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From right, Lois Holden, Ellen mcknight, and Twayna cain have a conversation at their table last night during the AwS Autumn Tea Social. proceeds from the event went towards “Big Buddy of Baton Rouge’s” Thanksgiving luncheon for the youth.

photo by wil norwood/speCial to the digest

See WOeS page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2010WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM VOL. 56, ISSUE 12

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shooting “over the top” Students criticize police killing athlete. pg. 3

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su women picked to repeatAlso: Jags head north to face PV. pg. 5

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another open letter ...DIGEST EIC goes H.A.M. pg. 7

by evan taylordIGEST OnLInE mAnAGER

Baton Rouge’s fi rst lady and Southern University employee, Lois Holden, urged the strive for excellence at the Autumn Tea Social, Thursday in A.W Mumford Field house.

The event was presented by the Association of Women’s Students. Holden candidly spoke to attendees about having pride in the university and how much it personally meant to her.

Attendees were urged to leave motivated, to be excellent, and to leave continuing to work towards excellence.

Holden opened with, “Education is one of the great tools in life. No matter your background if you go out and learn, you know just as much as the next person. Learning is not just in the classroom. Everyday is a classroom.”

She continued to discuss the thought of excellence and how it

translates into our lives. “There is not a university in

the world that does not have high expectations as part of their philosophy,” said Holden.

Holden explained the need for intelligence and that some of it we already possess and it can only get better with time and experience.

“You are intelligent people don’t kid yourselves. If you get caught in a rainstorm and you have a rain coat, you know what to do with it. You possess initiative. You may be thinking what a good idea excellence is but still some of you do not know nothing about it…Maybe you remember when you sat down and heard a speech of setting high goals and striving for excellence.” said Holden.

Holden discussed the need to have pride in the institution, how southern changed her life, and the need to be aware of the situation at the university.

“Southern University was like

a light for me. And I followed that light… There are so many people that walked with me and talked with me. And they are the reason behind so many of my successes.” said Holden.

She continued to thank the students for allowing her the time to speak and also leaving

them with advice. “It’s very good for me to

be in the presence of young minds, young souls. My career is probably on the downfall but yours are just about to take off.” said Holden.

Holden concluded thanking the students for their attendance

and attentiveness during the social.

The social concluded with mingling and dinner. Tickets for the event were $5 and all proceeds benefi ted the Thanksgiving luncheon for youth participating in Big Buddy- Baton Rouge.

Student Government Association Treasurer mervin Allen, informed members of the Student Senate that the SGA’s Supplies Budget is $5,790 over the limit.

photo by robert florida jr./digest

Holden inspires at AWS social

Financial woes are addressed at the Student Government Association Senate meeting, Thursday afternoon.

Senators discussed organi-zational funding and the allocation of student government budget adjustments.

Major issues surrounded the usage of Lacumba fund money and the bottom line of the concert budget.

Demetrius Sumner, SGA president presented the bottom line of the concert budget. The expenditures of the concert budget were $88,839.00. Over half of the budget went towards Rick Ross, his agent and accommodations.

“The Homecoming concert and the homecoming festivities this year, I believe were some of the best we have had in the past few years and in a very long time. I feel that we returned to that ol’ school spirit we were

talking about,” said Sumner.“Some of the things we will be

pressing for in the coming weeks and months, as I said earlier, will be three items; fi rst will be an amendment to the budget passed. The all purpose budget. I have looked over that budget and it is a refl ection as one of the disclaimers that $32,000 can be allocated out of that account for each succeeding administration. As of right now that information is correct in that main statement,” said Sumner.

He continued his report mentioning the fact that there should be money at the disposal of the SGA to expend from the account according to a percentage rather than a numerical amount due to the fl uctuation of balances from term to term.

Sumner, continued, “What I also included was in the event that I came to you with a cause that’s considered critical to the commission of student government association and

critical to the student body that we could expend money out of that account. Now if we expend money out of (it) it modifi es that $32,000. One of the things would be better in the long run but it’s not a mistake is that it doesn’t need to be a direct number it needs to be a percentage. So instead of 32, 000 you say 20% of that account can be expended over the course of time.”

Sumner plans to push for a short-term loan program for students who need money to satisfy those small few expenses for school or personal problems that would prevent their education.

“I will be pushing for a short term loan program. It was something that we had a few years ago, probably as many as fi ve. Students often times when they are paying their tuition and fees it’s not 5,000 or 10,000 that they need. It’s the

SGA discusses fi nancial woesby evan taylordIGEST OnLInE mAnAGER

32-hour training course held on evenings and weekends. No special experience other than the desire to help a child is needed.

