Chancellor Kofi Lomotey’s resignation in November means that the Baton Rouge campus possibly facing a period without having a chancellor. A chancellor search committee was created to search for at least three qualifi ed candidates for the position to present to the Southern System President Ronald Mason Jr.

The committee met earlier this month for the fi rst time to discuss their role, dates, and qualities they fi nd are important in a candidate. The most important issue was getting someone qualifi ed in the position as soon as possible.

“We really need to have someone in the position by July,” said Mason. “The job will be posted by the tenth for people to start applying.”

A deadline for accepting

applications was set for March fourth and three fi nalists will be chosen for interviews. April 4-5 is the set date to hold the actual interviews for the fi nal three applicants and have campus visits near April 11.

“We plan to make this process as transparent as we can possibly make it with the use of social media to help better track the process,” said Mason.

Also the committee agreed to make it publicly known that the interviews of the fi nal three applicants will be done in an open public forum style venue to further keep the process open and transparent for everyone.

A search fi rm will be used to go out and search for the candidates to promote the position so that the pool of candidates is a well diverse group. Committee member and

faculty senate president, Sudhir Trivedi raised the question of whether or not a search fi rm was needed for this process.

“It seems as though we weren’t given an option to use a search fi rm, it seemed as if someone made a decision for us,” said Trivedi. “I hope as a committee we can discuss

Jaguar blue cards have made it to Southern University students; some questions arose and Aaron Poach, Higher One Campus Relations Coordinator offered answers and resources for blue card users.

For students who have not received their blue cards there are a few steps to take.

“First make sure Higher One and Southern University has your most up to date address. If it is not correct contact the offi ce and let them know you have not received your card,” said Poach.

On jaguarbluecard.com you can click on the “Where’s my card?” link to enter your name and student ID. The system will tell students when their card should arrive. If that date has passed let the offi ce know you need a new card.

The jaguar blue card is attached to a Higher One account that is a fully functioning FDIC insured online checking account. There are a few fees and restrictions and Higher One

offers solutions and alternatives to prevent fees.

“If you visit jaguarbluecard.com there is a fee schedule and tips on how to avoid those fees,” said Poach.

These fees include and 50 cent pin transaction fee and a $2.50 fee for using another bank’s ATM.

“When a student uses their pin they are no longer under the zero liability protection policy. We encourage students to use safer option when spending,” said Poach.

Higher One tries to help students avoid any fees while providing a debit card and easier access to your refund.

“If a cardholder would prefer a bank branch for banking instead of this online checking account they can change their refund preference anytime. Students can also have their refund direct deposited to a personal account and then transfer or deposit money onto their jaguar blue card through a one time verifi cation process,” said Poach.

Students can withdrawal up to $500 a day and spend $2500

per day in swipes. Higher one ATMs dispense $10 bills and $50 bills only to ensure students are supplied with the money they need.

“If a card user needs to make a major purchase such as a down payment on a car on their card, they can call customer care ahead of time and explain

their situation. Customer care can increase the spending limit for 24 hours,” said Poach.

Higher one provides mobile features to monitor spending and ensure that you have the amount in your account to cover

See SuNO-uNO page 3

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higher one installed an aTm for Jaguar Blue card users in the Smith-Brown memorial Union. card users have the option of using the machine or utilizing online resources.

photo By dAvid clArk iii/diGest

See Subr Search page 3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2011WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM VOL. 57, ISSUE 1estABLished in 1928

STATE & NATIONla. prisons to be evaluatedShrinking prison population goal. pG. 4

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By melindA deslAtteThE aSSocIaTED prESS

By evAn tAylorDIGEST manaGInG EDITor

The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus says its members will oppose any attempt to merge the University of New Orleans campus with the historically black Southern University at New Orleans campus.

In a statement Wednesday, the caucus said such a merger would be the beginning of a “systematic demise” of historically black colleges and universities in Louisiana.

A day earlier, Gov. Bobby Jindal asked the state’s top higher education board, the Board of Regents, to research a possible combination of the schools to determine whether it might better serve students.

The caucus said Jindal is trying to push the idea through without proper study and at a time when caucus members claim the governor is shrinking diversity on college system boards.

