The March 2 issuse of the Southern Digest

In February a broad media “push” strategy will be implemented to enhance the Southern University System’s advocacy efforts. This comprehensive public awareness campaign entitled “SU… Today, Always” will target Louisiana State Legislators, Louisiana Board of Regents, alumnus, faculty, students, staff, stakeholders, and supporters.

The objectives laid out in the campaign plan include raising awareness and appreciation of the system’s contributions; strengthen advocacy efforts for the system among the state’s governmental offi cials; and promote the message of the Southern University to every corner of the state and mount a very aggressive defense of our system.

“When I came into offi ce in July, one of the fi rst things that I indicated to the staff is that I want to do was certainly

enhance stakeholder relations,” said interim president Kassie Freeman. “That to me is broadly defi ned as including our alumni and more importantly our students, faculty, staff, also state and national leaders.”

The timing of the campaign is designed to coincide with the start of the 2010 legislative session, so that as legislators are deliberating over critical issues relative to the SU System. With this plan the system will consistently show the positive messages relayed through the Southern University.

“This campaign will set the platform for us to be able to talk about the rich, rich history and all this past with providing leadership and preparing outstanding graduates. It also situates the past with where Southern University is currently and to where we are heading into the future,” Freeman added. “We are going to be building on that rich history and continue to provide all of our students across the system an outstanding

opportunity.”The campaign will utilize

different tactics such as web-based approach, television, radio, print medias, and networking

approaches. Also promotional items will

INSIDE CAMPUS BRIEFS...............2 NEWS.............................3

S O U T H E R N U N I V E R S I T Y , B A T O N R O U G E , L A .

STATE & NATION................4 SPORTS......................5

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southern university system interim president Kassie Freeman said the system’s new media initiative is designed to raise the university’s profile to different groups of university stakeholders.

photo By april BUffington/digest

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE DIGEST WILL BE TUESDAY, MARCH 16.

See BOARD page 3

By norman J. dotson Jr.digest editor-in-chieF

digest neWs serVice

southern university Board of supervisors chairman tony clayton speaks his mind during Friday’s board meeting.

photo By norman J. dotson Jr./digest

See push page 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 2 , 2010WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM VOL. 55, ISSUE 9

estABLished in 1928

STATE & NATION

UCsd students protest nooseAdministrators surrounded. pg. 4

SPORTS

mcCulloch shines at sWaCAlso: SU hoops finales near. pg. 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

a day at the museumMarketing club pays tribute. pg. 6

Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus will mark its’ 130th Founders’ Day celebration, “Southern University Cele-brating 130 Years…Refl ection/ Rededication/ Renewal” on Tuesday, March 9 with festivities leading up to and throughout the day.

The celebration will begin with the Southern University Alumni Gala on Saturday, March 6, at 6 p.m., in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Memorial Union. Tickets are $75 and include a three-course dinner and live music. To purchase tickets, contact Southern’s Offi ce of Alumni Affairs at 225.771.4200.

The March 9 celebration will begin with a Community Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom. Several area ministers will offer prayers for the SU campus, administrators, faculty, staff and students.

Southern University Laboratory School students will hold their Annual Pilgrimage and Founders’ Day Ceremony at 8:30 a.m., at the Clarks’ gravesite on the campus.

A video chronicling the university’s 130-year history will be shown at 10 a.m., in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center. The Founders’ Day Convocation will begin immediately after the video at 10:30 a.m. Chancellor Dr. Kofi Lomotey will deliver the keynote address.

The 130th Year kick-off celebration will be held at noon in the Activity Center parking lot. The event will be the fi rst of several held throughout the year to celebrate Southern’s 130 years of existence.

The SU library is hosting its’ Founders’ Day exhibit which features photos of the university’s founders, their biographies and information on Historical Black Colleges and Universities.

SU to celebrate its history

SU working to raise profi le

The Board of Supervisors met Friday in the J.S. Clark Administration Building to discuss different items of several committees. The committees present were the Academic Affairs committee, the Finance and Academic committee, Personal Affairs committee, Facility and Property committee, and the Students Affairs committee. Members of each committee gave and reported respectively.

