SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Volume 77 . Issue 3
The Mental Health of a College Student Douglas Taylor The Southern Digest
Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor Keyandra Hall talking to students during Real Talk Tuesday on September 14 in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom. (Douglas Taylor/DIGEST)
Harris creates care packages for Hurricane Ida victims Ti’Ja Taylor The Southern Digest
Southern University student Kelsey Harris is a sophomore nursing major and a native of LaPlace, Louisiana. Harris aspires to become a first-generation graduate. “I strive for success, and I keep going,” stated Harris. She expressed how she grew up doing community service and is always prepared to help. Hence when she found out how badly her community was affected by Hurricane Ida, she was eager to go home and assist.
Harris took the initiative to create care packages for Hurricane Ida victims. Harris is a victim of Hurricane Ida herself, in which she lost everything at her home in LaPlace. She stated, “I have nothing to go home to now.” Fortunately, she was on campus at Southern University during the landfall of the hurricane. See CARE page 3
On September 14, 2021, Southern University hosted an event which targeted the issue of the mental health of a HBCU student. Throughout every department of a Black university, mental health is often ostracized due to the sensitivity of the topic. However, Southern University is not afraid to tackle the challenge head on. The University has hosted various mental health events in the past, allowing students to know that they are not forgotten about and are important assets to the university. These events also offer an opportunity to openly speak on their experiences as students throughout each and every semester. The guest speaker for the event was none other than the founder of Kognitive Unlimited and profound mental health
professional, Ms. Keyandra Hall. Ms. Hall is a double alumni from Southern University as well as University College. She briefed her life story as a former student of the university by giving insight of her experiences. When the question was asked, “Why do you feel you are important?”, Ms. Hall stated that throughout her years of being at the university, she suffered from, “imposter syndrome.” She emphasized that there are times where students tend to have the motive to pursue careers by the influences of others away from themselves. Students are even faced with pressure from friends of their community and even family members while enrolled in courses throughout every semester, not seeming to find a balance, and fall into an ill state of mind shortly after. “You always come first!” she exclaimed. In the conversation See MENTAL HEALTH page 3
Clearing the Air: Follet Access Book Voucher Breakdown Jourdyn S. Redd The Southern Digest
This fall, Southern University students received news about book vouchers and have been in an uproar! Follet access book vouchers are used for students to get their needs and even wants from the bookstore. “Financial aid handles book vouchers. If they come in after their refund they can spend up to $700 in the store. Anything in the store!” says Alexis Johnson, assistant store manager. Although the news is great, some students didn’t know about them or didn’t receive book vouchers and wanted to know what were the qualifications to receive them. “I believe it’s a great way to give back to students. I just wished they vocalized it more. A lot of my friends didn’t know about it,” says Shermera Carhee, a sophomore at Southern University. When asked about the vouchers, a financial aid representative was rather unclear in defining who these vouchers apply to. “You only get the voucher if
Senior, Devin Raby makes a purchase at the Southern University bookstore during their book voucher period on Friday, September 17. (Niko Hardin/DIGEST)
you didn’t opt out of the Follet Access book fee. Any other information, you can ask the registrar’s office,” says Cortessa Hicks, financial aid counselor. Contrary to her response, a
lot of students did not opt out of the fee and never received vouchers. It seems to be a misunderstanding as to who gets book vouchers and who
does not, but it’s recommended that all students check the status of theirs so Southern University can lend a helping hand!