“This proposal comes with no factual basis that it will save the state money or that the merger will serve the needs of both SUNO and UNO students,” the 28-member caucus said in a statement.

Jindal also asked the Board of Regents to consider whether a merged campus should be moved away from the university systems that currently govern the schools — and into the University of Louisiana System.

“SUNO has the lowest graduation rate in our state at 5 percent, and something needs to be done so we can help our students,” Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said in a statement Wednesday. “Merging these schools has been talked about for years and indeed, just recently, the head of the Southern University System proposed

Black caucus opposes merger

By normAn J. dotson Jr.DIGEST EDITor-In-chIEF “It seems as though we weren’t given an option to use a

search firm, it seemed as if someone made a decision for us. I hope as a committee we can discuss whether or not we need a search firm during this process.”

Sudhir TrivediFaculty Senate President

Jaguar cards providing access

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via email (pinkieglane@cox.net) or online at the library’s website www.lib.subr.edu.

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all articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Southern DIGEST and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission from the Editor in chief and Director of Student media Services. The Southern DIGEST is published twice-weekly (Tuesday & Friday) with a run count of 6,000 copies per issue during the Southern University - Baton rouge campus fall, spring semesters.

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BilliArds tournAmentCome out and test

your skills. Smith-Brown Memorial union is hosting a Billiards Tournament on Feb. 2 in LaCumba’s playpen from 6-9 p.m. Registration for the tournament will be Jan. 24-28 there is a $5 fee for entry. Awards and prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.

cAfÉ lAcumBACome join your

colleagues and faculty for a delicious and healthy lunch! All items are made fresh and can be enjoyed as dine-in or on-the-go. Café Lacumba will be serving up sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, snacks, and beverages every Wednesday from 11AM-1:30PM starting February 2nd . Café Lacumba is located in 161 Pinkie E. Thrift Hall (between Tourgee A. DeBose Hall and James Blaine Moore Hall). For more information, please call (225) 771- 4660.

lAne poetry contestThe Pinkie Gordon

Lane Poetry Contest. Dr. Pinkie Gordon Lane, Southern University’s nationally honored poet, was a Louisiana Poet Laureate and the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D from Louisiana State University. Dr. Lane also served as chair of the English Department at Southern University from 1974-1986. This is an invitation for “budding bards” to create and submit original poems on a subject of their choice. The deadline for submission is Friday, February 11th. Poems can be submitted either

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Campus BriefsTODAY

FEBRUARY 11

FEBRUARY 2

The Faculty Senate discussed the issues that affect faculty including; the progress of the chancellor search, system vision, S.O.S. campaign, and academic calendar frustrations during their first meeting of 2011.

Members expressed concerns for the makeup of the chancellor search committee, a need for a system vision, Academic calendar effectiveness, and an update of the “Save our Southern” system campaign.

Sudhir Trivedi, faculty senate president, presented the senate with a list of the members of the committee that appointed Chancellor Lomotey in comparison to the members of the current committee. The Lomotey committee consisted of eleven women and eight faculty members that caused senators to be concerned with the amount of members

who understand education at Southern University.

“Three females are not representative of diversity. We should have more people that are doing the job have input than those who are not exposed to those problems,” Trivedi said.

James Taylor, senate secretary, brought to the attention of the senate that there was no procedure to nominate or give faculty the chance to apply for the Chancellor position. The executive committee will create a procedure to nominate and give faculty an opportunity to apply for the position. Trivedi agreed that Southern should look “in-house” as well.

The senate discussed the shared vision for the system that will be implemented.

“It is a critical step to have a shared vision,” said Dr. Miller.

Ronald Mason, SU System President shared a few words about the vision and the new

S.O.S. campaign set to launch in February and March.

“S.O.S. campaign is sounding the alarm of our situation. It’s all about awareness, love, and support for Southern University,” said Mason.

Katara Williams, Director of Media Relations for the Southern University system, was present to expand on the S.O.S campaign.

“S.O.S. or Save our Southern is an advocacy and awareness campaign. It is to call attention to the issues. What system has to do cohesively, it’s slogan is ‘preserving our history and protecting our future’,” said Williams.