The Academic Affairs committee began the meeting with good news concerning

campus grants and awards. The Southern University of Shreveport camps has been awarded an American recovery reinvestment grant in the amount of four million dollars.

“The $4 million grant is for basic adult education, pre GED services, allied health and nursing training,” said Melva Turner, Chief of Staff to the President. “ The project success will implement a lot of curriculum and a career latter model to train the unemployed, employment in one of six areas, dental hygiene, health

SU board discusses search, grants By Billy Washingtondigest staFF Writer

1 p.m., and “Choosing a Major,” which is scheduled for March 9 at 2 p.m. and March 11 at 3 p.m.

C.o.B. stUdent ConvoCation

The College of Business Student Leadership Council will hold a two-part student convocation in Room 313 of T.T. Allain Hall. All business majors are strongly urged to attend.

Freshmen and soph-omores will meet Tuesday at 3 p.m., while juniors and seniors are scheduled to meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. Important dates and opportunities will be discussed.

For more information, contact Toni Jackson at 225.771.5460, ext. 222.

loUisiana Cpa taX hotlineThe Society of Louisiana

CPAs will sponsor its annual Louisiana CPA Tax Hotline Wednesday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Callers can expect to spend five to ten minutes with a Certified Public Accountant and get free, professional assistance with basic personal or corporate tax questions.

The Louisiana CPA Tax Hotline can be reached by dialing toll-free 1.877.852.1040 (in the New Orleans area 904.1111). Phones are only operational during hotline hours, but the LPCAs website (www.lcpa.org) features many helpful tax season resources including a free tax saving tips brochure ready for download.

Southern University’s Spanish Club, meets Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Room 320 of T.T. Allain Hall. If you are unable to attend the meetings but still like to participate, please send your name, contact number and valid e-mail address to [email protected]

pi gamma mUPi Gamma Mu, the

international honor so-ciety in social sciences, is inviting juniors, seniors and graduate students to join. Students must be in the upper 35 percent of their class, have a grade-point average of “B” or better and 20 semester hours in social science courses.

There is an international initiation fee $40 and an additional local chapter fee of $10. If you are interested in joining Pi Gamma Mu pick up an application from Dr. Shawn Comminey, Louisiana Epsilon Chapter Adviser, in Room 429 of Higgins Hall.

Css seminarsThe Center for Student

Success is offering its “Reducing Test Anxiety” seminar now until Thursday at Stewart Hall’s Lawless Auditorium.

CSS is offering the seminar today 2 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. The seminar is designed to teach students creative ways to reduce test anxiety.

Other upcoming seminars include “Mid-Term Motivation,” which is scheduled for March 8 at 4 p.m. and March 10 at

peer tUtoringPeer tutoring is available

in the Center for Student Success in Stewart Hall Room 107. Available hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays. Follow the Center for Student Success on Twitter to see exciting upcoming events: www.twitter.com/jaguar_nation.

Baptist stUdent UnionWant to become a

member of the Baptist Student Union? Want to fellowship with other students during the week? Need a place to worship? Need a place to attend for bible study, special events and trips? Need a quiet place to study? Need a place to relax and watch television?

Join the T.J. Jemison Baptist Student Union, located at 724 Harding Blvd., across from LaCumba’s Den and the tennis courts. For more information, call 225.774.8924.

los JagUares latinosLos Jaguares Latinos,

raCe for the CUreThe Susan G. Komen

Race for the Cure Walk/Run will be held on March 6 at 8:30 a.m. Registration for the event is now $30. For more information visit the Facebook group: Southern University—Race for the Cure Walk, email [email protected] or contact Breanna Paul at 225.625.4252.

international researCh eXperienCe for stUdents

programThe National Science

Foundation’s International Research Experience for Students Program is accepting applications for its 2010 Summer Research and Educational Program. The research training will be June 5- July 15 in the African nations of Cameroon and Uganda.