The first step is to learn more at a 45-minute orientation session, which provides an overview of the CASA program and requirements of being a CASA volunteer. Upcoming orientation dates are Oct. 26, Nov. 4 and Nov. 13. For more information, please call 225.379.8598.

billiards tournamentSmith Brown Memorial

Union will be hosting a Billiards Tournament. Those interested can register in LaCumba’s Playpen in the Union. It is $5 per person to enter. The Tournament will be held on Oct. 27 from 6p.m.-9p.m. Awards and Prizes will be given to the first, second, and third place winners.

“my hometown” leCture series

Southern University’s Fo-reign Language Department is currently holding pre-sentations in the “My

Hometown” lecture series by Fulbright Scholar Language Teaching Assistants.

All presentations are free and open to the public and will be held in room 323 of T.T. Allain Hall.

Tanzania native Mchanga Saleh, who teaches Swahili, will give a presentation Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. Senegal native Oumar Camara, who teaches Wolof, will give a presentation Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

Career awareness and planning seminar (Caps)Nov. 17-19, A two-

day event filled with career planning exercises, workshops, counseling and lectures that emphasize the selection of realistic career choices, the charting of career paths, resume’ preparation, development of good interviewing skills and life skills. Open to all majors. Contact Ms. Toni Jackson at toni_jackson@subr.edu or stop by Room 235B in T.T Allain Hall.

THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK

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ALL cLASSIFIEd mUST BE pAId In AdVAncE BY cASHIERS cHEcK OR mOnEY ORdER. nO pERSOnAL cHEcKS AccEpTEd. Students must have proper Id and phone numbers to get student advertising rates.

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paid classified can be ordered by contacting the Student media Advertising manager at 225.771.5833.

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CORRECTIONSFact and accuracy is our goal and our job. As the voice of the Southern University student body we are committed to ensuring to most fair, truthful and accurate accounts of our work. In the event of an error we will make all corrections on page 2.

Bring corrections to The Southern dIGEST office located in Suite 1064, Harris Hall.

ISSn: 1540-7276. copyright 2008 by The Southern University Office of Student media Services. The Southern dIGEST is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Southern University and A&m college.

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.

The paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every Tuesday & Friday morning on the SUBR campus. The Southern dIGEST student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., monday - Friday. The offices are located on the first floor of T.H. Harris Hall, Suite 1064.

The Southern dIGEST is the official student newspaper of Southern University and A&m college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body.

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CONTACTS (Area code 225)Advertising Office - 771.5833dIGEST newsroom - 771.2231Student media Services- 771.5812The Jaguar Yearbook - 771.2231YEARBOOK newsroom - 771.5829EGO magazine newsroom - 771.5829Southern University and A&m college at Baton Rouge is accredited by the commission on colleges of the Southern Association of colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, website: www.sacscoc.org.

MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of Southern University and A&m college, an Historically Black, 1890 land-grant institution, is to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to achieve a high-quality, global educational experience, to engage in scholarly, research, and creative activities, and to give meaningful public service to the community, the state, the nation, and the world so that Southern University graduates are competent, informed, and productive citizens. website: www.subr.edu.

The Office of Student Media is a Division of Student Affairs.

FALL 2010 DIGEST STAFF

PAGE 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS & PAID CLASSIFIED INFO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFnorman J. dotson Jr.

MANAGING EDITORmary davis

COPY EDITORErica S. Johnson

PHOTO EDITORApril Buffington

LAYOUT EDITORdarrius Harrison

OPINIONS EDITORBreanna paul

A&E EDITORBilly washington

DIGEST STAFF WRITERSmorris dillardErin Fulbright

patrick GallowaySamantha Smith

Evan Taylor

DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERSdavid clark III

Robert Florida Jr.Trevor Jamespolite Stewart

PROOFREADERdarryl J. Edwards

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p.O. BOX 10180 – BATOn ROUGE, LA 70813225.771.2231 pHOnE / 225.771.5840 FAX

www.SOUTHERndIGEST.cOm

mumford stadium notiCeGate No. 3 at A.W.

Mumford Stadium will be closed for the remainder of Southern University home football games. Students will only be able to enter through Gate No. 6.

give ‘til it h.u.r.t.s. food drive

The SUBR League of BEEP Associates in partnership with College of Business will have canned food drive. Donations can be brought to the College of Business in Room 234. Drive ends November 19th. For more information contact Ms. Toni Jackson at 225.771.5883 or via e-mail at toni_jackson@subr.edu or Room 235 B in T.T. Allain.

join beepA leadership and

professional development organization open to all majors campus-wide. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 11a.m. in Room 222 of T.T. Allain. Contact the BEEP advisor at subeep@subr.edu or 225.771.5883 for more information.

ebr CasaCASA of East

Baton Rouge Parish is currently looking for volunteers. CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, trains and supervises volunteers to speak up for the best interests of abused and neglected children living in foster care.