Taylor expressed difficulties he will encounter with certain classes that will not meet for the first time until after the verification period due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Board of Regents sets the verification period but the university sets the first day of class and class

times/schedules. “I move that the executive

committee recommends that the spring semester start after MLK day to ensure that there is no holiday during the 14th day verification period,” said Taylor.

Due to the improper handling of a students grade dispute the senate became concerned about the system’s unnecessary involvement in grade disputes. It was noted and agreed upon that the faculty handbook procedures should coincide with the procedures in the student handbook. Following theses procedure would prevent the system from being involved in grade appeal processes. The senate plans to look into grievance policies and the faculty handbook is in the editing process.

The next meeting will be held on February 3rd in the Henton Room of Smith-Brown Memorial Union.

Friday, January 21, 2011 - Page 3 www.southerndigest.com

blue card from page 1

SuNO-uNO from page 1

merging SUNO and UNO.”However, the Southern

system’s president, Ronald Mason, suggested consolidating the two universities into his system, not into another.

The Regents study is expected to be complete by March 1, with any legislation to be considered in the regular session that begins in April. Under the Louisiana Constitution, it would require a two-thirds vote of lawmakers to combine the campuses.

The black caucus doesn’t have enough votes to block the proposal without support from other legislators.

UNO and SUNO are only blocks apart. Jindal cited low graduation rates at both schools and student declines at the campuses since Hurricane Katrina struck five years ago.

Previous talk of a merger over the years has run into protests from SUNO alumni and students and complaints it would strip SUNO of its identity as a historically black campus.

your purchases. There is a text to balance and low balance alert option for students to be sure before they make purchases.

“Statements are always available 24/7 online,” said Poach. “If a student should find themselves in the negative or overdraft Higher One would work with the student to reconcile the overdraft,” said Poach.

As soon as a cardholder realizes they don’t have their card it is important to report it as soon as possible. There is a $20 fee for ordering a new card. But if a user should have a card quality issue; such as the magnetic strip is worn out before the card expiration date. Higher one will replace the card at no cost to the student,” said Poach.

There is no renewal fee and a new card will be issued within 30 days of the current card’s expiration date.

For graduating seniors and those considering keeping their card after graduation; the card will still be valid and can be used after graduation or departure from the university.

“The incentives for a student to keep their card after graduation are; no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and online bill pay, and discounts,” said Poach.

Should a student like to close their account they should make sure they reach a zero balance and contact Customer Care and they will close the account.

“There are some resources students should be aware of if they have any questions or need assistance there is customer care and EZhelp. Customer care’s phone number is located on the back of the jaguar blue card and is available Monday through Friday from 7am to 10pm central time. EZhelp is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week,” said Poach.

The jaguar blue card website also has a phone number for the campus office contact as well.

whether or not we need a search firm during this process.”

The basis of this concern stemmed from budgeting concerns however Mason assured that the firm would be paid through the raising private funds and not be deducted from university funds.

The committee itself will not choose who will be hired they will only be narrowing the list of candidates so that Mason can

make his recommendation to the board of supervisors on who he feels is best qualified for this position.

Committee co-chairman Pat McGee wanted to stress that the committee’s role is not to hire the next chancellor but to make finding a replacement easier for the president’s office to make a recommendation to the board.

“We should all understand our role here,

we are not hiring the next chancellor we are only charged with the duty to make the decision easier for president Mason to make recommendations to the board. The board will make the final decision on who will fill that position,” said McGee.

All search committee meetings are open to the public, the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.

Subr Search from page 1

Faculty Senate voice concernsBy evAn tAylorDIGEST manaGInG EDITor

Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday proposed dedicating a stream of tobacco settlement funding to help cover costs for the state’s popular free college tuition program known as TOPS.

Jindal’s proposal comes even as complaints have risen that such funding dedications make budget cutting decisions more difficult because they limit the dollars available to trim. Jindal himself has backed ways to lessen dedicated funds.

However, the governor said TOPS — the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students — is a critical program to improving educational attainment in Louisiana and needs to be

safeguarded.“TOPS has provided nearly 500,000 students

the opportunity to get a college education, and we must protect this vital program. Every year, roughly 50 percent of Louisianians who choose to attend college in the state do so with a TOPS scholarship,” Jindal said in a statement.

Lawmakers will consider the constitutional amendment in the regular session that begins in April. Enactment would require support of two-thirds of lawmakers and approval from voters.