The application process is open to students in the College of Business programs, computer science, journalism, nursing and English. The deadline for applications is March 15. The program is only open to U.S. citizens registered to Southern University.

For application forms, contact Marilyn Doherty at the Dean’s Office of the College of Business in T.T. Allain Hall or call 225.771.5640. For additional information, contact Dr. Victor Mbarika at [email protected]. Applications are also available online at www.ictid.com.

Jazz BrUnCh & silent aUCtionThe Southern University

Center for International Education will hold its Sixth Annual Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction Saturday, March 20 in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The brunch is held annually to raise money for scholarships to support students and faculty members as they participate in the center’s Study Abroad programs held in Mexico, Africa, China and Belize.

Tickets are $35 each, and the amount is tax-deductible. For more information, call 225.771.2613.

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push from page 1

be used as well such as bumper stickers, lapel pins, and writing pins to help push this campaign along.

“I don’t really like to hear people say what our students can’t do, I would rather emphasize what they can do,” said Freeman.

Freeman also gave a brief overview of her strategic plan for the system while she serves as interim president.

“During my interim presidency, this sacred institution will not lose ground,” Freeman stated in her president’s message to Southern. “This plan represents our collective voice- not one person, nor one office. It represents all of us,” Freeman continued.

The strategic plan list five goals to help the system meet the requirements set out in the Postsecondary Review Commission. With each goal is a list of objectives to help achieve them as well as a standard to meet as a way of measuring the success.

L e t y o u r v o i c eb e h e a r d !

S e n d a . . .L e t t e r t o t h e e d i t o r

information technology, medical lab technology, radiology technology, repertory therapy, and develop an EKG technician program.”

Southern University Agricultural Research Center was awarded a grant for $1 million during this grant cycle, which is from January 1 through February28.

The Baton Rouge campus, has been awarded a $ 72,000 grant from TANF Micro Enterprise Development. A total of $2.5 million was awarded during the grant cycle.

The SUNO campus has received two grants for a total amount of $20,000 and other grants.

The writing of grants, compared to the previous cycles, has improved.

“It’s hard for the campuses to say that they are at ‘par’ because they have been doing a mammoth job in writing grants and we have charged them to write grants that are within the mission of the University,” said Turner. “The grants that have been written will make a significant difference to the campus and I think they are at ‘par’ and they are doing a good job,” expressed Turner.

The Finance and Audit committee quickly went through the agenda with no questions and remarks from the board or public. Their agenda included a mid-year budget adjustment, which was put in place to surround of the increase of student enrollment.

Following the Finance and Audit committee, the Personnel Affairs committee appointed a new Dean of College of Arts and Humanities at the SUBR location and an associate executive director of Trip Community Outreach Programs / Director of Educational Opportunities

Center Programs have been selected for the SUSLA campus. The personnel Affairs committee also made a salary adjustment, better known as a raise, for a nursing professor in the amount of 3,000. (Name cannot be given because of confidentiality purposes)

Tony Clayton, Executive officer, wondered why people were receiving raises at the same time of faculty and staff members being terminated. He asked Dr. Mwalimu Shujaa, for an elaborative explanation.

“The professor was formally working as a clinical instructor. She is being moved from clinical faculty to professional nursing faculty based on completion of her terminal degree,” replied Shujaa.

“So the responsibilities are significantly different than only teaching clinical courses. She is also teaching nursing curriculum courses for the PhD. Program. It’s more work,” continued Shujaa.

The Facilities and Property Committee presented their agenda with one action item that involved a request to submit the F.G Clark Activity Center Parking and drainage project for ACT 959 consideration. The board and public approved the item.

The student Affairs committee, led by Ms. Raushanah Hunter, presented information regarding the SGA leaders’ comments regarding the Presidential search.

Dr. Kassie Freeman was not in attendance during last Friday’s meeting.

