,” Johnson expressed. In order to do so, Belton explained, the university first has to be “positioned” to adequately serve 20,000 students. Positioning the university for such a task includes a full academic makeover, developing a strong administrative taskforce, and bridging the transitional gap for students from high school to the collegiate level.
“We all know of students who graduate from high school, attended college, matriculated for four to five years, graduated, and still had to compete with High school students,” Belton expresses, “ …but if we have a vibrant academic inventory, that will appeal to more students to come to the university and make us more competitive overall.” At the end of this fall, the administrative task force is expected to bring forth some recommendations about which academic programs at the university align with the “Imagine 20,000” vision for the university, and which programs need improvement.
SUS President-Chancellor, Dr. Ray L. Belton (DIGEST FILE)
compliance work in buildings such as T.T. Allain, A.W. Mumford Stadium, and the F.G Clark Activity Center, can all be seen across campus. According to Belton, the university is,“ … just about finished with a facilities master plan that is going to speak to our aim to really transform the physical plant on [the Baton Rouge] campus.” Additionally, the system hopes to begin to establish “university centers”, which will serve as host sights for system-wide course offerings. The infusion of technology across campus is also underway as the university continues to seek student assistance identifying wireless “dead spots”, while also striving to integrate and merge technological systems
“I am determined this year to begin work on this Gateway for the university . . . it’ll be an arch that really introduces Southern University to the community … hopefully this time next year we will have that kind of entrance that speaks to the presence of Southern University.” - Ray L. Belton , SUS President Chancellor
across all five campuses. “We are also starting round table discussions … where we talk about some of the things going on at a lower level with students. We want the students to keep us informed,” Chief of Staff, Dr. Katara Williams added.
The origins of Henry’s legal debacle stems from an investigation four months prior by WBRZ Investigative Unit Report; the team discovered discrepancies in records on file for the Southern University Board of Supervisors and records filed for voting purposes. In this report, it was made known that Henry had been using a Donaldsonville, Louisiana address while actually residing in Gonzales, Louisiana. Henry had been receiving breaks on property taxes by falsifying his residential address and claiming homestead exemption, of which he eliminated any record of nearly two weeks ago. With Southern University being tied to other legal battles with other campus officials in recent years, many members of the student body have voiced their thoughts on Henry and his actions. “They have a higher title and people do look up to them. Most people feel like because they have higher positions, they get away with [certain] things. But I feel like they should be held accountable, just like [everyone else],” said Haven Davis, a sophomore Education major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
After celebrating 138 years of existence this year, the university expectedly houses some buildings that are antiquated.
Physically, President-Chancellor Belton has hopes of reviving a beautification project that almost left the ground in spring 2016.
This past year however, efforts of mitigating hazardous conditions have gone into effect. Roof replacements, over $1 million in air conditioning installments, and ADA
“I am determined this year to begin work on this Gateway for the university. Such that, when you come down Scenic
Board Members of universities are appointed by the governor’s office once a new seat opens via death, retirement, etc. The office of governor John Bel Edwards was contacted for comment during the initial WBRZ summer investigation, at which point the governor’s office distanced themselves
see IMAGINE on page 3
see HENRY on page 3
Investing in Infrastructure
DIGEST FILE
On the afternoon of September 17 , felony charges were brought up against Donald Ray Henry for filing and maintaining false public records.
Academics
For the university, this translates into infusing the university into high schools via dual enrollment programs and developing a stronger infrastructure to support online delivery of instruction, allotting convenience for current students, while providing an option for non-traditional students. DIGEST FILE
Debrandin Brown● DIGEST Staff Editor
By utilizing a strategic plan that hones in on three considerable aspects of the university, academics, infrastructure, and community engagement, Belton has successfully convinced his administrative counterparts that his vision can be brought into fruition. Conceptualize SUBR hosting 20,000 students, making Southern University the largest HBCU System in America, while upholding the title as the only HBCU in the world.
SU Board Member Facing Criminal Charges
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