September 29, 2020 . Volume 75 . Issue 4
Southern University Partners with Boeing and NASA
Enrollment Increases Despite Pandemic
Prior to this agreement, the engineering department has had other mentoring programs like the Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation, the Timbuktu Academy Mentoring Program, and the Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology, which houses the Next Generation Multifunctional Composites Research Center.
The Boeing and NASA MentorProtégé program entails an 18-month agreement to work together on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) program and any research programs from Boeing. More so this program will help provide business and technical support to Southern University and the engineering department to improve their ability to obtain future contracts and subcontracts with Boeing and NASA.
Being the first HBCU to be selected, this program is especially important to the department and the university. The Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Program in P. B. S. Pinchback Hall, Dr. Patrick Mensah, comments on the program stating that “It is a big opportunity for us to showcase what we can do in terms of contributing to the Boeing and NASA needs, and in developing our own laboratories to be successful in research.” Throughout
this
program
See PARTNERSHIPS page 3
Debrandin Brown The Southern Digest
For as long as institutions such as government, religion, and education have existed in America, so too have the ideals of racism and bigotry among all social classes throughout the country. On September 22, 2020, Southern University’s own Dr. Albert Samuels, along with several other prominent Louisiana voices, joined on a zoom conference call to hold an open dialogue on how racism has grown and festered in so many of our structures and institutions.
Diamond Butler The Southern Digest
Southern University is known for a lot of things and events that go on through the departments. With departments like the engineering department, they want to enhance their programs to attract students interested in the field. They also aim to offer programs that allow them to train students who may or may not be the top of their class and engage them in activities that assure them of having a successful career path. Recently the engineering department has obtained a Mentor-Protégé program through Boeing and NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Dismantling the System
DIGEST Illustration
James Eaglin, Jr. The Southern Digest
Early indications project that Southern University’s student enrollment hasn’t been affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic. In fact, a preliminary report shows a nearly 1%
increase, with the potential to be even higher.
The report was shared during the Southern University System Board of Supervisors meeting held last Friday in the J.S. Clark Administration Building. It compares student population data from September 2019 to
September 2020 to identify potential trends and threats affecting enrollment. “It reflects quite candidly the strengths and opportunities of the Baton Rouge campus,” said Dr. Vladimir Appeaning who led the system See INCREASE page 3
A Change has Come: Hybrid Classes Lifted for SU Students Alexis Easton The Southern Digest
With concerns over positive coronavirus cases yet to ease, Southern University announced updates to its modes of instruction, potentially allowing more students to attend traditional, in-person classes. In a Fireside Chat hosted by the Division of Academic Affairs on September 24th, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor, Dr. Bijoy Sahoo, went into detail with the several students, faculty, and staff in virtual attendance regarding the recent changes.
Students had the option to register for traditional, hybrid, or online courses prior to the Fall 2020 semester. Traditional classes required students and instructors to be in-person for all classes, following the mandated health and safety procedures. Hybrid classes gave students the option to learn remotely or attend class. The online option meant the course in
As highlighted by Dr. Samuels during the call, one of the things that the pandemic has put into perspective is the amount of power and influence that black entertainers and performers have on not only the sports industry, but the day-to-day operations of hundreds of universities as well. “In many ways, the economics of college sports…amounts to what is essentially a billion dollar industry that is largely financed by the unpaid labor of [mostly] black athletes. [Due to the circumstances of the pandemic], that model is being blown up,” said Samuels in regards to the exploitation that student athletes are subjected to at the hands of state funded universities. According to Samuels, circumstances surrounding COVID have served the purpose of bringing to light the dependency that large PWI athletic programs have on young, black talent, despite the lack of actual investment in their futures of those student athletes beyond the field of athletics. Along with Dr. Samuels, the call featured the perspectives See SYSTEM page 3
As one of the changes from Southern University, professors like Dr. Okoye Ahmose uses Microsoft Teams to teach his classes. (Diamond Butler/ DIGEST)
its entirety was held completely online with no synchronized class time and/or dates. Most students and instructors have deferred between moderate to heavy usage of online instruction throughout the early portion of the semester, regardless of the class’ initial mode of instruction. “We did a poll of our students
and most people did not like the third option (complete online),” said Sahoo. “They said, ‘We came to Southern because we wanted to experience the immediate and intimate learning environment when receiving instructions from faculty members.’ ” See CHANGE page 3
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CAMPUS BRIEFS VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK
The week of Sept. 21-25 has been designated Voter Registration Week. To register and vote in Louisiana individuals must: · be a U.S. citizen; · be at least 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles) to register and 18 years old prior to the next election to vote; · not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18:1461.2; · not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights; · be a resident in the state and parish in which you seek to register and vote; · apply at least 20 days prior to an election if registering online or 30 days prior to an election
if registering in person or by mail.