Volunteers must be 21 or older and must complete a

emphasis prepares students for an exciting and challenging career in the nation’s largest business: Food. Graduates assume a variety of careers in the food industry as research chefs or product developers or in food systems management as managers in the expanding hospitality industry. For more information come by Room 109 E in Pinkie Thrift Hall or call 225.771.4660.

good grief su!The Student

Government Association knows that you as SU students are fed up! Fed up with customer service issues, classroom problems, dorm situations, maintenance, and even the lack of intramural and workout facilities that your are paying for.

For 2010-2011, your grievance officer Kenyata Fountain has been hearing your concerns, but in order for your voice to be heard you must fill out and submit a SGA Complaint form.

This form is located in the SGA Office on the second floor of Smith-Brown Memorial Union. You can also access the form on the SUBR website under the current students click on SGA and documents to retrieve one online.

We are half-way through the semester but that doesn’t mean you have to have half of a college experience. Make 2010-2011 the year of good grievances because your voice now can change the future.

graduate student assoCiation

The Graduate School Association, which repre-sents graduate students, will hold meetings on the first and third Thursdays of the month in Suite 1055 Harris Hall. For more information, contact the Graduate School or call 281.795.7235.

first semester freshman sCholarship

Scholarship open to all 1st semester Freshman majoring in Accounting and Finance. Applicants must have a 22 ACT score, 3.0 GPA, good problem solving and computer skills. There is an essay required. Contact Ms. Toni Jackson in Room 235 B in T.T. Allain Hall via phone 225.771.5883 or via e-mail toni_jackson@subr.edu for an application and further details.

food and nutrition eXperts needed

The Dietetics Program is looking for male and female students who can become food and nutrition experts to work in healthcare settings, the food industry, sports nutrition, corporate wellness programs, and in the hospitality industry. Learn more about scholarship and career opportunities in 109 E Pinkie Thift Hall or call 225.771.4660.

food produCt developers and entrepreneurial

eXperts neededThe Food Management/

Culinary Management

For more information call 225.771.5833 or mail your subscription payment of $40 to: The Southern Digest Subscriptions, PO Box 10180, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Business, cashiers checks and money orders accepted only. No personal checks or credit card orders accepted. Make all payments to The Southern Digest.

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Campus BriefsTODAY

OCTOBER 26

OCTOBER 27

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NOVEMBER 17

Students were able to understand the effects of alcohol on the body using “drunk goggles”, while enjoying banana splits at BYOB (Bring Your Own Banana), Wednesday afternoon.

The purpose of the event was to promote awareness of the influence of alcohol. The program was sponsored and provided by Mockler Beverage Company and the University Counseling Center.

Over 100 students participated in the event trying on the goggles that impaired their vision as they walked a straight line. Attendees enjoyed ice cream sundaes on a hot October day provided by Aramark.

“Students need to be proactive about these issues. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you or someone close to you. The time to act is now,” said Mr. Durward Craig, Mental Health Counselor in Southern University’s Counseling Center.

Students were directed to walk the straight line of black and yellow tape while wearing the goggles. The goggles allow your eyes to immulate sight from someone’s eyes under the influence of alcohol. Some students failed the test while others passed with flying colors.

Wesley Thorton, a junior psychology major from

Gretna, La., said, “BYOB was a positive message. Bring your own Banana instead of bring your own beer. The cp said I failed. When you look through the goggles you see two lines I should have just walked on one instead of looking back at the other one too.”

Students were able to have fun but learn some important information at the same time.

“The center works to improve the academic matriculation of students. The purpose was to create awareness and utilize the money provided to us for programs that the students can benefit from.” Craig said, “Students need to be aware.”

The Counseling Center usually provides another program called “Mocktails” where student organizations can participate to make a non-alcoholic drink for presentation. Participants can win recognition for best drink, most decorated table and presentation. This year the program was cancelled due to a lack of participation.

Students can look forward to another opportunity to participate during alcohol awareness week next October.

The Southern University Counseling Center provides completely confidential and free counseling services. Any student can stop by or call the center for an appointment; all counseling records are not attached or associated with student’s academic records.

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Page 3 www.southerndigest.com

www.southerndigest.comget online @

cade from page 1

Reza Taghavi hugs niece Sara Amiri, center, as his sister Efthekhar Taghavi looks on at Los Angeles International Airport upon his return after being detained in Iran for more than two years, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, in Los Angeles.

photo by mark j. terrill/ap photo

by daisy nguyenASSOcIATEd pRESS wRITER

LOS ANGELES — A California businessman who spent more than two years in an Iranian prison after being accused of passing money to a rebel group returned home Thursday.