“I understand students may want to give Dr. Freeman an opportunity, but this board for a number of reasons decided initially that Dr. Freeman, or whoever would be interim president would not be able to apply,” said Murphy Bell, Co-chairman of the presidential search committee. “I also

didn’t see any student leaders, or a very few, at the search committee meetings, especially when the applicants were here yesterday. I understand there may be some sentiments among some students to allow Dr. Freeman to apply. It was nothing personal from the board to not allow Dr. Freeman to apply.”

Mr. Richard J. Caiton, Jr., a member of the Student Affairs committee, totally disagreed with Bell.

“I think that students should have input during the presidential search,” replied Caiton. “The students are a part of this campus and we would not be here today if it wasn’t for them.”

The Board of Supervisors basically made arrangements prior to the forming of the presidential search committee.

“This board has voted and everyone, including Dr. Freeman, agreed to accept this post with the condition that she will not apply,” boldly stated Tony Clayton. “Unless nine of my colleagues vote differently, we will adhere to the dictates of this board and the search committee will be respected,” concluded Clayton.

Other items discussed were the contract for SU’s head football coach, Stump Mitchell, the Tucker Commission reports and developing a partnership proposal between SUBR and the National Alumni Federation. Mitchell will receive a the same salary as former head football coach, Pete Richardson, and start his era on a three year contract in which the board has the option to renew at the end of the third year. Also, if he wins the Bayou Classic and the Sheridan poll, he will be rewarded $15,000, which are the same incentives Pete Richardson received during his term.

BOARD from page 1

Otis Redding, The Four Tops and Louis Armstrong performed at the Lincoln Theater. Families flocked there after church to see the latest motion pictures. Civil rights leaders met in its upstairs offices.

Now the Lincoln Theater sits unused and in need of repairs. But the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame hopes to restore it to its former glory and document its place in history.

“We look at it as a jewel that can showcase Louisiana’s successes,” said Brenda Perry, museum founder. “For the African-American community, that was a haven; that was a monument of thriving.”

Goals include reopening the theater to live performances and making it the museum’s official home.

The Lincoln opened during segregation in 1951 and became a central location for African-American business and social life in Baton Rouge.

“African Americans created their own institutions so they would not have that second-class citizenry of segregation,” said consultant Donna Fricker, who is

helping to prepare its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

The building more than a theater. City directories from the 1950s show that it was the home of The Baton Rouge Post newspaper office, The Lincoln Pharmacy,

dentist Sam Chapman, The Lincoln Barber Shop, attorneys Bruce Bell and Johnnie Jones, The Good Citizen Life Insurance Co. and The Keystone Life Insurance Co., said Fricker.

Jones represented the United Defense League, which organized the 1953 Baton

Rouge bus boycott and also had offices in the Lincoln.

In 1953, the Rev. T.J. Jemison led Baton Rouge’s African Americans on an eight-day boycott of the Baton Rouge bus system. That protest served as the blueprint for similar efforts throughout the nation, including the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jones had been admitted to the bar only weeks before Jemison asked him to represent the United Defense League. He said he was probably chosen because he was Southern University’s only law graduate that year.

Several news articles over the years have said that King met with Baton Rouge organizers at the Lincoln. Jones, now 90, says he doesn’t recall that, though he does remember spending a day in Baton Rouge with Jemison and King.

“Maybe it was a quiet visit,” Fricker said. “Martin Luther King was not the huge figure then that he became.

“The important thing to me is Martin Luther King in his own autobiography said he called Jemison for his advice,” she said.

SAN DIEGO—Anger boiled over on the University of California San Diego campus Friday, where students took over the chancellor’s office for several hours to protest the hanging of a noose in a campus library.

Students wearing red handkerchiefs over their faces blocked the doors to Chancellor Marye Anne Fox’s offices for hours, while more students inside chanted “Real pain, real change.”

They left the office peacefully at sundown, about the same time that leaders of the university’s Black Student Union ended talks with administrators in a nearby conference room over demands that include more boosting the African-American curriculum and campus activities. A university spokesman, Jeff Gattas, said there were no arrests and no property was damaged during the takeover.