#SUVOTES
There are 36 days until the 2020 United States Presidential Election. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of Southern University are encouraged to register to vote and make your voice heard on Tues., Nov. 3. The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is Mon., Oct. 5.
MICROSOFT TEAMS STUDENT TRAINING
In case you missed it, visit www.sus.edu/ msteamstraining to watch the replay of of the Microsoft Teams Student Training on demand. Students will need to use their mySULogin to access the training session.
2020 FALL VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR
Save the date! The 2020 Fall Virtual Career Fair powered by Handshake is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 29, 2020. More details coming soon!
UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER
Reaccredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), the UCC offers individual, couples counseling, psychological evaluations, medication management, referrals,
and consultation to the greater campus community. For more information, call them at 225-771-2480, or visit them at their office M-F from 8am - 5pm (located next to the Student Health Center)
CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Fall 2020 Online Tutoring has begun! For more information, contact Lindsey Butler at lindsey_ butler@subr.edu or by calling 225-771-4312. NOTICE TO STUDENTS FROM DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Beginning Mon., Sept. 28, ALL CLASSES will follow the original instruction model as set in Banner. If there is any question regarding the mode of instruction, please refer to how the course was listed in Self Service Banner. Faculty cannot unilaterally change a class from hybrid to online. Training sessions for Moodle and Microsoft Teams can be viewed on demand through the Academic Tool Kit website at https://www. subr.edu/toolkit. Please contact your instructor if you are having trouble with Microsoft Teams or Moodle.
SU GIVE DAY | SEPTEMBER 30
SU GIVE DAY LINK:
https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/SUGIVE
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Tuesday, September 29, 2020 | Page 3
CHANGE from page 1 Attending hybrid classes also means that only a certain number of students are allowed in a class at a time. For example, one classroom in Stewart Hall can only have eight students in person, while the rest would have to be learning remotely via a livestream from the class. Some other classrooms may have varying capacities depending on the size of the room. Instructors were told to ask at the beginning of the semester what each individual student would prefer, so that the necessary social distancing measures could be made. With Louisiana moving into a modified Phase 3 reopening September 11, students received notices three days later announcing that the original instruction models will be more strictly enforced. Rumors and confusion initially flooded social media regarding the
potential changes, until Student Government Association President Chandler Vidrine provided clarity via Twitter.
“No statement has been officially made released, so the information out right now is assumptions…,” tweeted Vidrine. “I am making sure that they understand the numerous situations students have so the necessary accommodations for students can be made!” An additional memo was sent to students the following week, saying faculty ‘cannot unilaterally change a class from hybrid to online.’ Prior to the announcement, several students were reporting changes in the way their classes were being taught and/or offered, some without them even knowing. “We don’t have many options. If it is a lab
where you have to participate then it has to be in person,” said Dr. Sahoo. He stressed that although students retain the option to accept or defer face-to-face classes with the hybrid option, it will not become solely an online course. “Hybrid is a synchronized class that will not change to online, where online was decided prior and will stay that way.”
Amber Morris, a junior therapeutic recreation major, remarked on the university’s decision by saying, “I feel like it isn’t smart. Cases are still going up and some can’t follow the mask mandate so I doubt they will at school.” So far, Morris hasn’t had to go to class but admits, “I might decide to start going for A&P Lab because online is hard, so I wouldn’t mind going for that.” SUCCESS from page 1
of people such as NAACP President of the Louisiana State Conference Dr. Michael McClanahan, who has spent a career working towards the betterment of the black community. According to McClanahan, being able to share the room with people who share his passion for black issues and working towards finding solutions is something that he appreciates greatly.
At the same time, he notes how when it comes to black issues, black people are generally the only faces you see in those rooms where change is being discussed. This is especially noteworthy given the times that the country is in and the amount of white people who partake in black culture but refuse to participate in the fight for blackness. “Oftentimes, I’m pulled into rooms where we’re taking about racism, and more often than not, the people who are in those rooms are people who look like me.” said McClanahan on his experience as someone who has had a history in social justice.