Reza Taghavi, 71, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at about 7 p.m. with his attorney, former U.S. diplomat Pierre Prosper, who won Taghavi’s release after talks with Iranian envoys.

After clearing customs and meeting separately with his immediate family, Taghavi arrived at a terminal room where he was greeted by dozens of cheering friends and relatives. He flashed a dimpled smile as he hugged and kissed supporters, many of whom burst into tears as they clapped and chanted “We love you!”

In halting English, Taghavi told reporters: “My name is Reza Taghavi, I’ve been in Iran in jail for 29 months. Now I’m glad that I’m back to the United States in my home now.”

“I’m glad that I’m here and hope everything can be all right from now on,” he added.

Taghavi, a retired Orange County businessman who regularly visits his native Iran, was jailed on allegations that he passed $200 to someone

suspected of links to a rebel group called Tondar. Tondar is suspected of a 2008 mosque bombing that killed 14 people in the southern city of Shiraz.

Taghavi was never charged and denies knowingly supporting the faction. He was freed Saturday after 2½ years in prison and had to meet with survivors of the bombing as a condition of his release.

For a time early Thursday, Taghavi and Prosper worried he might not be able to leave on time. Iranian authorities threw up unexpected last-minute passport requirements once Taghavi arrived at the airport, Prosper said. It took hours to resolve, but Taghavi boarded the flight as scheduled.

Prosper told The Associated Press that although Iran allowed Taghavi to leave, it did not dismiss his case outright.

Iran appears hopeful it can use Taghavi’s release to draw attention to the threat of violence and terrorism by opponents of the clerical regime.

Taghavi agreed to discuss the group Tondar and the wrong he claims the group did to him as a condition of his release.

“He’s ready to tell his story, because he feels aggrieved,” Prosper said. Prosper hinted that Taghavi may sue someone from the group, but he would not elaborate.

It is not clear whether Iran was trying to use Taghavi’s case for any larger purpose, such as a bargaining chip with the United States or a means to open back-channel discussions that might one day help improve relations.

Prosper is a former diplomat and Republican political appointee with no current government connection. He has briefed U.S. officials on the case before, and said Thursday he will do so again if asked. He traveled to Iran several times during negotiations.

Taghavi’s daughter, Leila Taghavi, said earlier this year that her father is kind and giving, and his impulse to help people got him into trouble.

Taghavi’s release comes as Iran is under international sanctions over its nuclear program. The U.S. and allies believe Iran could use its nuclear labs to eventually produce weapons-grade material, while Iran claims it only wants reactors to produce energy.

Taghavi’s lengthy imprisonment was much less known than the case of three

American hikers who were detained along Iran’s border with Iraq last year and accused of spying.

One member of the trio, Sarah Shourd, was recently released on $500,000 and returned to the U.S. Her companions, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, remain jailed in Iran and could face trial on espionage charges.

Shourd and families of the two men deny any crime was committed and contend that if the trio did cross the border into Iran, it was an accident.

Man returns home from Iranian prison

small money that doesn’t quite get them over the hump. $300 for this light bill or so much for the cell phone bill or the small purchases that they have to make. It was brought to my attention, to the Vice President’s attention as well as the Association for Women’s Student’s president that we may want to consider a short-term loan program. One of the things I will be pushing is for that all-purpose account that was designated to successive administrations. I want to consider creating a small short-term loan account. Capping off at $500 per student program.” said Sumner.

In light of budget cuts and expenditure freezes in departments SGA is one of the departments that is still allowed to expend money.

Sumner continued. “Student Government Association has received a lot of departmental requests for financial assistance. Of course we are in the worst economic time Southern University has ever been in its 130-year history. And things only get worse. Departments are saying either this service has been carried out and we need to pay these people or we have something that is extremely important. For example the honor’s college has a convocation coming up and they don’t have the funding to pay for the program. We will be assisting them with a $500 contribution for that event. I ask that we create a discretionary fund for allocating money to those departments outside of what the senate already offers.”

Mervin Allen, SGA Treasurer, presented the treasurer’s report, comprised of revised SGA budgets and expense reports. Allen discussed the budgets for SGA and disclosed the overage of line item, supplies for SGA by $5,790.

The bills for organizations that petitioned at the last senate meeting passed to allocate $500 for the Society of Leadership and Success and BEEP. The Bluff Radio Station petitioned for organizational funds.

“Drunk goggles” helps students see effects of alcohol differentlyby evan taylordIGEST OnLInE mAnAGER

NEW YORK — Chevron Corp. may be one of the first companies to ask permission to drill new wells in the Gulf of Mexico since the moratorium was lifted.

The San Ramon, Calif., oil giant said Thursday it plans to file an application for drilling permits in the next several days for various deepwater projects in the Gulf.