The proposal would take a slice of state tobacco settlement money, about $58 million dollars each year currently divided between health care and education trust funds, and dedicate that money to the TOPS program.

That would be an increase of $43 million in

dedicated funds for the program, but it won’t cover the full costs of TOPS, for which the state pays more than $130 million annually. However, the dedicated revenue stream is expected to grow by another $70 million by 2018.

TOPS covers the full cost of tuition for any Louisiana student who meets high school course standards, graduates with a high enough grade point average — typically a C — and reaches certain benchmarks on the college entrance exam.

It does not factor in a family’s income or the student’s ability to pay.

Even as budget troubles have reduced state funding to higher education by $300 million over the last two years, the TOPS program has been shielded from any cuts.

Jindal proposes constitutional protection for TOPSBy melindA deslAtteThE aSSocIaTED prESS

Page 4 - Friday, January 21, 2011

STATE & NATIONwww.southerndigest.com

By melindA deslAtteThE aSSocIaTED prESS

Project to look at changes to La. prisonsLouisiana’s corrections

system and sentencing laws will be reviewed by a national organization looking at ways to shrink the prison population of the state with the highest incarceration rate in the nation.

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Thursday that The Pew Center on the States will be offering suggestions for legislation that could help reduce recidivism and get nonviolent offenders out of jail and into treatment programs.

“They’re going to analyze the driving force behind repeat offenders and prison growth. They will also determine which offenders we need to supervise more through probation and parole and which offenders need less resources so we can better concentrate services on high-risk offenders,” Jindal said.

One in every 55 Louisiana adults is in jail, compared with a national average of 1 in 100 adults nationally, said Adam Gelb, director of Pew’s Public Safety Performance Project.

Pew has done similar research partnerships with more than 20 other states since it started the

project in 2006, looking at ways to improve public safety while also cutting prison costs with residential treatment programs and alternative sentencing initiatives.

Gelb said as part of its work, Pew will analyze data, recommend policy changes, and help build a consensus to make the changes

and ensure they work.“We don’t have a proactive

policy agenda coming here. We don’t know what this is going to look like when it comes out,” Gelb said.

The research project will last all year, but Jindal said he expects to have some legislation

to propose for the upcoming regular session that begins in April.

Louisiana’s corrections budget this year is more than $660 million. Those costs are getting more scrutiny as the state’s budget tightens and Jindal and lawmakers try to cope with a

$1.6 billion shortfall in the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

A commission already has been looking at the state’s sentencing guidelines to recommend possible changes, and Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc has put an emphasis on programs designed to make sure that when inmates leave jail, they don’t return.

Jindal, LeBlanc, legislative leaders and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Kitty Kimball sent a letter in September asking for Pew’s help in researching and advising the state on sentencing and corrections issues.

“Through this Pew partnership, we’ll have a better understanding of what policies work and which ones don’t,” the governor said, standing with Gelb and representatives for district attorneys, sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies around Louisiana.

Lawmakers have resisted most efforts to lessen sentences so far. Proposals to allow some prisoners, mostly nonviolent inmates, to be considered for parole earlier and to earn early release for good behavior couldn’t gain passage in the Legislature last year.

Gov. Bobby Jindal announces a partnership with The pew center on the States to fund research in Louisiana’s criminal justice system Thursday.

file photo By Arthur d. lAuck/Ap photo

At this point, there are two undefeated teams, a one-loss team, and a fourth place tie in the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season title race.

Southern (3-15, 2-4), mean-while, is near the bottom prior to Monday’s 65-62 loss to Mississippi Valley (5-13, 4-1).

Close games have been a weakness for the Jaguars this season and they’ve never been more disappointed to see those trends continue. And for a team that was building its confidence after a win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff, the loss to Valley took some steam out of Southern’s engine.

“We spotted them too many points and that’s been our ‘M.O.’ here as of late,” head coach Rob Spivery said after

the game. “We get down early and have to fight back and that makes things tough for us.”

Surprisingly third in conference standings, Valley

led a 20-4 run in the first half, getting 16 points in the paint.

However, Southern went on an 18-7 run to close the deficit to 33-26 at halftime.