When it comes to the systemic aspect of racism in America, the question that many nonblacks ask is how our circumstances differ from white people with similar socioeconomic circumstances. This brings us to the topic of white privilege, which generally speaking, white people haven’t been proponents of. According to Dr. Laura Adderly however, a professor of history at Tulane University, black issues are most evident to the people whom they affect. “Every black person may not be able to cite you chapter and verse of policy and law of how we got to this moment, but they know this society for what it is; built on a set of enforced racist structures,” said Adderly regarding how black issues are perceived by non blacks. Historically speaking, racism has been so interwoven into our society to such an extent that it’s tenants look synonymous to the institutions of influence that we have grown up into. Whether this be in church, at work, or in the comforts of your own home, the effects that racism has had on Africans Americans as
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a people cannot be understated. According to those who spoke during the Dismantling the System zoom call however, given the state of the country that we currently reside in, there’s no time like the present to work towards significant change that matters in the black community. PARTNERSHIPS from page 1
Mr. Richmond comments by saying that “Southern University and A&M College has long been a leading institution in Louisiana and among fellow HBCUs. This collaboration is a great example of NASA and Boeing working handin-hand with institutions like Southern University to advance the mission of HBCUs and create sustainable opportunities for those in our district to showcase their engineering skills on the world’s most powerful rocket.” Mr. Graves adds on with stating Courtesy SUBR.edu that “It is fantastic to see this students, based on their abilities, Boeing. We are also excited about symbiotic relationship grow with will be trained and recruited to supporting the Artemis program the establishment of a formal complete jobs for Boeing with and its goal of landing the first mentor-protégé partnership the SLS at NASA’s Michoud woman and the next man on the between Southern University and Assembly Facility in New moon in 2024. We look forward Boeing. This mutually beneficial Orleans, as well as assisting with to a long and mutually beneficial relationship will build upon NASA’s Artemis missions to the relationship with Boeing and Southern and Boeing’s success, moon, Mars, and beyond in the NASA.” Gaining much publicity, provide key opportunities for space frontier. In a press release this program has also reached the Southern students, and solidify interview, the president and attention of government officials Louisiana’s role in future lunar chancellor of Southern University, like U.S. Republicans Cedric and Mars missions.” Ray L. Belton comments on the Richmond and Garret Graves. Currently, the engineering program. He states that “We are When asked, both these department is enhancing certain honored to be the first HBCU Republican officials had laboratories to fit the ISO 9000 [historically Black colleges and comments on Southern standards. For those who may not universities] to enter into a University’s engineering know the ISO 9000 standards Mentor-Protégé agreement with department obtain this program.
are international standards for quality management and assurance. It helps with documenting the quality system elements needed for an effective quality system. Right now, the engineering department is going through several processes with the standards to be certified to handle contracts with Boeing and NASA.
In the end, this program will be one in a long line of future mentoring programs and activities. For engineering students, they can look forward to new opportunities and new programs. In an interview with Dr. Mensah, he states that the department is working on creating collaborative activities with the electrical engineering and computer science departments, as well as the mechanical engineering department, which is engaged with the 3D printing of new additive composite materials. So Southern University students and faculty can look forward to seeing more amazing aspects coming from the engineering department.
NEWS INCREASE from page 1
campus presentations along with the other campus chancellors.
According to the report, 7,091 total students are currently enrolled at the Baton Rouge campus, up from 7,031 last year. Notable takeaways include increases from students in dual enrollment by 39%; along with the new first-time freshmen by 15%.
213 students were reported as being registered online, defined by Dr. Appeaning as students with classes within their major that were solely offered online. While the data shows a 42% increase from last year, Chairmen Rutledge still considers it ‘embarrassingly low’, urging board members to create a plan to raise those numbers by next month’s meeting. Other noticeable decreases were found in the number of continuing graduate students (-21%) and adult learners (-33%). President-Chancellor Ray Belton was not discouraged however. “We have received inputs from [those] populations that say they were going to use this year as a gap year in light of their perception of safety,” said Belton. Enrollment data will be formally recorded again at the end of semester to be reported to the Louisiana Board of Regents in January. Belton referenced the total student enrollment in Fall 2019 at 7,140, anticipating it to rise by the end of year.
“We anticipate and we are hopeful that that number will continue to grow toward the end of this year, and again reflects our ongoing effort to try to respond to students who have given an indication that their financial position has changed, and our ongoing work is to try to help them out nonetheless,” said President Chancellor Ray Belton. Total enrollment numbers are up across the rest of the Southern University System as well. Of 200 AVA accredited law schools, the Southern University Law Center ranks in the top 10 in terms of growth. SUSLA (roughly 3%) and SUNO (roughly 5%) reported increases as well. Updated financial reports are scheduled to be released next month to better understand the impact enrollment will have on the university’s budget.