The government says it hasn’t received any new applications for drilling permits since the Interior Department lifted the ban earlier this month.

A Chevron spokesman didn’t specify which projects would be included in the application. But

the company said in a separate announcement that it will devote $7.5 billion toward two new fields in about 7,000 feet of water off the Louisiana coast.

Projects at those depths were halted for several months following an explosion on a BP operation that killed 11 people and led to the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Chevron’s Jack and St. Malo fields sit about 280 miles south of New Orleans and contain an estimated 500 million barrels of oil and natural gas. The company already has drilled seven exploration and appraisal wells in the area since 2003, and it expects to drill 10 new production wells to tap into those fields.

by mary fosterASSOcIATEd pRESS wRITER

Page 4 - Friday, October 22, 2010

STATE & NATIONwww.southerndigest.com

danroy Henry, Sr., speaks outside his home in Easton, mass., after his son danroy Henry, Jr., a football player at pace University, was fatally shot by police outside a suburban bar crowded with fellow students earlier Sunday in Thornwood, n.Y.

photo by joe webb/ap photo

by jim fitzgeraldASSOcIATEd pRESS wRITER

VALHALLA, N.Y. — A college student who was at the scene when a schoolmate was shot to death by police said Thursday that the killing was “over the top, aggressive and unnecessary,” joining a chorus of witnesses who say police mishandled the situation.

“None of it made sense to me,” said Robert Coulombe, a Pace University senior.

Danroy “D.J.” Henry, of Easton, Mass., was killed early Sunday after police were called to a disturbance that spilled out of a Thornwood, N.Y., bar.

Police have said that Henry, a 20-year-old Pace football player, sped away and hit two officers after a policeman knocked on his car window.

His family’s attorney said Wednesday that eyewitnesses have contradicted that account and said that paramedics ignored Henry, handcuffed and dying, to attend to injured officers.

Coulombe, who shot video of the chaotic scene after the shooting, said he was behind Henry’s car and did not see the shooting, but heard the shots after he saw Henry pull away “as if he was being asked to leave the fire lane.”

He said he could not estimate the speed of Henry’s car but said Henry drove only about 100 feet and couldn’t have been going dangerously fast before his car crashed into a parked police cruiser.

“They didn’t give him a

chance to pull over,” Coulombe said. “They could have pursued him in their vehicles.”

Coulombe said he felt police overreacted.

“I think they unnecessarily shot someone,” he said.

Mount Pleasant police Chief Louis Alagno, who is investigating the shooting with state police, did not return a call seeking comment.

Coulombe’s account is similar to that presented Wednesday by Michael Sussman, the Henry family attorney, who said he had spoken with two men who were in the car with Henry.

Sussman said Henry was parked in a fire lane when an officer beckoned him to move. He said Henry complied and drove a few feet at low speed when another officer yelled, “Stop that car!”

An officer then “ran in front of the car, weapon drawn, and started firing within seconds,” Sussman said.

He also said that paramedics

who arrived after the shooting tended to the officers for several minutes rather than the mortally injured Henry.

A message left for the captain of the Pleasantville Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which covers Thornwood, was not immediately returned. Alagno said he would respond to those allegations, possibly Friday.

Coulombe spoke outside the Mount Pleasant town courthouse, where one of Henry’s teammates appeared on a charge that he broke a store window in the aftermath of the shooting.

Pace quarterback Joseph Romanick, of Slidell, La., entered no plea during a brief appearance Thursday in Mount Pleasant Town Court.

His attorney, Richard Vercollone, said a deposition attached to the criminal complaint does not appear to support the charge of criminal mischief. The deposition, signed by a witness, does not

make clear that the window was broken on purpose. It says Romanick was up against a window, talking to another person, when he “raised his hand in what looked like anger. He then pulled his hand back, causing his elbow to hit the window. The window shattered into pieces.”

Romanick’s right arm was in a sling, but the deposition indicated he suffered an arm injury before Sunday.

Three other teammates were arrested at the scene and charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction. They are due in court next month. Police said they were interfering with medical care but their defense lawyer, Bonita Zelman, claims police officers kept them from helping Henry as he lay dying. She has scheduled a news conference for Friday.

Pace’s football game against Bentley University, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled because of Henry’s death.

Witness: shooting “over the top”

This file photo shows the development driller III, which is drilling the primary relief well, and the Helix Q4000, background left, the vessel used to perform the static kill operation, at the site of the deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in Gulf of mexico, off the coast of Louisiana. The Obama administration on Tuesday lifted the deep water oil drilling moratorium that the government imposed in the Gulf of mexico in the wake of the disastrous Bp oil spill.

photo by gerald herbert/ap photo

Chevron applies to drillby jim fitzgeraldASSOcIATEd pRESS wRITER

WINNFIELD, La. — Former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent used force that was un-reasonable and unwarranted when he shocked a handcuffed prisoner nine times during an arrest, Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils told a jury of three men and nine women Thursday.

