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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Volume 61, Issue 6
www.southerndigest.com
Registration process not smooth Christie Carral
The Southern Digest
Some students at Southern University were purged out of their classes at the beginning of Fall 2013 semester due to flaws in their registration process. According to some of the students that were registered this fall, their financial aid was not completed which resulted in the purging of their classes, forcing them out of the system. Kourtney Sanders sophomore criminal justice major from Alexandria, La., said she was registered for six classes which totaled to more than 15 hours that purged her out of the system. “My mom forgot to fill out a loan and all six of my classes were purged for this semester,” said Sanders. Sanders said because of the purging of her classes, she was forced to only schedule 14 hours because she could not get back to the classes she was originally enrolled. Emerly Freeman sophomore mechanical engineering major from Bogalusa, La., said she was also registered for six hours that the university purged out this semester. “I had six classes this semester and my financial wasn’t showing up on my banner account,” said Freeman. Freeman said after going to financial aid, she was told to go to an advisor to get back to her classes she had been enrolled.
“I went all over campus to get help and found out I just had to press one button in my account,” said Freeman Freeman said she had to go to about three offices to find out she had to only accept her information to register in her classes. According to Ursula Shorty, director of financial aid, if a student is selected for verification and they have to bring additional documents, or if a student is not meeting satisfactory academic progress or a student has some other issues that they have to resolve, those things cannot process aid for those students. “If a student is relying completely on financial aid, then those students are going to be in a situation where they have to either get a deferment with the university,” said Shorty. Shorty said that students could also pay out of pocket until the department of financial aid can determine that they are going to need some eligibility requirements. “Now for the students who are PHOTO BY TREVOR JAMES/DIGEST submitting information, we go ahead and give them receivables,” said Shorty. Students wait in line while other students are processed by financial aid advisors According to Shorty students are during the first week of school in Seymore Gym. given receivables to reserve their spots in classes so that they cannot be purged out submitting tax return information, or Shorty went on to say, “If a student can’t of the system. if their department is in the process get to that point, and many students are “They use that receivable to go to the of doing a correction on a student’s actually getting receivables, then you are cashier’s office to pay their fees,” said application, they issue receivables also either not meeting satisfactory academic Shorty. so that students would not have to wait progress and your decision has not been Shorty said that if students are just to for the information to come back. made yet.”
Water in Boley Hall shut off for leakage Christie Carral
The Southern Digest
More than 200 on campus students were affected by last Friday’s water shutoff in Allice Almira Boley Hall due to leaking pipes in one of the suites. For more over an hour, students were unable to use water in the dorm rooms between the hours of 10 AM and 11 AM Friday. Kamal Pickens business management major from Houma, La., said he made preparations for the water in Boley Hall to go off. “Since the water was going off, I got up earlier and did what I had to do before the water was off,” said Pickens. Tiara Hughes business management major from Baton Rouge said with the water being off, she had some issues. “It was difficult to wash my hands,” said Hughes. Delby Nicholas undecided major from Los Angeles said the first time the water was cut off he did not know and he had been gone the entire day.
“I couldn’t use the restroom and had to go somewhere else the use the restroom,” said Nicholas. Tracie Abraham director of residential housing said students are to submit work orders online for problems such as water leaks and any other problems occurring in their dorms. “We’ll respond to it within a 24 hour manner but if it’s an emergency, we’ll respond to it immediately,” said Abraham. Abraham said with repairs affecting students, they notify them of the work to be done so that it would not inconvenience the students. “We put notices up and students will be notified,” said Abraham. Abraham said that their job at residential housing is to accommodate the students because they are paying to live on campus. “We need to make sure the accommodations are adequate for the students,” said Abraham. Abraham said that nearly 1900 students are housed on campus.
“If anything, we must make sure the students are taken care of,” said Abraham. According to Owida Martin, director of Boley Hall, students were notified 24 hours in advance before the repair began on Friday. “They came in here and they were suppose to turn it off at nine that morning,” said Martin. Martin said by 10 AM Friday morning, the water was off and by 11:30 AM the water came back on. “I let them know the water was going to be turned off,” said Martin. Martin said the only students that were affected by the water shutoff were the students in their rooms. “They had a chance to take their showers and everything so that it would be an inconvenience,” said Martin. Although Martin said Boley Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus, ARIANA TRIGGS/DIGEST she reported that it is one of the sturdiest buildings on A trash bin is placed to keep water from leaking on the floor as water leaks through the ceiling in Alice Almira Boley Hall. Notices were put campus. up for students to be notified of the water shut off. “You can ask the two directors before me,” said Martin.