USE YOUR HEAD SLOW THE SPREAD
#MASKUP
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SPORTS
The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body Since 1926
Page 4 | Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Rickie Weeks Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Jalyn Garner The Southern Digest
A headline of eight star-studded inductees were announced on Thursday September 17, 2020 for the Class of 2021 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. One of those eight was Southern’s own superstar Rickie Weeks, who played under black college baseball legend and 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Roger Cador Weeks was the second overall pick in the 2003 MLB draft. Weeks during his tenure at Southern set two NCAA Division 1 career hitting records, a batting average of .465, along with a slugging percentage of .927. Weeks became the first and only player to win the Golden Spikes Award in 2003 from an HBCU. Having played 14 seasons in the MLB, in 2011 he was the second baseman in the 2011 All-Star game. After Cador’s inductance last year, Weeks is now the twentieth member from Southern University in the Louisiana Hall of Fame. When asked about his feelings on garnering this honor Weeks said,”It meant a lot Southern is like a second home for me, I appreciate the honor from the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame…. very humbling, very excited about it. I
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owe everything to Southern University and it’s baseball program, the guys that came along with me, the guys that batted
before me, the guys that batted behind me, all the guys that came before me that paved the way. All of this is a testament
of me going to Southern University and being apart of the great state of Louisiana.”
Primetime in the SWAC: Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in at Jackson State Kynnedi Jackson The Southern Digest
For the past couple of weeks, the SWAC has been hitting us with several surprises. Less than a month ago it was announced that Jackson State had been added to Southern University’s upcoming football schedule. With recent news coming in, the heat may have been turned up a little. The game already had fans on the edge of their seats. For the past seven games in the series Southern has walked away with the win. Will that change this year? Definitely Not. The chemistry of Southern football team is too strong to be broken. On September 25th NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders was officially named the 21st head coach for Jackson State. This small change will bring along validity and economic health not only for JSU but for the entire SWAC as well. Recruiting and interest for all sports will go up and other departments such as journalism and sports medicine. Alumni will be influenced to donate money and ticket sells will be through the roof. Eventually it will trickle to other HBCUs especially those in the SWAC. The competitiveness between coaches and players will rise. All around the tension is turned up. No one wants another school looking better than them. Although the stakes have been raised some, there is no challenge too tough for the Jaguars. Mark your calendars April 3, 2021 you wouldn’t want to miss the highly anticipated face-off between Southern University and Jackson State. Will we hold
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on to our title? Will we crack under the pressure of Primetime? Overall, Deion Sanders has created a buzz in the SWAC
that has not been seen since that of Doug Williams, former head coach of Grambling. Get your tickets early and join the hype.
Must be received Fridays by 2PM weekly.
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The Sentinel of an Enlightened Student Body Since 1926
FEATURE
Open Arms: SU First Year Experience program Spencer Williams The Southern Digest
At some point, everyone has been the new student on campus. They can recall the confusion of not knowing where your classroom is or where your friends are, or the anxiety that creeps in from wanting acceptance in this new college environment. This is where FYE, the First Year Experience program, steps in for the rescue. Ms. Avis Chaney, Associate Director of FYE and SYE (Second Year Experience), gave significant details on the purpose and methods of these programs. “First Year Experience is a program that fosters the relationship between student and college,” she explained. “If you give the first time freshmen the resources and support that they need to be successful in college, that results in them forwarding and progressing their college career.” Ms. Chaney mentioned how their department is not only to first-year students, but to second-year students as well. The program, called SYE, helps those students caught in “sophomore slump” maintain
their motivation. Ms. Chaney went on to say that their office wants to give students muchneeded support in the start of their college careers. The department of FYE wants students to know that this program and the support it provides to students is very dear to the hearts of leaders. Chaney spoke on how it brings them great joy to see students progress and develop from “orientation to graduation.” They want to maintain the same enthusiasm and momentum students have as freshmen throughout the duration of their college career. Ms. Chaney describes the joy that arises in FYE leaders when they “see fresh faces on campus and then are able to open their minds” as they join them on their academic journey. Despite COVID-19 taking its toll on everyone, FYE and SYE are moving ahead during these difficult times. The program is staying connected with its students via social media platforms and Zoom meetings. They do recognize the challenges that are present due to this pandemic, but remain hopeful and steadfast. This department
FYE Newsletter
is known as the “loving and nurturing” department, so they voiced how it is “harder for them to do certain activities with students.” With this department being so upbeat and caring about the needs of students, they detail the activities they hold to keep that motivation and relationship between them and the student body. Some activities include First Fridays, where FYE