Nugent, 24, is on trial for manslaughter in the death of Baron Pikes Jr., also known as Baron Collins, in January 2008.

Nevils said Nugent shocked Pikes nine times in 14 minutes and nine seconds while Pikes had his hands securely cuffed behind his back as he was arrested on a drug possession warrant. The first five shocks were made to Pikes’ back, Nevils said, using a technique called “drive stun,” in which the probes from the Taser are not discharged, the gun is instead pressed against the person.

“It’s a pain compliance technique,” Nevils said. “It’s used to drive someone somewhere.”

Pikes did not want to go to jail, Nevils said, and to try to avoid it he used “passive resistance,” refusing to get up off the ground and into the police car, and later to get out of the police car. Nugent continued shocking Pikes as he sat in the car in front of the station, Nevils said.

But Jerry Glas, an attorney for Nugent, described Nugent as a professional law officer who followed proper procedure and used the Taser as the least harmful way Nugent could try to get Pikes to comply with his orders.

Pikes, 21, was about six-feet tall and weighed about 250 pounds, Glas said.

Glas, who said Pikes was shocked eight times, said the voltage from the Taser as Nugent applied it in the “drive stun method” was not enough to kill Pikes.

“The only thing drive stun causes is pain,” Glas said. “It does not disrupt the muscles.”

The assertion that Pikes might have died after the seventh shock, was “absolutely false,” Glas said.

Pikes, who had screamed each time Nugent stunned him, did not cry out after the final shock, Glas said, and after that Nugent called an ambulance for him.

Pikes was alive when the paramedics arrived, Glass said, but his heart stopped after that.

“And do you know who drove the ambulance,” Pikes said. “Nugent drove the ambulance so the paramedics could keep working.”

An autopsy showed that Pikes carried the sickle cell trait and cardiovascular disease, which was a more reasonable cause of death, Glas said.

The case has stirred some racial tension in this town of about 5,000 people. Pikes was black; Nugent is white.

Taser death trial begins

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Page 5

SPORTSwww.southerndigest.com

DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

Prairie View’s Chris Adingupu (3) and Dalvin Nettles (92) try to close in on Southern’s Juamorris Stewart (88) during last year’s nailbiter. The Panthers and Jaguars could be in for another tight one this year in Saturday’s Shreveport Football Classic.

PHOTO BY APRIL BUFFINGTON/DIGEST FILE

BY MORRIS DILLARDDIGEST SPORTS WRITER

DIGEST NEWS SERVICE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern was predicted to win the 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball title in voting from the league’s coaches and sports information directors.

However, head coach Sandy Pugh said during Wednesday’s SWAC conference call that she is not putting too much stock into preseason predictions.

“At practice, we won’t talk about fi rst-place votes. We’re going to talk about getting ready for the University of Iowa (in the season opener Nov. 12),” Pugh said. “That’s just how we are and how we do things at Southern.”

The Southern women’s basketball team returns 10 players after going 23-9 and winning both the 2010 SWAC regular season and tournament championships last year. They earned 19 of 20 fi rst-place votes.

“I’m sure that’s probably why we got the nod,” Pugh said. “It is what it is, and one way or

the other we have to go out and compete hard. All it did was put a tag on our backs.”

Southern tops the order of fi nish with 199 points, with Prairie View (151), Alabama A&M (142), Grambling State (134) and Texas Southern (117) rounding out the top half of the league. Alabama State (108), Alcorn State (88), Mississippi Valley State (70) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (64) were next while Jackson State (31) rounds out the predicted order of fi nish.

“I think this league is going to be extremely tough and diffi cult,” Pugh said. “I was really surprised at how some of the schools landed (in the preseason polls). I just think that shows the parity of the league. We’ve got our hands full if we are going to repeat. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Prairie View’s Dominique Smith was picked as SWAC preseason player of the year. Smith, a senior guard who was also named to the preseason fi rst-team, averaged 13.8 points,

3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season. She garnered All-SWAC second team honors in 2010 for her efforts.

Southern’s Freda Allen was named preseason defensive player of the year. Allen joins Smith on the preseason fi rst team after leading the team in

rebounds (5.7 rpg) and blocked shots (34).

“She’s the heart and soul of this team,” Pugh said. “She’s our toughness meter. I tell her all the time I have the utmost respect for her. I’m looking forward to a great senior year from her.”