The noose found dangling from a light fixture on the seventh floor of Geisel Library on Thursday night was the latest in a string of racially charged incidents in the university community, authorities said Friday. Less than two weeks ago, an off-campus party mocking Black History Month ignited racial tensions.

A University of California statement said a student admitted she and two other people were responsible. The

statement did not identify the students or their race or include a motive.

In a news conference Friday afternoon, Fox said the student has been suspended but declined to discuss her motive or other students involved.

“This person admitted her involvement in what we consider to be an abhorrent act,” said Fox.

Hundreds of students rallied for several hours outside the university administration building Friday, where speakers denounced the noose as an example of intolerance on a campus where less than 2 percent of students are black.

UC and campus authorities did not indicate whether the students would be charged with a hate crime. Under state law, hanging a noose to terrorize is punishable by up to a year in jail.

“Whatever the intent of the authors of this act, it was a despicable expression of racial hatred, and we are outraged,” the UC statement said. “It has no place in civilized society, and it will not be tolerated.”

To blacks, a noose recalls the days of widespread racism and lynchings.

“How am I supposed to walk into that building? How am I ever going to be safe there?” said ethnic studies major Cheyenne Stevens, who is black.

Mustafa Shahryar, 21, said he had seen the noose as he left the library.

Shahryar, who is from

Afghanistan, told the crowd he grew accustomed to racial slurs while growing up in Southern California but was stunned to see the noose.

“Nothing phased me until last night,” he said. “I just took that noose as an attack on all of us.”

Leaders of the Black Student Union said they were disappointed with the administration’s response to their list of 32 demands. The school agreed to many, such as funding a vacant position for program coordinator for an African American Studies minor.

But the administration said requiring undergraduates to take courses in African-American, ethnic and gender studies was beyond its scope of authority. Funding the Black Student

Union, it said, depended on state funding and decisions of the student government.

The administration plans to resume talks with the students Monday, said Danny Widener, a history professor who supports the Black Student Union and participated in Friday’s discussions.

The school — where about 2 percent students are black — has been in turmoil over an off-campus “Compton Cookout” party organized by some students that urged people to dress as ghetto stereotypes and promised there would be chicken, watermelon and malt liquor.

Fox condemned the party, and the school began an investigation to determine if any students might face discipline. The school

also initiated a campus-wide “Battle Hate” campaign.

Campus administrators held a “teach-in” against intolerance on Wednesday. The same day, hundreds of students from UCSD and other universities staged a campus protest, demanding that officials make more efforts to combat racism.

Some students countered that the reaction to the party had been overblown.

Last week, the Associated Students president pulled funding from a student-run TV station after The Koala — a campus media outlet with a reputation for being offensive — came out in support of the party, called black students ungrateful and used a derogatory term for African-Americans during a program.

By elliot spagatassociated press Writer

Page 4 - Tuesday, March 2, 2010

state & nationwww.southerndigest.com

Brenda perry gestures toward the marquee at the Lincoln theatre in Baton rouge.file photo By mark saltz/ap photo

By emily kern heBertap dateLine Louisiana memBer exchange

university of california-san diego chancellor marye anne Fox addresses students Friday during a rally against racial intolerance after a noose was found dangling from a light fixture on the seventh floor of geisel Library, thursday in san diego.

photo By nelvin Cepeda/ap photo

UCSD students protest noose

Black history group hopes to reopen old theater

The Southern University men’s and women’s basketball teams swept Alcorn State Saturday in Lorman, Miss., setting up key pair of games to end the regular season and set the table for next week’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament in Shreveport.

The Jaguars fi nish the season with a Texas two-step at home, hosting Prairie View A&M Thursday and Texas Southern Saturday in the regular season fi nale.

The SU women (18-8, 12-4) powered past the Lady Braves 74-61, remaining atop the women’s standings with defending conference champion Prairie View A&M.