“We didn’t want to come out the way we did in the first half that’s for sure,” Spivery said.

Southern trailed the entire game.

Overall, the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot.

Southern closed the gap with two free throws and a layup by freshman Neal Webb, who scored 13 points off the bench, with 42 seconds remaining.

Just 36 seconds later, Kevin Burwell made two free throws and Valley led 65-60.

Julius Ingram, who had the game-winning three-point play against UAPB, led with 18 points.

The team plays its the next three games on the road, beginning Saturday at Alabama State (5-13, 2-3). The SWAC will broadcast the game live at www.swac.org/allaccess. The SU-ASU women’s game will air first at 3 p.m.

Spivery broke down his team’s chances away from home after a disappointing loss.

“Within two weeks, you have three games on the road and if we can go pick up one win someplace along the way it would be good for this team,” Spivery said.

carneta henderson drives looking for an open teammate during southern’s game against Mississippi Valley state Monday.

photo By DaviD clarK iii/Digest

Friday, January 21, 2011 - Page 5

SPORTSwww.southerndigest.com

MORRIS DILLARD

swat’s

halftime

By Morris DillarDdigest sports editor

I’ve never heard of a Southwestern Athletic Conference Stats and Information jinx, so I’m going to post these tidbits about reigning SWAC champion Southern without apology.

League coaches and sports information directors predict Southern to win the 2011 conference women’s basketball title. If the Jags sweep the regular season and SWAC Tournament, they will become the third team to sweep the regular season and conference tournament in back-to-back seasons under the same head coach.

Sadie Magee led Jackson State to SWAC sweeps in 1982 and 1983 in a four-year streak of SWAC Tournament titles. David Ponton led Grambling to sweeps in 1998 and 1999.

Pugh has led Southern to three regular season and four tournament championships, surpassing Alcorn State for most NCAA Tournament appearances (four) in the process.

However, Pugh and the Jags (8-8, 5-1) have to get through a crucial three-game road swing beginning Saturday at Alabama State (4-12, 1-4) before they can begin looking at the SWAC history books. Saturday’s matchup is followed by a Monday night showdown at conference leader Alabama A&M (9-6, 5-0). The road swing ends a week later at Alcorn State (4-11, 3-3).

“If you get these three on the road, you’re winning the championship. It’s going to be hard for somebody to catch you at that point,” Pugh said.

Southern won two of three games of the road trip last season, falling 65-62 at AAMU before pulling out a 44-41 win at ASU and winning 74-61 at Alcorn.

“In order to get Alabama A&M, we got to get Alabama State,” Pugh warns. “I don’t know about the kids but the coach will be ready to go.”

ASU is led by All-SWAC fi rst team selection Tanika Jackson, the conference’s leading scorer. Jackson averages 19.8 points per game while the Lady Hornets rank second in the conference in scoring and leads the SWAC in rebounding.

“Over there is always a very, very tough game for us,” Pugh said. “I like our chances.”

If Southern gets past Jackson and the Lady Hornets, the league’s second leading scorer, AAMU’s Whiquitta Tobar, and her 17.9 ppg average.

Road trip key to SU’s season

Southern head coach Sandy Pugh called the fi rst half of Monday’s 47-45 last-second win over Mississippi Valley a “worst nightmare” and wants to make adjustments before they begin three-game road trip.

However, she does not doubt the Jaguars chances.

“They’re a tough team when they are clicking on all cylinders,” Pugh said after the game.

As for the win, she’ll take it.Southern (8-8, 5-1), used a 12-4 run prior

to shooting 4 of 22 in the fi rst half to tie the game 32-32 with 11:57 remaining.

“My hats off to Valley,” said Pugh. “They come in here every year. They’re scrappy, they can hit shots, they run their sets, they don’t do anything they’re not capable of doing, they play together. My hat’s off to them.”

The win was the Jaguars’ third straight.Valley (5-11, 3-2), meanwhile, are .600

prior to Monday’s lost. They missed the tournament last season, fi nished 6-12.

Surprisingly, they are fourth, and will play Southern again Feb. 14 at Valley.

The Southern bench offered 22 points-including when Tiffany Foster, starting in place of starter Ashley Augerson, sealed the win with a heroic game-winning shot, surging 620 fans in the F.G. Clark Activity Center — the most this season.