Joining Smith and Allen on

the preseason All-SWAC fi rst team are Southern’s Hannah Kador, Alabama State’s Tanika Jackson and Texas Southern’s Gabrielle Rosiji. Second team consists of Alcorn State’s Kiara Ruffi n, Alabama A&M’s Whiquitta Tobar and Gabrielle Williams, Grambling State’s Secrett Anderson and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jasmine Abrams.

PrEdICtEd OrdEr OF FINISH

(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

rank team Points1. Southern (19) 1992. Prairie View A&M (1) 1513. Alabama A&M 1424. Grambling State 1345. Texas Southern 1176. Alabama State 1087. Alcorn State 888. Mississippi Valley State 709. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6410. Jackson State 31

PrESEaSON aLL-SWaC tEaMFirst team

G Dominique Smith Prairie View Sr.G Hannah Kador Southern Sr.F Tanika Jackson Alabama St. Sr.F Freda allen Southern r-Sr.C Gabrielle Rosiji Tex. Southern Sr.

Player of the Year: Smith, Prairie Viewdefensive Player of the Year: allen,

Southern

Second teamG Kiara Ruffin Alcorn St. Jr.G Whiquitta Tobar Alabama A&M Jr.F Secrett Anderson Grambling St. Jr.F Jasmine Abrams Ark.-Pine Bluff Jr.C Gabrielle Williams Alabama A&M Jr.

SWAC WOMEn’s basketball

SWAC champs picked to repeatAllen, Kador get preseason fi rst-team nods; Allen tabbed preseason defensive POTY

Halfway through the 2010 college football season, Saturday revives the historical matchup between Southern and Prairie View A&M. The only difference is the change in scenery this year.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference’s two longest-tenured members lock horns at Shreveport’s Independence Stadium as the Shreveport Football Classic, with kickoff at 4 p.m.

The Jaguars (2-4, 1-3) hold a considerable edge in the series. However, momentum has shifted to the side of the defending SWAC champions. The Panthers (4-3, 3-2) won three of the last four meetings — all three wins the grand total of six points. PVAM escaped Mumford Stadium last season with a last-second 16-14 win.

Both teams enter Saturday’s game looking to avoid let downs after having opposite results last week. Southern suffered a heartbreaking 49-45 loss at Jackson State while PV reeled

off its third-straight win with a 45-12 homecoming win over Lincoln.

“Well, we’re not going to have no let downs,” PVAM head coach Henry Frazier III said during Monday’s weekly conference call. “We lost three in a row (earlier in the season), so we’re looking for guys with character and guys who are self-motivated. When you lose three in a row, not a whole lot a coach can say. Those things have to come from within and we won three in a row.”

On the other side, penalties continue to be the bane of Southern’s existence this season. The Jags were fl agged 16 times for 195 yards against JSU, a season high for penalties called and penalty yardage.

“For the most part, we shot ourselves in the foot,” head coach Stump Mitchell said. “Again, we had too many penalties. Playing these teams, you cannot have as many penalties as we had in our games.”

When asked about looking forward to playing PV, Mitchell answered, “it’s defi nitely going to be a challenge.”

“They won it all last year. They have a great running back (in Donald Babers, the SWAC’s second-leading rusher) that they’re going to look to get the ball to as well. Defensively, I like these guys. They have team speed and they’ll bring the hat.”

Indeed.Still, the Jaguars struggle to

wrap up when engaged against

ball carriers. Defensive coordinator O’Neill

Gilbert emphasized that the defensive unit must tackle for this week’s contest.

“They have a running back that’s extremely talented. I haven’t seen a running back like that this season. We have to tackle, and this will be the game where if we can’t tackle it will all show.”

The Southern duo of forward Freda Allen, left, and Hannah Kador, right, earned first-team All-SWAC preseason honors as the defending conference champions were picked to repeat. Allen also picked up preseason defensive player of the year honors.

PHOTOS BY APRIL BUFFINGTON/DIGEST FILE

Southern looks to stop Panthers’ streak

SPORT SHORTS

UAPB blows lead, rallies to beat Alcorn

ALCORN STATe, Miss. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3, 3-2) stormed to a 27-7 lead only to see Alcorn State (3-4, 2-3) come back and take a 35-27 lead heading to the fourth quarter. The Golden Lions, however, regrouped and scored the game’s fi nal 12 points for a 39-35 win on national television.

Stephen Jones scored on a 10-yard touchdown with 7:03 to play to give UAPB a 36-35 lead, which it kept for good. The Golden Lions added a Chris Ewald 42-yard fi eld goal and then held on for the victory.

Griswold earns SWAC special teams honor

Southern freshman kicker William Griswold earned the SWAC’s special teams player of week award for his performance last week at Jackson State.