Hannah Kador posted a double-double against Alcorn, notching career highs in points (27) and rebounds (12) in the win. Ashley Augerson added a career-high 16 poins while Jamie Floyd added a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

SU had the night off Monday. Prairie View (15-10, 12-4) defeated Alabama State 77-71 Monday night, tying the Jags for fi rst place. The Lady Panthers and SU each have a two-game lead over Alabama A&M (14-11, 10-6) and Grambling State (13-12, 10-6) heading into the fi nal weekend of the regular season.

The top four women’s teams will meet this week, with regular season title hopes and SWAC Tournament position on the line. Southern, undefeated at the F.G. Clark Center this season, will host Prairie View Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with a share of the SWAC regular season title and an inside track for the tournament’s No. 1 seed on the line.

A win over PV gives Southern a share of the regular season

title and the fi rst for head coach Sandy Pugh’s club since the 2005-06 season.

However, SU will not have a pre-tournament breather as the Jags end the season Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against Texas Southern (12-15, 9-7). Meanwhile, Grambling and AAMU meet in Huntsville, Ala., in their regular season fi nale.

The picture is a bit murkier on the men’s side. The Jaguars took care of business, holding off the Braves for a 60-57 win. The win snapped the men’s six-game losing streak and 20-game road losing streak.

“It feels really good to get that monkey off our back,” said forward Julius Ingram, who fi nished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. “It gives us momentum going into the fi nal two games of the season, and hopefully the SWAC Tournament.”

Southern (5-23, 3-13) also got help this weekend from regular season champion Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. JSU and UAPB each defeated Grambling State (6-18, 4-12), which held the eighth and fi nal SWAC Tournament berth heading into last weekend’s games.

The losses put Southern within striking distance of the eighth seed, but head coach Rob Spivery’s club has to take care of business against Prairie View (15-12, 10-6) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Texas Southern (13-15,9-7) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Jaguars will have some scoreboard watching to do as well as GSU travels to take on Alabama State Thursday and Alabama A&M Saturday.

———Sports Writer Justin Wooten contributed to this report.

Southern jumper Micah McCulloch standout perform-ance at the 2010 SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at LSU’s Carl Maddox Fieldhouse was not enough to stop Alabama State.

The Alabama State women’s and men’s teams swept the team titles, the fi rst school sweep of the indoor titles since SU’s double win in 1999.

The defending champion Lady Hornets won in impressive fashion totaling 220 points. Jackson State was second with 104 points, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff third with 65 points.

It was their third back-to-back championship in the past nine years, as Alabama State won in 2002-2003, and 2005-06.

McCulloch was the Men’s Outstanding Field Performer, scoring 18 points with three third-place fi nishes (high jump, long jump, triple jump).

The Alabama State men won with 124.5 points. Defending champ Grambling State was

second with 86.6 points and Southern third with 70.3 points. It is the fi rst men’s title for Alabama State since 2004.

Alabama State’s women continued its dominance of the meet on Sunday, with fi rst place fi nishes in the weight throw and the mile and tying for fi rst in the pole vault, and second place fi nishes in the mile run, 60-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.

The Lady Hornets had multiple top six fi nishes in the weight throw (fi rst, third, fourth), mile (fi rst, second, third), 60-meter dash (second and third), 400-meter dash (second and sixth), 60-meter hurdles (fourth and sixth) and 200-meter dash (second and fourth).

Shexnieavia Bryant of Ala-bama State was the Women’s Outstanding Field Performer. She scored 20 points with a pair of fi rst-place fi nishes in the shot put (42-6.25) and weight throw (SWAC record 58-0.5).

Raheema Hodges of Ala-bama State earned Women’s

Outstanding Field Performer Honors, scoring 32.5 points with fi rst place fi nishes in the mile run, 3000-meter and 5000-meter runs, and helping the Hornets to a fi rst-place fi nish in the distance medley relay.