celebrates freshmen and their accomplishments made throughout the month. They also talk to them to see if students need their perspective on their chosen ventures. During those celebratory times, the program has motivational speakers to speak to students. They do understand that students miss the feeling of being able to gather and fellowship normally, but the program ensures students that they are still “changing” and “keeping up with the times” that are presented to us. Their priority is to ensure the safety of students. Outreach is a consistent objective in this program. Ms. Chaney tells how their most successful program involves their Peer Mentor champions. The Peer Mentor champions consist of 40 to 50 young adults that are hand selected by the office of First Year and Second Year Experience. These mentors go through an application process and an interview. After being selected, they go through a rigorous training to have the proper skills to be a mentor to others. These mentors have a 3.0 GPA or higher and are
paired with first year students according to their major. Their first newsletter was published in September 2020, and it highlights the students Jalen Triplett and Carlos Brister. The two students met last year through the peer mentor and mentee connection and the experience has been very successful for both. Ms. Chaney noted that “the training Jalen had put something unique into Carlos to propel him into leadership.” As a result, Mr. Brister is now Sophomore Class President. The FYE/ SYE program proudly states that “their Peer Mentor and Mentee program is their greatest accomplishment.” The FYE/SYE program wants students to know that this is a department that cares and individually loves each student. They want students to know they understand their diverse backgrounds and try their hardest to accompany each student with their needs. This department believes in “faith, hope, and love,” and See FYE page 6
Rapper T.I. speaks during SU Black Effect: Black Hollywood Wins Law Center Symposium Big at Emmys Te’yanah Owens The Southern Digest
On September 19, 2020, Clifford “T.I.” Harris joined the Southern University Law Center via Zoom for its Sports and Entertainment Symposium. The artist, actor, and entrepreneur spoke to students on how to build a brand, create a vision, and execute their plans. Harris emphasized a particular message for attendees: success comes from having strategy. “Financial literacy is the difference between using money as a toy or tool. We get money and play with it to stroke our egos or to impress people,” said the music mogul. Harris notably stars on the reality show T.I. & Tiny: Family Hustle, which revolves around the dayto-day lifestyle of his household. He referenced this show in order to remind attendees of the importance of sharing opportunities and access with those around them. Harris also, however, insisted that the idea of boundaries within an enterprise is essential, even when dealing with family: “It would’ve been the TIP show if my family didn’t have talent.” His son Major never ceases to amaze him with his ability to connect with the audience. Harris expounded on the way he approaches new ideas and brings them to life. The iconic Trap Music Museum in his hometown of Atlanta was a prime example of this process. Surprisingly, the exhibition was not his original idea, but was actually brought up during a meeting intended to brainstorm about how to celebrate the 15th anniversary of his album Trap Musik. When the idea for the museum was mentioned, T.I. saw a perfect challenge and opportunity. Since the Super Bowl was on the way to Atlanta, he took two vacant buildings and decided to finally put them to use.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Southern University at Shreveport, Dr. Melva K. Williams co-facilitates a discussion with grammy award winning rapper, Clifford Harris also known as T.I. during the Sports and Entertainment Symposium hosted by the Southern University Law Center on Saturday, September 19. (Te’yanah Owens/DIGEST)
For those who are interested in knowing what Harris looks for when hiring people for his team, See T.I. page 6
DIGEST Illustration
Te’yanah Owens The Southern Digest
Black actors have had a complex relationship with the world of cinema, with years worth of controversy being garnered over the lack of recognition they receive within honorary award organizations. The 2020 Emmys saw many of these underacknowlegded
artists becoming award winners, as well as setting records. Seven entertainers took home awards in major categories, beating out the previous record of six set in 2018. Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Uzo Aduba and Zendaya Coleman all won honors during the See EMMYS page 6
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FEATURE “Are You Registered to Vote?” Page 6 | Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Diamond Butler The Southern Digest
When the time for elections gets closer, that is one of the many questions people hear daily. As November 3rd nears, the significance of the common person participating in presidential/gobernial voting has been heavily emphasized. Across the nation many organizations have been spreading the word and trying to help others get registered, as well as educate them on the politics of elections. Recently on September 22nd, National Voter Registration Day, many organizations in Louisiana were hosting registration meetings and ads through Zoom calls and social media lives. Some of these events consisted of First Lady Michelle Obama and the organization When We All Vote hosting an all-day Instagram live event called Registered & Ready. There was also an event with BET and Terrence J., where they interviewed Senator and Democratic Vice President candidate, Kamala Harris as she answered some questions created by HBCU students. Lastly, there was a Zoom meeting held by Planned Parenthood, and here they gave detailed information on how to get yourself registered. However, some of the events
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had people who voiced that they may not want to vote. They attributed this perspective to the ideas that their votes did not matter, that they did not want to put themselves at risk for Covid-19 by going in public, that they were being misinformed or that they simply were not aware that they could vote. Another reason that is becoming more known is that they were registered to vote but were then purged by systems, discouraging them to go and get re-registered. During the “Registered & Ready” event, there was a conversation held between Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee, and Black-ish. actress Tracee Ellis Ross, where they explained how purging occurs. Ms. Clarke explained voting purges as “…