The Tampa, Fla., native went 3-for-3 on fi eld goals, nailing kicks of 37, 38 and 43 yards. Griswold also made all four PAT attempts, giving him 13 of Southern’s 45 total points.

www.southerndigest.comPage 6 - Friday, October 22, 2010

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 digest@subr.edu.

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.

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Page 7

VIEWPOINTSwww.southerndigest.com

NORMANDOTSON JR .

www.southerndigest.comget online @

La. HOUSE OF rEPrESENtatIvES

District 63Rep. Dalton Honoré(District Office)8776 Scenic HighwayBaton Rouge, LA 70807Phone: 225.771.5674Fax: 225.771.5673E-mail: honored@legis.state.la.us

LOUISIaNa StatE SENatEDistrict 14Sen. Yvone Dorsey(Capitol Office)P.O. Box 94183Baton Rouge, LA 70804Phone: 225.342.2040(District Office)1520 Thomas H. Delpit DriveBaton Rouge, LA 70802Phone: 225.342.9700E-mail: dorseyy@legis.state.la.us

U.S. HOUSE OF rEPrESENtatIvES

La. 6th Congressional DistrictRep. Bill Cassidy(Baton Rouge Office)5555 Hilton Avenue, Suite 100Baton Rouge, LA 70808225.929.7711(Washington, D.C. Office)506 Cannon HOBWashington, DC 20515Phone: 202.225.3901Fax: 202. 225.7313Web site: cassidy.house.gov

U.S. SENatESen. Mary Landrieu(Baton Rouge Office)Federal Building, Room 326707 Florida StreetBaton Rouge, LA 70801Phone: 225.389.0395Fax: 225.389.0660(Washington, D.C. Office)328 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Phone: 202.224.5824Fax: 202.224.9735Web site: landrieu.senate.gov

Sen. David Vitter(Baton Rouge Office)858 Convention StateBaton Rouge, LA 70802Phone: 225.383.0331Fax: 225.383.0952(Washington, D.C. Office)516 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Phone: 202.224.4623Fax: 202.228.5061Web site: vitter.senate.gov

An open letter to our lawmakersDear Louisiana Lawmakers,

What the hell!?!What is your deal with taking more

money from us? It’s bad enough that we were already living foot-to-mouth before, now Southern University is the one who need to get a loan from Sallie Mae.

I understand, as a nation, we are in a financial bind and cuts have to be made. However, I’m pretty sure that it all doesn’t have to come from higher education. Over the past two years here at Southern, we have been made to make cuts adding up to over $18 million. These cuts have tremendously dampened our ability to complete our mission which is to give a quality education to all those who want it.

Now down the river, LSU has taken a hit as well. However, as we all know they are much better equipped to survive this kind of attack. One can only speculate that there must be some conspiracy to make LSU the only university of this state, which cannot be allowed to happen. Nothing against them but, SU is a very vital part of this state’s history, and to let it fall to the waste side would be a large disservice to the future generations.

I know SU has problems … a long, mobster-rap-sheet-style list of them. Then again, what family doesn’t?

As a family, SU needs to wake up. As a family SU needs to stand up. As a

family, SU needs walk up to Gov. Piyush Jindal and his collective and say that enough is enough. We cannot take anymore of this outright abuse and disrespect that the state is showing what is one of the best historically black colleges in existence.

It seems as we are being treated like the red-headed step child of higher education – or maybe in this case the nappy-headed one (yes, I just said it).

From all of what has happened, one can only draw the conclusion that, as an HBCU, we are deemed less valuable than a predominantly white institution. Now before you go saying that I’m being racist, let me stop you there and dispel that lie before it gets started. I am, by no means, racist. If I were I would be hypocritical of everything this institution stands for.

All I’m saying is that it looks like we are being systematically, but hey I could be wrong. If I am wrong, would someone

please come and correct me. How about instead of sitting all the way down there at the Capitol, you come on down SU and get to know the people you are oppressing with your pocketbook-snatching style of financial handling. Come sit on the Bluff and marvel at the beauty this institution offers this state before you flush us like a used contraceptive; just come get to know the people who will eventually be making the big decisions in this world. Come see how we have to struggle to survive and make ends meet.

For God sakes, if the Human Jukebox is broke, that’s when you know we are in crisis!

If there is something I’m missing please let me know because all I see is state making decisions that undervalues what should be one its greatest attributes, this is the home of the only HBCU system anywhere and one of the largest black institutions around. You can’t appreciate something that you don’t know about, so I’m inviting anyone who reads this to come over Hump and get to know SU. Maybe then we will get the appreciation that we deserve.

Sincerely Yours,Norman J. Dotson Jr., DIGeST Editor-

in-Chief

P.S. Let’s try sending some funds our way instead … you might be surprised by the results of that investment.

who represents

SU?

www.southerndigest.comPage 8 - Friday, October 22, 2010