On the men’s side, Alabama State won the 400 and 800-meter dashes, and fi ni-shed second in the mile run, 60-meter hurdles, 5000-meter run and mile relay. ASU also had multiple top six fi nishes in the 400-meter dash (fi rst and sixth), 60-meter hurdles (second, fourth and sixth), 800-meter dash (fi rst, third, fourth, fi fth), and 5000-meter run (third and sixth).

Alabama State’s Robert Gunn was the Men’s Outstanding Track Performer, scoring 30.5 points. Gunn had a fi rst place fi nish in the 3000-meter run and helped the Hornets to the fi rst place fi nish in the distance medley relay while also fi nishing in second in the mile run, third in the 5000-meter run, and fi fth in the 800-meter run.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - Page 5

SPORTSwww.southerndigest.com

digest News serViCe

southern jumper Micah McCulloch approaches a jump during the swaC indoor track and field Championships. McCulloh earned the Men’s Outstanding field Performer award, scoring 18 points with third-place finishes in high, triple and long jump.

photo By WIl norWood/speCIal to the dIGest

Julius ingram and the southern men’s basketball team are one game out of the final swaC tournament berth with two games left. sU takes on Prairie View a&M thursday at the Minidome.

photo By aprIl BUFFInGton/dIGest

www.southerndigest.comg online @

Hornets sweep SWACSU’s McCulloch earns top men’s fi eld performer honors

SU basketball gear up for fi nalesWomen on verge of clinching regular season title with wins; Men need wins, help from others, to keep SWAC Tourney hopes alivedigest News serViCe

Southern University students experienced a journey back in black history including the lives of influential black figures while attending, “A Day at the Museum” this Wednesday at Southern University’s Museum of Art (SUMA). Target sponsored and Southern University Marketing club organized the event.

Lauren Simmons, marketing club president shared, “The Marketing club was recognizing Black History Month in a fun and visual way, hoping students could take something from it.”

Marketing club members presented poems and perspective of influential black leaders by becoming the character for the program. The tour featured Angela Davis, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Barack Obama and Condoleeza Rice. Marketing Club President Lauren Simmons, opened the program as Davis. The program consisted of stops throughout the museum and introductions and phrases from the figures. The tour concluded with refreshments provided by

Target. Marketing Club members

hoped that students would gain from the experience in different ways.

According to Michelle Mitchell, Marketing club vice president, “Students should gain a better sense of their heritage. Remembering where they come from. The artifacts in the museum give perspective for them to remember.” Mitchell played Rosa Parks in the program.

Jonathan Wiggins, Marketing Club Fundraising coordinator, wanted students to gain an in-depth understanding of what Black History is and stated that SUMA has a lot to offer. Wiggins also felt that the tour should be done once a month or even once a week to show how much there is for people to learn. Wiggins played Malcolm X in the program.

Vincent Winston, Marketing club member explained, “Hopefully participants will get a heightened sense of their culture visually. Seeing is believing. We can hopefully do this more than once a year. Black history should

be celebrated 365 days a year.” Vincent Winston played Barack Obama. Sharhonda Smith shared, “I hope that they get an understanding of the art of the museum. I believe they will be more aware a preview of the lives of these influential figures.”

The Southern University Marketing Club is an organization within the College of Business under the advisement of professor Katrece

Albert. The organization prepares business students for the professional and corporate world. The club hosts resume’ reviews, workshops, speaking engagements in preparation of corporate America. Students practice marketing skills during programs and fundraisers. Students involved are preparing and anticipating their third annual Marketing Sales Conference in October.

Page 6 - Tuesday, March 2, 2010

arts & entertainmentwww.southerndigest.com

L e t y o u r v o i c eb e h e a r d !

S e n d a . . .L e t t e r t o t h e e d i t o r

By evan taylordigest staff writer

Marketing Club Vice President Michelle Mitchell, right, portrays rosa Parks during the club’s “a day at the Museum” showcase at the southern University Museum of art.

photo By norman j. dotson jr./dIGest

Marketing Club brings history to life

When most people think of the Super Bowl, they think of a grand American sporting event involving food, parties and great times. Most people do not think about abortion.