officials will sometimes actually take action to strip people off of the [voting] rolls...They can remove some people like if you move outside the jurisdiction or you died, you can have legal grounds to remove people, but what we find in the work we do is that a lot of totally legitimate people get taken off. Black people, Latino people, students are often subjected to higher rates of purging than others.” Attending the events held on National Voter Registration Day gave attendees the space to become informed on pressing matters such as this. There are many ways to register and to vote for this upcoming 2020 election. There is the in-person method, which has been common for many people throughout the years. Next are the mail-in and online method, where through a government voter registration website, requests can be made to mail in your vote or be able to register through the same website The method that many are not familiar with; the absentee ballot. An absentee ballot is an option offered in every state, where voters who are not able to go out can send in a request with the reason why they cannot go out and have a ballot mailed to their location. Though it is
Joe Biden’s Plan to End Student Debt Jalexis Edwards The Southern Digest
Looming in the back of many students’ minds is one nagging question: “What happens to my student loan debt after I graduate?” This issue may finally come to a resolution, and is heavily dependent on whether or not Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are elected into the presidential office in November. According to the magazine Medium, Democratic Presidential nominee Biden’s plans if elected will include the cancellation of $10,000 worth of individual student debt for people impacted by the coronavirus, forgiving all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from public colleges, universities, private HBCUs and minority serving institutions for people earning up to $125,000 with “appropriate phase outs to avoid a cliff.” Biden also plans to have the federal government pay the monthly fee instead of the borrower, and has also proposed that people earning less than $25,000 per year will put no more than five percent of their income towards payments; and after twenty years, the remainder of federal student loans will be forgiven without tax burdens. Lastly, individuals who choose to participate in public service will be eligible for additional federal loan forgiveness. If Biden follows through with his plans, this could positively impact the lives and futures of millions of Americans. This upcoming
election could decide the future of the student debt crisis. While for now, the student debt crisis appears to not be going anywhere, the best approach students can take is to stay informed on how it affects them. It is especially important for African American students to be mindful; according to a study by Brookings Institution, the student debt crisis is disproportionately impacting African American borrowers, who are likely to be in over $7,000 more debt than their non-Black counterparts. Joe Biden’s official website for his 2020 presidential campaign correlates this back to the “stark racial wealth gap that exists in society.” One way students can stay abreast of this conversation is by attending financial events on campus, such as the virtual educational forum regarding the student debt crisis held by The Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated on September 15, 2020. This event answered some of students’ most pressing questions, and provided a resource for answers. Mr. Christopher Levy, a financial aid counselor at Southern University, was invited to speak by the organization and shared why he thought it was important that students understood the magnitude of the student debt crisis. Levy explained, “It is important to utilize the tools here at Southern in the office of financial aid and our financial literacy partner, who are able to answer questions in regards to paying loans back after graduation within the time frame.”
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FYE from page 5
a method of voting that isn’t known by many, it still is highly effective, especially during this current pandemic. In the Zoom meeting with Planned Parenthood, Stephanie Buch, the Baton Rouge Community Organizer, says that “Absentee ballots have made some accommodations for voters who are of higher risk for contracting the Coronavirus.” With election day drawing nearer, there are deadlines those who plan to participate should be aware of. October 5th will be the final day to register to vote through the mail and in person, while October 13th will be the final day to complete online registration. Early voting will begin on October 20th and conclude on October 27th. The final day to request an absentee ballot is on October 30th, and that ballot has to be submitted by November 2nd. The next day after the deadline for absentee ballots is election day. These deadlines should allow voters to work around their own schedules and life circumstances. As stated in the interview with Terrence J. by Senator Harris, “Let us not let them suppress our vote or take our power, let’s make sure that we vote. Because when we vote, things change.”
wants students to know that the greatest one is love and that is they want to give back to students. To keep students involved, FYE/SYE has diverse workshops lined up for students this month. They have MidTerm Test Preparation and Test Taking Skills on October 1st; So Much To Do, So Little Time! Time Management workshop on October 8th; Fostering Relationship and Communication with Professors on October 15th; Library Services on October 22nd; and Social Media Etiquette on October 29th. Also, the FYE program is partnering with the Financial Aid Office staff. Ms. Taishieka Davis, Enrollment Director of FASFA, and staff are doing a FASFA campaign for students to do early submission for the upcoming school year. The goal is to help freshmen be ready to fill out FASFA documents. This also goes with another event being held, The Registration and FASFA Invasion that is held on October 19th to the 23rd. You can reach this department on the social media platforms of Twitter @fyesubr, on Instagram @fye_subr, by email at fye@ subr.edu. The department wants students to know that they can stop by as well at Suite 1075 Harris Hall.