The score was tied 45-45.“We weren’t setting anything and we

weren’t looking to call a time out,” Pugh said. “We were attacking the basket. Tiff took it upon herself to pull that shot.”

That will stand as a fi rst career game-winning play for Foster, who fi nished with seven points and eight rebounds.

It’s in these moments where preseason ALL-SWAC team member Hannah Kador created an identity. Kador nailed the game-winning shot in Southern’s 63-61 win over Jackson State Jan. 10.

Kador is shooting 24 percent from the fl oor and 20 percent from three-point range.

“That’s horrible,” Pugh said. “The next couple of days she and I just got to get in the gym and get her working one-on-one … get her confi dence back up. She’s too valuable for us on the fl oor.”

Senior Jamie Floyd has been selected the Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week, averaging 11.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

SU women making adjustments

southern’s Brandon White goes up for a layup against prairie View a&M.

photo coUrtesy of sU stUDent MeDia

Southern looks to regroupBy Morris DillarDdigest sports editor

Page 6 - Friday, January 21, 2011

arts & entertainmentwww.southerndigest.com

By Billy washingtondigest a&e editor

By chevel johnsonthe associated press

actors pooch hall, left, and tia Mowry pose for a portrait Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 in New York.photo By jeff christensen/ap photo

Black America’s favorite sitcom, “The Game,” has finally returned to its loyal fans by giving viewers an hourlong episode on BET last Tuesday.

The fourth season premiere of The Game, which was created by Mara Brock Akil and cancelled by CW in 2009, drew in millions of viewers totaling to 7.7 million according to figures provided by BET. The Game has also made history for BET by becoming the highest rated show.

By the premier episode being an hour long, the scenes were filled with more baby mama drama and untraditional relationship issues than the Maury show and “Young and the Restless” combined. Fans can expect to receive all the drama they ever wished for this season. For example, when the paternity test results, to prove if Derwin (Pooch Hall) was the father of Janay’s (Gabrielle Dennis) baby, initially came back negative, but on the

next episode the results were positive due to a mistake and confusion.

The drama also continues with Malik (Hosea Chanchez) sleeping with Tee Tee’s (Barry Floyd) girlfriend and the Sabers owner’s wife, Tasha hooking up with the younger Dante (Terrence Jenkins from 106 & Park), and the ditsy blonde Kelly (Brittany Daniel) starting her own TV show.

SU students expressed their views concerning the premier of The Game and what they look forward to in future episodes.

“I didn’t like the first

episode,” said Tausha Bryant, a senior education major from Baton Rouge. “It wasn’t very funny like the previous seasons.”

Some believed that the show was too dramatic therefore leaving a bad impression upon morals.

“I liked when Kelly said, ‘Divorce ladies… the gift that keeps on giving’,” said Roberta Thigpen, a junior nursing major from Berwick, La. “Overall, that show is way immoral. It puts a crazy message out there for the world.”

For viewers who are just tuning into The Game craze

and addiction, some people were probably lost during the first episodes due to not giving a flashback and brief synopsis of the characters and their role. Many are also concerned about missing characters Camille Rose (Stacy Dash), Jason’s girlfriend and Rick Fox, Tausha’s former boyfriend.

The Game is now in a position to compete with other major sitcoms such as NBC’s “30 Rock” and ABC’s “Cougar Town”; however if the comedy doesn’t return The Game could possibly lose positive ratings and a lot of loyal fans.

“Game” returns to TV

Marsalis pairs jazz, The Bard

NEW ORLEANS — Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn broke new ground when they paired the works of William Shakespeare with the sweet sounds of jazz in 1957, and now a jazz master from a younger generation is putting a new spin on their work.

On Thursday, acclaimed trombonist and composer Delfeayo Marsalis opens a 36-city tour in his hometown of New Orleans and brings his interpretation of their musical suite, “Such Sweet Thunder,” with an original theatrical production called, “Sweet Thunder: Duke & Shak.”

“This is a reworking of Ellington’s 12-movement suite,” Marsalis said. “It’s still based on Shakespearean characters and themes and there are still composed character portraits.”

Ellington composed his suite after being commissioned by the Stratford, Ontario, Shakespeare Festival to create music linked to Shakespearean characters like Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Lady Macbeth, Puck and Hamlet.

The SGA President, serving as the representative and voice of the Student Body, is charged with appointing a Chief Justice for the Student Judiciary in the event the office becomes vacant. The Constitution gives him this responsibility.

This week, I submitted a nomination for Darnell J. Porter, Senior Political Science Major from Detroit, Michigan, for Chief Justice. Mr. Porter would have brought a wealth of intelligence and experience to the Court. He has been involved in the Student Government Association for the past 3 years,

serving in both the Executive and Judicial Branches. In the Executive Branch, Mr. Porter assisted the 2008-2009 SGA Administration with activities and as the Executive

Assistant to the President for my Administration, assisting me with special projects and advising me on key issues that have positively impacted the Student Body. In the Judicial Branch, he served as a Senior Justice and the Associated Chief Justice of the Court, helping Chief Justice KoiEles Lomas with preparing and presiding over hearings.

Unfortunately, a few individuals, decided to grieve to Student Affairs that they felt entitled to the position. They misused the already faulty Constitution to delay

the process and complicate the confirmation hearings. Thusly, I am withdrawing my nomination.

Because of the actions of a few, the many must suffer. Because the few didn’t respect my leadership or my ambitions to move the SGA and the Student Body forward, the Student Judiciary action will remain inactive until Spring Elections when the students will be able to decide the future of the branch. I find it incredible that a branch that worries more about finding new ways to impeach the President

than making a contribution to the student cause would stand in the way of the work my Administration is doing to restore our legacy such as increasing access to athletic facilities and planning quality events.

Please rest assured that though the Judiciary might remain inactive, I will not stop working to continue to move us towards a better and brighter future. May God Bless Southern University.

Demetrius D. Sumner

SGA President

Well here we are SU in another year and so far I’m not expecting much change in how we conduct ourselves. We can barely make it through a month and there are already issues, what’s even worse is the fact that we are only two weeks into the semester and things seem to be getting even more sour now than last semester.

From Piyush and the gang trying to kill our historical system by merging SUNO with UNO (for no real reason) to childish bickering over protocol on how to handle filling positions in a crucial student government organization.

I mean come on people, what are we doing here?

Is this going to be another

year where we barely make it through and come New Years 2012 we make one of those stupid new years resolution that we know damn well we are not going to stick like that ridiculous weight loss one we made in ‘06?

Or are we going to actually do something to change this sad trend in our seemingly

dwindling history?When are we, as a collective,

going to say “ok you know what we barely made it out last year so we obviously cannot do the same things this year,” but maybe that’s too much to ask for? I must be daft to come up with an idea as ludicrous as change. My bad, I forgot its ok to complain about things and not do anything to fix it. Its very ok to present a problem and not come up with a solution (only perpetuating the problem itself).

I must be crazy to believe that it takes personal responsibility to fix a problem so that Piyush and company don’t have leg to stand on when it comes to ignorant, and dimwitted plans

to merge two schools that serve two different group of people in their mission statements.

The problems I speak of are too many to count out in this editorial but the main problem that I have is this whole when things go wrong we just say “that’s Southern.” I’m sorry but that has to die, like yesterday.

If you have a problem with a professor flunking you just because they don’t like the red coloring in your hair there is a process of handling things instead of running to WAFB giving them more ammunition to paint us in a negative light. As a community we lost the value of handling things in house first, we always feel that no one is going to listen

anyways so why not make them look bad. You don’t just make SU look bad people you make all black people look bad.

Another thing, instead of getting mad at the screwed up way things are being done now and washing your hands clean of dear ole SU after you walk across the stage bring yourself back and change it. Become apart of a solution and end this ridiculous trend of “Oh well its just Southern” nonsense.

Because after awhile if that kind of stigmatic attitude continues there won’t be a Southern University and we will go down as the weak link in our history … and I wants no part of that title.

Friday, January 21, 2011 - Page 7

VIEWPOINTSwww.southerndigest.com

DEMETR IUSSUMNER

SGA PRES IDENT

NORMANDOTSON JR .

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 digest@subr.com.

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.

New US, or same ol’ SU?

From the SGA president’s desk

www.southerndigest.comPage 8 - Friday, January 21, 2011