The Super Bowl is behind us, but the controversial issue surrounding a commercial from anti-abortion group, Focus on the Family, deserves a second look.

The commercial aired during the game and featured Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother Pam Tebow. Focus on The Family is campaigning to make abortion illegal. However, this belief comes at the expense of women.

As admirable as some may think the ad was, it failed to recognize one important point: making abortion illegal will not stop it from happening. The

Center for Reproductive Rights has pointed out that if abortion becomes illegal it will go underground, making it unsafe.

Most of the debate came down to whether a commercial advocating anti-abortion should be allowed on the air. This debate is a distraction from the real issue of whether or not women should have the right to choose.

Pam Tebow is a woman who

made a choice. She knew the risks of continuing with her pregnancy and against her doctor’s wishes she decided to carry her child to term.

We can all respect her decision in her personal situation. Yet, Pam Tebow seems to be advocating for other women not to have a choice.

Many women face a similar situation to Pam Tebow. Sometimes women choose to continue their pregnancies and sometimes they do not. But the ultimate choice should be theirs.

As Jezebel magazine contributor Latoya Peterson pointed out, “The Tebows are now taking the stance that the only permissible option is to not terminate pregnancies; effectively denying other women the choice that Pam Tebow

herself was able to exercise.” Pam Tebow was lucky.

Nevertheless, other women are not always as fortunate and should not be forced to risk their lives as she chose to do. Women are not a homogenous community. The choice of one woman should not be used to deny other women the ability to make choices of their own.

Beyond the Super Bowl, CBS and the commercial, the most important thing to do is recognize women as human beings capable of making competent and informed decisions regarding their reproductive health.

———Derrick McMahon writes for The

Famuan, the Florida A&M University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

Read

the Digest at

WWW.

southerndigest

.com

SUBMISSIONS POLICYthe 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 editorial and opinion pages. 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-mail to [email protected].

EdITOrIaL POLICYstaff editorials represent the opinions of the author and the majority opinion of the southern digest student editorial Board, which is comprised of the student staff of editors and columnists. the southern digest provides an open forum to educate, inform and enlighten the students, faculty and staff at southern University, Baton rouge, La.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - Page 7

VIEWPOINTSwww.southerndigest.com

1. Ralph Slaughter … really?2. Is he considering trading

the furniture he took for his job?3. Did the ombudsman send

someone to tell the DIGEST staff to take down the “This is not admissions!” sign?

4. Wasn’t that dumb, being the DIGEST office isn’t really admissions?

5. What will be the ombudsman’s next job?

6. Hmm, maybe he’ll be the next system president?

7. Who put that big ole K at the beginning of the strip?

8. Did they forget to add the “Mart?”

9. Or maybe someone stole the “Cirkle?”

10. Is Colonel Sanders looking for his K?

11. Is the letter O missing its best friend?

12. Did that big ole K make the strip sponsored by the letter K like on Sesame Street?

13. Why kouldn’t they just dekorate it or something?

14. Did Circle K kancel Kappa Week?

15. Maybe that’s why there were no bowties and suits this Pretty Wednesday?

16. Or maybe they were being diskreet?

17. Why do the Kappas neglekt the letter C?

18. Since Kofi’s name already has a K, will the Kappas spell it with a C?

19. Do the Kappas send tekst messages like, “are you koming to our kampus klean up event akross the skreet from the katholic kenter?

20. Aren’t you tired of everything being spelled with a damn K?

20 Questions

I’M JUST aSKING STaTEMENT

i’M JUst asKiNg is for entertainment purposes only. these remarks do not represent the opinions of the digest staff, southern University or the Office of student Media services.

DERRICKMcMAHON

BL ACK CO L L EGE W IRE

Tebow Ad Seeks to Limit Women’s Choices

www.southerndigest.comPage 8 - Tuesday, March 2, 2010