EMMYS from page 5
T.I. from page 5
ceremony. Eddie Murphy, Maya Rudolph and Ron Cephas Jones also won for guest acting Emmys. After winning best lead actress in a limited series or movie, Regina is now tied with Alfre Woodard for most Emmys won by a black actor, with four. Interestingly, each of her awards was given to her for a different role. After her win, King expressed, “I love being a Black woman, I love being a Black girl.” Many of the actors were already Emmy winners before this year’s award show. RuPaul won his fifth in-a-row Emmy for best reality host. Uzo Aduba won her third award, while Zendaya got her first Emmy, and became the youngest entertainer ever to win lead actress in a drama series. She also became just the second Black woman to win that category since Viola Davis in 2015. “There is hope in the young people out there,” said Zendaya while accepting her award. Comedian and actress Maya Rudolph, daughter of singer Minnie Ripperton, won a second Emmy for outstanding voiceover performance. This Is Us actor Ron Cephas Jones was also a repeat winner, as he and his daughter, Jasmine Cephas Jones, became the first ever fatherdaughter Emmy winners. The Emmys have been awarded since 1949, making the current period 71 years from that era. In 1960, Harry Belafonte became the first Black winner in the history of the organization, with Isabel Sanford following after as the first Black woman to do the same. Since those monumental changes in representation, Black actors are still finding their place in Hollywood. For veterans and new-comers to receive acknowledgment, the future of Black artists is definitely still evolving.
he cited conflict resolution as an essential skill. He also values self motivation and those who can drive the ideas ‘swirling in his head’. Harris mentioned that there are no business hours in the music industry, and therefore you have to find a way to move with the money at the speed of opportunity. “If your opportunity moves at 100 and you’re moving at 50, you’re dead,” he says. Sleep is more of a luxury for Harris, and he often leaves the studio at 3 or 4 in the morning. After Mr. Harris got done speaking, his lifestyle and nature was further elaborated on by his Chief of Staff, ThuyAn Julien. “The best thing about working with him is that he is a visionary. He will call you when you’re not even done with a project. Nothing falls off the list unless he decides to end it.” She allows him to be creative and stay on top of things in all seven of his business enterprises. In fact, his whole support system is designed to protect him and his legacy. Like a chess board, there’s many pieces in place to protect the king. T.I. spoke to remind aspiring Jag moguls that you can certainly make the world a better place with entertainment.
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So, you got your refund check, Now what? Jalexis Edwards The Southern Digest
Southern University’s cashier’s office recently sent out the first round of refund checks to students this week causing some students to have immense relief and happiness at having more money in their bank accounts. However, with new money, comes new responsibility and new questions, such as how students, who do not already have a plan, should spend their refund checks. Listed below are ten ideas for how students can spend their refunds check to improve their future. 1. Invest in the stock market- For students who are willing to keep up with industries’ financial states, investing in the stock market may be a great way to make money, especially with a return rate of 9.2% for ten years according to Goldman Sachs data. 2. Save it for a rainy day/ Let it collect interest -You never know when life is going to “catch you slipping,” so it is good to have available funds when you need them. Additionally, depending on your bank, you
may be able to collect interest on the money in your savings account. 3. Invest in your future- If you have a business, need to improve at a skill, or need to buy study materials for upcoming graduate tests, your refund money may be better used for this. By investing in your future today, you should make even more money tomorrow. 4. Save it to use towards graduate or professional schoolPost-secondary educations are costly and can add up. Start saving today for your future plans. 5. Focus on your health- It is important to set and reach long term health goals, so be sure to consider investing money back into yourself. This may mean hiring a personal trainer or attending therapy sessions. 6. Pay off any debt- Having school and credit card loans can lessen the financial stress you feel. With high interest rates, it is important to pay off debt as quickly as possible. 7. Improve your school experience- Pay your rent, decorate your living space,
Since Vine innovated the video sharing market and with its subsequent death, many have attempted to imitate its format with TikTok being the most popular. There are, however, very serious concerns about the app as it has been accused of not only being spyware, but is also more than likely reporting directly to the Chinese government. The reports of TikTok being spyware stem from the online cyber security community, who raised concerns about the security risk the app poses after reverse engineering the app. For those unfamiliar, spyware is unwanted software that attempts to track a user’s every movement on a device. From
what app is being used on the device, to usernames and passwords, spyware attempts to gather any data it can to send back to its creator. The fear is that TikTok is gathering all this data and sending it back to the Chinese government as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is ultimately subject to the will and demands of the Chinese government. Pierre Cadieux, a manager for Cisco Talos Incident Response, addresses the additional concern for censorship and propaganda, “TikTok has access to a large section of the population so it represents a very powerful tool for propaganda. Not to mention that the Chinese government actively engages in censorship. The potential and likelihood for abuse is a concern.” While Tik-Tok’s sources of origin may blemish the reputation of the app,
it’s hard to deny how fun and enjoyable the app has become. TikTok has built a very special, funny, creative, and tight knit community that has proven to be strong enough to dictate a lot of the trends of tomorrow. TikTok trends dominated the quarantine world, and the app can be tokened to the start of plenty of an artist career. Songs like Old Town Road by Lil Nas X got popular from Tik-Tok, and it has proven to be an effective start for plenty breakout artist. Plus, students like Rayven Joubert from Dallas, Texas stated how the community of Tik-Tok has helped her during quarantine. “It is a very funny and loose app. It’s given me a place to relax and have fun while everything is so stressful,” she says. In 2020, any form of stress relief is a good one. If the things with the origin of Tik-Tok can
SU Midterm Survival Guide Diamond Butler The Southern Digest
Next week is midterm exams week, one of the most stressful times for college students. You’re trying to study for several exams at once, you’re getting little sleep from pulling all-nighters, all while still trying to complete assignments or projects that were already assigned to you. Going through all that can cause anyone to become highly stressed. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. From some personal experience and research, I have found some techniques that can help us stay well rested while still managing to get good grades on exams. The first thing that to do is find out what your exams are going to cover and what additional materials will be necessary. During midterms week,
the best thing you can do for yourself is to find out what curriculum will be covered and be absolutely sure of what you need to study, so you should go and talk to your professor about it. Your professors are one of the best resources to use for midterms. Since they wrote the exam, they can best help you understand the concepts you do not understand and can advise you on what material is best to focus your attention on. Next, the best step would be to go ahead and create a study plan for yourself. Now, understand that having a study plan and planning to study are two separate things. Instead of just trying to cram all the information into your memory at once, you should prepare a study schedule. For instance, one day you could plan to review and highlight your notes for a math class, and
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purchase a car or make a car payment, purchase school supplies, or hire a tutor. These are all ways you can use your refund check to make your school experience more convenient. 8. Get better insurance- You want to know how to increase your net worth? Have better life insurance. Now that you know your options, if you are still uncertain on how to spend your refund, talking to your peers may be a great way to decide. Nadia Spencer, a freshman from Alabama, said several of her friends made the deliberate decision to spend their refund check by investing back in their small businesses. Freshmen, Lakambre Williams and Kaya Washington plan on saving up for a car with their refund checks. Discussing your options with friends may give you a better understanding on what is best for your future. Whatever you decide to do with your refund check, be intentional, think reasonably, and make your future self proud. Financial skills can last a lifetime. Spend responsibly.
TikTokin Milly Rockin Dante Davis The Southern Digest
OPINION
plan to study your English notes on another day. Overall, you would be making a to-do list of what to study so that when you do sit down for some quality study time, your efforts are maximized. Another aspect that is important is to make sure you eat healthily and get enough rest. Eating the right foods can not only help with your body’s energy, but improve aspects of the brain like processing, focus, and memory. Some of the best types of foods to have are avocados, tea, lean meats, eggs, dark chocolate, and water to remain hydrated. These foods will aid your focus and allow you to feel good as you devote all your focus to exams. During midterms, the one thing you do not want to do is be stressed and panic over your tests. To prevent that from happening, I found that
get sorted out, then the app itself has plenty of upside to be fun and enjoyable for people from all walks of life. Even with an amazing community, TikTok has still had issues with social and political representation. Rayven continued to say “They need to clean up their image a bit”, and she is referring to how TikTok got accused of silencing the BLM hashtags after the incident with George Floyd earlier in the year. TikTok has since denied these allegations, but it still put a foul taste in the mouths of some users. While the app has amazing promise, the allegations might prove to be too much. Don’t be surprised if this app is deemed to be illegal soon.
taking thirty minute study breaks often help ease my mind. After spending a certain amount of time studying, I would get up and walk around, listen to some music, or go and get myself a healthy snack to keep my energy up. According to the research I have done, taking breaks can prevent fatigue, and increase motivation, creativity, and productivity. The one thing you want to avoid doing is pulling allnighters. Pulling an all-nighter is not as helpful as getting some muchneeded rest, as sleep allows the brain to process all of the information it has been absorbing. You want to be as physically, emotionally, and mentally alert as possible so that you can concentrate on the task at hand, which is getting those As. Finally, the most important thing to do as a student is to get plenty of
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sleep during the night. As stated, before you want to avoid pulling all-nighters. Getting your eighthour sleep is important because it allows your brain time to synthesize the information you’ve been studying. Proper rest can also keep you from feeling groggy or sleepdeprived during your exam—which can greatly impact your test-day performance. You want to be as alert as possible and able to fully engage your working memory when you take the exam. Everyone has their ways of preparing for exams, but these tips are what I have found to be the most effective. These suggestions not only help you physically, but also mentally. Regardless of what strategy you use, the main thing is to remember to remain calm and to do the best that you can on your exams.
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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA