Student voter turnout at Fall Elections was as bleak as the gloomy weather, Monday as the nine seats to fill.

According to tallied votes only 744 votes were cast Monday among the freshman, sophomore and junior classes.

Every vacancy was filled except Men’s Federation president and Miss Freshman, which will have a run-off election Wednesday, September 19.

Run-offs will take place in the Cotillion Ballroom of Smith-Brown Memorial Union between 9a.m. and 5p.m.

With senatorial positions vacant in the sophomore and junior classes only 152 votes were tallied between both classes.

Junior class senators Isiah Edah-Dike and Hailey Hudson secured their

positions with a combined total of 24 votes. Dike garnering 14 while Hudson earned 10.

Sophomore class senators Trevante Johnson, Erin Prestage and Ricky Robinson gained their seat with 29, 27 and 32 votes in their class respectively.

Olivia McCann won Freshman vice president outright with 142 votes to her competitor Kayla Peterson’s 88 votes.

Run-off for Miss Freshman candidates is between Mar’Lesha Hollins and JaMya Magee.

Hollins, a freshman, biology major from Jackson, La. hopes to utilize her campaign team of nine to get out the vote for the runoff and increase turnout.

“I feel I did good in the pre-voting. I think that I need to work just as hard to go out and get the votes again,” Hollins said.

JaMya Magee, a freshman nursing major from Bogalusa, La. anticipates to continue her Olympic themed campaign

and wants to bring home the gold.“I feel nervous but, am praying for

the best and I hope for the best,” Magee said.

Hollins and Magee cited different reasons for why they deserve the position they are vying for.

“I truly have a plan for SU and my freshman class,” Hollins said.

Magee talked about her previous leadership experiences.

“I have been involved in stuff, Student council, NESBE, Beta, and as a cheerleader. As a leader I have a passion for others. I enjoy being able to help,” Magee said.

Joshua Freeman, a senior mass communication major from Baton Rouge joins Dmitrius McGruder, a senior, criminal justice major from Atlanta as a contender for Men’s Federation vice president.

Freeman reacted, “Honestly I wish I would have found out that I won, and I

must push harder.”Freeman anticipates to shake more

hands and get more face to face time with young men on campus.

“I felt pretty good. I was only 1/8 percent from an outright win,” McGruder said.

McGruder plans to promote and get the name out and talk to more people.

Both hopefuls were asked about why they deserve the position.

“I’m really concerned about SU. All my life I grew up without a father figure. As a big brother I’ve got to be a role model to males on campus,” Freeman said.

McGruder said his success starting his freshman year was a qualifier for the position.

“My status working with SGA started my freshman year. I was in Men’s Fed since freshman year and was successful in continuing the Men’s Fed position,” McGruder said.

Karen Carter Peterson, Louisiana district 5 senator urged personal and political responsibility at lecture, “Activism through education” in Higgins Hall, Monday.

Peterson, a Tulane Law School and Howard school of business graduate serves as Louisiana senator and new chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic party.

The Nelson Mandela school of Public Policy and Urban Affairs organized the lecture with Peterson and classes in the school attended.

A commitment to lifting as you climb and taking responsibility for your decisions were recurring themes during the lecture.

“This country needs our engagement. We live where fears are inflated risks heightened as a means to retain the status quo. If we continue to sit idly by, we will continue to get the same thing. Like the definition of insanity,” Peterson said.

Peterson discussed the school system and the mentality where

we turn our children over to be raised by teachers and the system.

“Too many of us are blaming others for not raising our children. Too many adults defer to others. Personal responsibility is non-partisan,” Peterson said.

Peterson encouraged students to consider a ‘more perfect union’ they can create and those who came before them and sacrificed.

“The United States needs you, you are at the age where you can help obtain the more perfect union. Every generation wants something better. Somebody struggled for us. I’m talking about your mothers and grandmothers, it’s not fair to those who fought for you and died for you, those that helped you get here. If that means anything to you, act on it,” Peterson said.

Peterson addressed the African American community, especially black males, campaigning and governing.

“Our African American males need to be mentored and brought up. We have an obligation to reach back and get those that are in need.

There is a difference between campaigning and governing,” Peterson said.

After the conclusion of the lecture, Peterson was asked how her political philosophy differs from Jindal’s and Republicans in general.

“Significant difference in what I believe is best for citizens in the state, I try to champion the needs of working class citizens, affordable health care and families,” Peterson said.

When asked about student’s ability and direction for fighting the Jindal administration Peterson said, “I think having voices heard by sending e-mails and making phone calls and being present in legislative hearings are important,”

Peterson said.Erickson Brown, a senior,

psychology major from Denver said he learned the importance of voting at the lecture with Peterson.

“I have gained more tools to engage people in my age group,” Brown said.

Chaunceyetta Khosravian, a junior, history major from Baton Rouge said she really enjoyed Peterson’s speech.

“Everything she said was powerful. I am going to take initiative to speak on politics more. I learned the importance of being registered to vote and contact politicians to show that we care about the issues,” Khosravian said.

Albert Samuels, professor

and chair of political science department said, he hopes that students gained knowledge from the lecture.

“I think it was very timely with what is happening nationally. Don’t wait for other people to fix the problems,” Samuels said.

Chancellor James Llorens listened to the lecture with Southern University system president Ronald Mason.

Llorens said, he hopes the lecture provides incentive for students to get involved because they play a role in politics of the state.

“Strong student voter registration impacts the local, state and national government,” Llorens said.

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Evan TaylorThe Southern Digest

Louisiana State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, speaks to students in Rodney C. Higgins Hall about being better people for the community.

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Peterson urges action, involvement

Campus hopefuls voter turnout numbers low

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Communication Alumni Association is looking to award a deserving mass communication major with $500 to help toward their education.

Applicants must be currently enrolled mass communication majors, and must provide an official copy of his/her transcript to show he/she is in good academic standing with the university. Applicants must also write a 500-word essay explaining to the scholarship committee how he/she would use the money, why the scholarship is important and how it would enhance his/her education.

All materials may be e-mailed to fredrick_batiste@subr.edu or hand-delivered to Fredrick Batiste in the Office of Student Media, located in 1064 Harris Hall. The deadline for applications is Oct. 5 at noon.

The winner will be presented the scholarship Friday, Oct. 12.

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Madden 13 TOurnaMenTThe tournament will be held

on September 19 from 6-9p.m. Come and test your skills against the best in Madden!

COB sCHOLarsHiPStudents- attached is

the application for the fall 2012--- gala on the bluff scholarship! the contest opens: september 1, 2012 the submission deadline is: september 17, 2012 please read the entire packet for full details! failure to adhere to the rules and guidelines will result in immediate disqualification! good luck cob scholarship committee course link /scholarship apps/college of business/gotb scholarship/fall 2012 gala scholarship

CaMPus ParkingAttention: all student

vehicles operated on the southern university campus must be registered and parked in their designated areas as follows: commuter students: east and west side of mumford football stadium (excluding the field house). ballentine rv lot, rows 2, 3 and 4 (between school

of nursing and laboratory school). zone 110, northeast corner of b.a. little and jesse n. Stone avenue. north campus residential area (beyond north checkpoint). This is temporary parking only, until the activity center parking lot opens. law school students: must park in lot next to the su museum and rotc. residential students: must park in the area of their residence hall. thank you, su police effective immediately.

sTudenT uniOn aCTiviTiesSmith-brown memorial

union. We are open on fridays in the game room with bowling alley & burger king. Note: half price game room and bowling alley(fridays)

MOvie sCreening The movie screening of

“pitch perfect”, which was filmed on the subr campus last fall, will be shown in advance to the subr community on thursday, september 20th at 8pm at the rave motion pictures theater located by the mall of louisiana. tickets for the screening will be available next week, however, this event is free & open to the public. if you have any questions, you can contact Dontrail Dobison at 318.717.0761.

JuniOr surveY

Tired of being left out.. Want your opinion heard… want your junior year to be the best….. Go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/x9mlwyh and fill out a quick 5 min survey. !!Juniors only please!!

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who’s speaking out?

“I think the univeristy is going at the pace in which it is allowed to move, one step at a time. No faster and no slower due to outside as well as inside forces.”

“Yes, I think the school moving forward. However, because of the Stump Mitchell situation, it brought SU back down a little bit. The way the situation was handled was correct, however the responses from the students on the news weren’t really good remarks. ”

“Yes, I think it is moving forward because there are many visual improvements that you can see happening on campus, along with in- house improvement. I think it is all due to Chancellor Llorens knowing exactly what the problems are the order of importance in which they need to be addressed.”

“No,we still have ineffective people in positions at power that don’t care about students. If we want to move forward we need to lose the dead weight.”

Teague green

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Do you think the university is moving forward and why?

campus briefsTODAy

page 2 - Tuesday, sepTember 18, 2012

Campus lIfeThe senTInel of an enlIghTened sTudenT body sInCe 1926

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Music majors at Southern University have not been able to gain access to the newly implemented music technology laboratories in Tourgee DeBose Hall.

Before Carnell Knighten passed away, he had written and asked for permission to be granted federal money to enhance the music department.

According to Charles Lloyd, chair of the department of music, over $200,000 was put into purchasing equipment for the music technology lab.

Students are not satisfied waiting to be granted access to the lab, that they consider essential to their studies.

Michael Brooks, a senior music major from Chicago said, “The technology lab would have been useful for the music majors. I believe it’s useful in today’s society. Everything is run off computers. No schools have technology labs, where they have it set up to create music, just for the purpose of the benefit.”

Brooks said with the technology labs being closed, he does not like it at all.

“I feel it’s more politics than helping the students. Mr. Knighten told us when he got the grant for the lab. Its main purpose was for the students. Ever since his passing, I don’t know the whole logistics or anything. I heard that papers had to be signed because I think the money was not from the school but it came from grants.”

Brooks said that he is currently in a

band arranging class and it would be a big help if he were to get in the music lab.

“I’m in a band arranging class and we don’t have access to the lab, where we needed the technology ever since school started. School is about to go on its fifth week and we still haven’t gotten in,” Brooks said.

According to Nathaniel Haymer, assistant band director, “By the music lab not being opened, it is hurting the students. It’s a tie up in Title III.”

Haymer said that Knighten had gotten the creation of the music lab together before he passed. With him passing, it was then a matter of designating the responsibility and who would assume it.

“It was just a matter of getting that ironed out with Title III,” Haymer said.

Haymer reportedly had spoken with the chairperson of music, Lloyd as of Monday. “Hopefully, we’ll have it ready for the next class period by next week. Hopefully, it would be resolved soon,” Haymer said.

Jelani Brown, a sophomore, music major from Detroit said, “Being that I’m a sophomore, I can’t really say that it’s hurting me because I didn’t expect to work with technology. I just thought textbooks and pianos were all I really needed. I feel that since we do have them, that it would be great to expand within the department, with the technology we do have, since it’s here.”

Brown said that he doesn’t think that students are missing out on anything with the delay of the labs because the

lab won’t allow students to gain any more on paper with the technology.

Kyron Davis, a senior, music major from Baton Rouge said, “I never really thought about it. All I know it may hurt those under me. For me, personally, it’s not really hurting me because I’m about to be out in the summer.

Davis said, “At the same time, it won’t hurt me, specifically, but it might hurt another student like the undergrads.”

Brown mentioned with the expansion there would be a consistent need of faculty and classes along with the technology expansion.

“If they had more classes, then we’ll need more professors and more people to teach things,” said Brown.

“The lab was received last year, in 2011, through a Title III grant,” said Lloyd. The grant was granted to Carnell Knighten. The lab was opened under his direction until he passed in February of this year.”

Lloyd said when Knighten passed the lab was shut down. At the time of Knighten’s death, the lab was in the process to be opened by the time that school started this fall.

“It’s been delayed because of responsibility factors for who would be responsible,” Lloyd said.

Another problem with the lab is the department needs to hire someone with a Ph.D. to take over the lab, Lloyd said.

“That person should be hired to be official to take over that lab, to take responsibility because they will know what they’re doing,” Lloyd said. “Now

that’s what needs to happen and there would be no more problems with that lab.”

Lloyd said that he would sign the authorization to the lab and he would take full responsibility of whatever is or would be taken from the lab. “If anything was to get stolen, it would be all on me,” Lloyd said.

According to Lloyd when the lab was inventoried, equipment was reportedly missing and it has not been found.

“Technology is always being renewed and some of the stuff we have is already outdated and we need to have more civil action from someone who knows what they are doing to do inventory and keep us more updated,” Lloyd said. “I’m going to go over there to Mr. Chavis and sign so that the lab could be opened by Wednesday.”

Haymer said with the lab having some of the latest equipment, it would help students. He said students are into commercial music, studio music, making beats and working in the studio.

According to Kim Chavis, director of Title III, Knighten had come and got a grant to come and build the lab.

Chavis did state that the door to the lab is locked until someone in the music department comes and takes responsibility for the lab.

According to Chavis the equipment in the lab was purchased with federal dollars.

“If they want to come here and see their stuff, then we have to show it to them,” Chavis said.

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newsTuesday, sepTember 18, 2012 - page 3

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The senTInel of an enlIghTened sTudenT body sInCe 1926

ShEila v KumarThe Associated Press

ChriSTiE CarralThe Southern Digest

Music Lab awaiting Title III clearance

Thousands of students, professors and workers were evacuated from Louisiana State University’s main campus Monday following a bomb threat, school officials said.

The evacuation was prompted by a threat phoned into 911 about 10:32 a.m., university spokeswoman Kristine Calongne said. Calongne said the caller didn’t direct the threat to any specific area of the campus.

The university issued a statement on its website announcing the evacuation an hour later, then distributed the information through

text messages, emails and social media.

“A bomb threat has been reported on the LSU campus,” the statement said. “Please evacuate as calmly and quickly as possible.”

There are 30,000 students, professors and university employees located on the Baton Rouge campus, but it was not clear how many were present at the time of the threat.

“Monday ... is a very big class day, so I think the majority of that group was probably on campus at the time,” Calongne said.

By early afternoon Monday, the LSU campus was largely deserted with

roads leading onto campus blocked by police. The major arteries heading away from campus were congested, packed with traffic.

Catherine Lacoste, an 18-year-old freshman and architecture major, said she received notification of the bomb threat through the emergency text message system while working in a studio on a project. She double-checked the information and then evacuated. She didn’t seem worried about the threat, however.

“I’m going to go home, take a nap and hopefully campus will be open again when I wake up,” Lacoste said.

State police bomb technicians

were on the scene, said Louisiana State Police Capt. Doug Cain. He said authorities were talking to their counterparts in Texas, North Dakota and Ohio to see if there were any similarities to threats universities in those states received Friday.

University officials in those states also evacuated their campuses, but police found no explosives.

Calongne said she doesn’t know of any other time the entire flagship university campus was evacuated.

“I’ve been at LSU since 1990 — if you count my student years — and I don’t ever recall us having an evacuation of the whole campus,” she said.

LSU evacuates following bomb threat

As athletics programs around the nation begin using social media campaigns to increase support, Southern University is doing the same with its own promotional plan — #StandUnited.

The campaign, which began in the summer and will last throughout the year, includes incentives to persuade social media fans to become more involved with Southern athletics through Twitter and Facebook.

“The selection of StandUnited as the athletic theme for the year was about uniting the entire system behind one accord, athletic director William Broussard said. “We’re trying to united everyone on campus here in Baton Rouge with the athletic department and then

try to unite all of our individual teams.”

By hash-tagging StandUnited it’s suppose to represents the department’s commitment to return Southern University athletics, and to also make sports on campus something to look forward to by encouraging the fan base to “#StandUnited” and share news regarding Southern athletics via social media.

In some instances the StandUnited campaign showed its worth by increasing its total growth of followers on Facebook and Twitter by 600 people.

“If we add one person that’s one more person that knows what’s going on that’s a good thing, and to have 600 more people spreading the word by retweeting, reposting, and people sharing videos we would increase by nearly twofold,” Broussard said.

The campaign even went the lengths of going to the media to help push the word to the masses.

“We produced a 30-second commercial spot talking with individuals around here and on campus who have been here for a number of years its been a very long time since we produced a television commercial that promoted Southern University and actually ran it,” Broussard said. “It actually ran on NBC, Fox, Cox Sports and we ran it on 10 different local radio stations as well.

The nearly $1,500 commercial was able to run 3,000 times over an eight-week period.

“I have a responsibility to promote the athletic department but to do it in a manner that’s physically responsible and we hit the targets there,” said Broussard.

Another encouraging result

of the StandUnited campaign is the result people who showed up to Fan Day before the SU football team season opener, when approximately 1,500 fans showed up — along with 70 recreational vehicles — to see the scrimmage and sign autographs, compared to last year when attendance was estimated to only be at 200.

But, not all attendance has proven beneficial for the department. The Jaguars’ SWAC and home opener the season against Mississippi Valley State in front of a nationally televised audience only mustered up a total of 7,788 fans in the 28,000-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The campaign is suppose to run for the entire 2012 – 2013 fiscal year, and the department is hopeful that the campaign help unite Southern fans together again.

After Southern’s dismal performance against Missi-ssippi Valley State Thursday on ESPNU, Southern University Athletic Director William Broussard recommended to SUBR Chancellor Llorens head coach Stump Mitchell to be relieved of duty.

Defensive coordinator Daw-son Odums will serve as interim head coach until the official search begins.

Mitchell was reassigned to administrative duties.

Odums spoke for the first time as interim head coach Monday during the South-western Athletic Conference’s weekly football coaches’ tele-conference.

Odums said, Mitchell did an outstanding job recruiting and that the teams’ vision of a Southwestern Athletic Conference title is still alive.

“We only lost one game in the conference,” Odums said. “All the goals that we have set for this football team are still right there in front of us.”

WAFB’s Jacques Doucet reported live on campus that Southern officials viewed the Valley game a must win for Mitchell, who went 6-18 at Southern.

Athletic Director William Broussard said the decision was made to ensure the programs competitive success this year and future.

“We’re early in the 2012 season and we have a commitment to our student athletes ‘particularly the seniors’,” Broussard told reporters Friday.

Odums enters with over 13 years of coaching experience, which include seasons at North Carolina A&T, Georgia Southern, Gardner–Webb and Clark Atlanta, where he served as interim and head coach for the Panthers.

Odums joined Mitchell’s staff as the defensive line coach, which recorded 28 sacks during the 2011 season. He took over

as defensive coordinator at the start of spring practice.

“One thing people will see out of this team, I believe is a disciplined football team,” Odums said. “We owe that to the Southern University family.”

Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy, who the Jaguars play Saturday in Jackson, Miss., said he doesn’t know what to expect from SU and Odums, who takes over the Jaguars at 0-2.

“We just got to get ready for anything,” Comegy said Monday. “It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen.”

The Tigers, who won their last three matches on the gridiron, defeated SU 28-24 last season.

Odums said, that quarterback Dray Joseph would remain the

starting quarterback for the Jaguars offense.

“When you look at the film he makes great decisions,” Odums said. “I don’t have a problem with Dray being our starting quarterback.”

Joseph went 19-of-47 for 287 yards and three passing scores against the Tigers. He also led the team with 34 rushing yards.

Joseph, who Mitchell announced as the starting quarterback in week one, has completed 24-of-48 passes for 277 yards, has three interceptions, one touchdown throw and averaged 138.5 passing yards per game.

In their home opening lost to Mississippi Valley State, Joseph went 12 of 29 for 114 yards with one interception.

What began as whispers and angry voices hours after Southern’s 6-0 home loss to Mississippi Valley State on ESPNU turned into rumors and rumblings regarding head football coach Stump Mitchell’s future throughout Friday morning and afternoon. Those rumors became reality after athletics director William Broussard announced the university relieved Mitchell of his head coaching duties and plans to reassign him to a yet-unnamed position during an early-evening press conference. Mitchell was

in the third, and final, season of his contract with the university. Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums was named interim head coach during Friday’s press conference, and Broussard said a search for a new coach will begin at the end of the 2012 football season.

News of the end of the Stump Mitchell era spread like wildfire throughout the SU community, sparking so much Twitter traffic that “Stump Mitchell” and “Stump” became a local trending topic on the social networking service for hours after Broussard made the announcement.

Below is a sampling of tweets from a few SU football players in the minutes after Mitchell’s dismissal, including tweets from redshirt senior offensive lineman Chris Browne, redshirt senior defensive lineman Casey Narcisse, freshman defensive back Marquon Webster and junior linebacker Franchot West. Included in the tweets sampling is Perryn Keys, assistant sports editor at The Advocate, who covered Southern athletics for the newspaper during most of Mitchell’s tenure.

—Digest Staff

Page 4 - Tuesday, sePTember 18, 2012

sPorTsThe senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926

southerndigest.com

Southern athletics director William Broussard discusses former head football coach Stump Mitchell’s removal during Friday’s press conference. Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2012 season.

PHOTO By NOrmaN j. dOTsON jr./digesT

Twitter erupts after Mitchell’s ouster Odums, Jags move ahead Aristide PhilliPs

The Southern Digest

Morris dillArd iiiThe Southern Digest Southern University men and

women’s cross country teams traveled to Lafayette Friday to compete in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invite.

Louisiana-Lafayette won all top five finishes on the men’s side to grab the first place spot, their runners garnered 15 points, with the Jaguars rounding of second place with 69 points and New Orleans in third earning 75 points.

The event used a scoring method equating a runner’s place to points.

“It turned out to be a really great meet for us,” ULL head coach Lon Badeaux said to ragincajuns.com. “All of our athletes improved significantly from the first meet. On this tough course, for our men to run that fast as a group and for Anna Katherine to register the time she did was pleasing.”

Southern’s Willie Williams finished in the top ten finishing in eighth place finish in the 8K along with Daniel Simon who finished in 12th place, John Haynes in 14th place, Ernest Sip in 15th place and, Victor Nichols in 20th place.

In women’s, Tessni Carruthers of Nicholls State finished first in the 5K race, Angelica Caraballo, Amber Crews, and Shanel Zenon all earned a top-five school slot as a group.

Caraballo finished with a time of 20:48.5, Crews with a time of 21:05.0, and Zenon with a time of 24:00.2.

In the women’s team finals NSU finished in first, ULL, finished second and UNO finished third.

Head coach Brian Johnson said that Caraballo actually ran really well, Crews and Zenon all ran well at the invite.

“My overall thoughts were great I was actually impressed we did a great job, my distance coach Melanie Gilbert is doing a great job getting them up in the morning and getting up in the evening at 5:30,” Johnson said. “I was actually impressed thought we did better then what I expected at this early stage in the first meet of the year.”

The Jaguars will have a week to prepare for their next meet on Sept. 25 to compete in the LSU Invite.

“We are coming along really well conditioning wise this week we have LSU coming

up and hopefully we can put up a better showing then we did at ULL,” Johnson said.

Southern XC places in Invite

#StandUnited campaign gains interest for athleticsAristide PhilliPsThe Southern Digest

The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926 Tuesday, sePTember 18, 2012 - Page 5

As athletics programs around the nation begin using social media campaigns to increase support, Southern University is doing the same with its own promotional plan — #StandUnited.

The campaign, which began in the summer and will last throughout the year, includes incentives to persuade social media fans to become more involved with Southern athletics through Twitter and Facebook.

“The selection of StandUnited as the athletic theme for the year was about uniting the entire system behind one accord, athletic director William Broussard said. “We’re trying to united everyone on campus here in Baton Rouge with the athletic department and then

try to unite all of our individual teams.”

By hash-tagging StandUnited it’s suppose to represents the department’s commitment to return Southern University athletics, and to also make sports on campus something to look forward to by encouraging the fan base to “#StandUnited” and share news regarding Southern athletics via social media.

In some instances the StandUnited campaign showed its worth by increasing its total growth of followers on Facebook and Twitter by 600 people.

“If we add one person that’s one more person that knows what’s going on that’s a good thing, and to have 600 more people spreading the word by retweeting, reposting, and people sharing videos we would increase by nearly twofold,” Broussard said.

The campaign even went the lengths of going to the media to help push the word to the masses.

“We produced a 30-second commercial spot talking with individuals around here and on campus who have been here for a number of years its been a very long time since we produced a television commercial that promoted Southern University and actually ran it,” Broussard said. “It actually ran on NBC, Fox, Cox Sports and we ran it on 10 different local radio stations as well.

The nearly $1,500 commercial was able to run 3,000 times over an eight-week period.

“I have a responsibility to promote the athletic department but to do it in a manner that’s physically responsible and we hit the targets there,” said Broussard.

Another encouraging result

of the StandUnited campaign is the result people who showed up to Fan Day before the SU football team season opener, when approximately 1,500 fans showed up — along with 70 recreational vehicles — to see the scrimmage and sign autographs, compared to last year when attendance was estimated to only be at 200.

But, not all attendance has proven beneficial for the department. The Jaguars’ SWAC and home opener the season against Mississippi Valley State in front of a nationally televised audience only mustered up a total of 7,788 fans in the 28,000-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The campaign is suppose to run for the entire 2012 – 2013 fiscal year, and the department is hopeful that the campaign help unite Southern fans together again.

After Southern’s dismal performance against Missi-ssippi Valley State Thursday on ESPNU, Southern University Athletic Director William Broussard recommended to SUBR Chancellor Llorens head coach Stump Mitchell to be relieved of duty.

Defensive coordinator Daw-son Odums will serve as interim head coach until the official search begins.

Mitchell was reassigned to administrative duties.

Odums spoke for the first time as interim head coach Monday during the South-western Athletic Conference’s weekly football coaches’ tele-conference.

Odums said, Mitchell did an outstanding job recruiting and that the teams’ vision of a Southwestern Athletic Conference title is still alive.

“We only lost one game in the conference,” Odums said. “All the goals that we have set for this football team are still right there in front of us.”

WAFB’s Jacques Doucet reported live on campus that Southern officials viewed the Valley game a must win for Mitchell, who went 6-18 at Southern.

Athletic Director William Broussard said the decision was made to ensure the programs competitive success this year and future.

“We’re early in the 2012 season and we have a commitment to our student athletes ‘particularly the seniors’,” Broussard told reporters Friday.

Odums enters with over 13 years of coaching experience, which include seasons at North Carolina A&T, Georgia Southern, Gardner–Webb and Clark Atlanta, where he served as interim and head coach for the Panthers.

Odums joined Mitchell’s staff as the defensive line coach, which recorded 28 sacks during the 2011 season. He took over

as defensive coordinator at the start of spring practice.

“One thing people will see out of this team, I believe is a disciplined football team,” Odums said. “We owe that to the Southern University family.”

Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy, who the Jaguars play Saturday in Jackson, Miss., said he doesn’t know what to expect from SU and Odums, who takes over the Jaguars at 0-2.

“We just got to get ready for anything,” Comegy said Monday. “It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen.”

The Tigers, who won their last three matches on the gridiron, defeated SU 28-24 last season.

Odums said, that quarterback Dray Joseph would remain the

starting quarterback for the Jaguars offense.

“When you look at the film he makes great decisions,” Odums said. “I don’t have a problem with Dray being our starting quarterback.”

Joseph went 19-of-47 for 287 yards and three passing scores against the Tigers. He also led the team with 34 rushing yards.

Joseph, who Mitchell announced as the starting quarterback in week one, has completed 24-of-48 passes for 277 yards, has three interceptions, one touchdown throw and averaged 138.5 passing yards per game.

In their home opening lost to Mississippi Valley State, Joseph went 12 of 29 for 114 yards with one interception.

What began as whispers and angry voices hours after Southern’s 6-0 home loss to Mississippi Valley State on ESPNU turned into rumors and rumblings regarding head football coach Stump Mitchell’s future throughout Friday morning and afternoon. Those rumors became reality after athletics director William Broussard announced the university relieved Mitchell of his head coaching duties and plans to reassign him to a yet-unnamed position during an early-evening press conference. Mitchell was

in the third, and final, season of his contract with the university. Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums was named interim head coach during Friday’s press conference, and Broussard said a search for a new coach will begin at the end of the 2012 football season.

News of the end of the Stump Mitchell era spread like wildfire throughout the SU community, sparking so much Twitter traffic that “Stump Mitchell” and “Stump” became a local trending topic on the social networking service for hours after Broussard made the announcement.

Below is a sampling of tweets from a few SU football players in the minutes after Mitchell’s dismissal, including tweets from redshirt senior offensive lineman Chris Browne, redshirt senior defensive lineman Casey Narcisse, freshman defensive back Marquon Webster and junior linebacker Franchot West. Included in the tweets sampling is Perryn Keys, assistant sports editor at The Advocate, who covered Southern athletics for the newspaper during most of Mitchell’s tenure.

—Digest Staff

Page 4 - Tuesday, sePTember 18, 2012

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Southern athletics director William Broussard discusses former head football coach Stump Mitchell’s removal during Friday’s press conference. Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2012 season.

PHOTO By NOrmaN j. dOTsON jr./digesT

Twitter erupts after Mitchell’s ouster Odums, Jags move ahead Aristide PhilliPs

The Southern Digest

Morris dillArd iiiThe Southern Digest Southern University men and

women’s cross country teams traveled to Lafayette Friday to compete in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invite.

Louisiana-Lafayette won all top five finishes on the men’s side to grab the first place spot, their runners garnered 15 points, with the Jaguars rounding of second place with 69 points and New Orleans in third earning 75 points.

The event used a scoring method equating a runner’s place to points.

“It turned out to be a really great meet for us,” ULL head coach Lon Badeaux said to ragincajuns.com. “All of our athletes improved significantly from the first meet. On this tough course, for our men to run that fast as a group and for Anna Katherine to register the time she did was pleasing.”

Southern’s Willie Williams finished in the top ten finishing in eighth place finish in the 8K along with Daniel Simon who finished in 12th place, John Haynes in 14th place, Ernest Sip in 15th place and, Victor Nichols in 20th place.

In women’s, Tessni Carruthers of Nicholls State finished first in the 5K race, Angelica Caraballo, Amber Crews, and Shanel Zenon all earned a top-five school slot as a group.

Caraballo finished with a time of 20:48.5, Crews with a time of 21:05.0, and Zenon with a time of 24:00.2.

In the women’s team finals NSU finished in first, ULL, finished second and UNO finished third.

Head coach Brian Johnson said that Caraballo actually ran really well, Crews and Zenon all ran well at the invite.

“My overall thoughts were great I was actually impressed we did a great job, my distance coach Melanie Gilbert is doing a great job getting them up in the morning and getting up in the evening at 5:30,” Johnson said. “I was actually impressed thought we did better then what I expected at this early stage in the first meet of the year.”

The Jaguars will have a week to prepare for their next meet on Sept. 25 to compete in the LSU Invite.

“We are coming along really well conditioning wise this week we have LSU coming

up and hopefully we can put up a better showing then we did at ULL,” Johnson said.

Southern XC places in Invite

#StandUnited campaign gains interest for athleticsAristide PhilliPsThe Southern Digest

The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926 Tuesday, sePTember 18, 2012 - Page 5

Southern University students attended ‘Obama vs. Romney’ to understand the beliefs of both sides of the 2012 presidential debate.

Attendees were introduced to social and economic problems concerning the United States and how the partisan candidates would address them.

The event was held to encourage students to exercise their right to vote and understand which candidate shares their same values and opinions.

At the beginning of the program, participants were asked to complete a survey of questions based on their personal opinions about issues such as abortion, welfare and immigration laws.

Simone Bray, Student Government Association chief justice presented a PowerPoint with the answers to the questionnaire.

Maria Harmon, a graduate, public administration major from Lake Charles, serves as the chairman of College Democrats, said that the power point was her most enjoyable moment of the event.

“It gave me an opinion on how to vote based on what’s important to me,” Harmon said.

Shaina Craige, a junior, animal science major from Mobile, Ala., said she had a positive experience.

Craige agreed, it is very important to vote. She enjoyed the survey and said her favorite part of the program was getting to

know Obama’s opinions verses Romney’s. Students got a chance to hear from

the sixth congressional district democrat Representative, Don Collins.

Collins talked about her personal views and knowledge on the presidential candidates and answered the question Why Obama?

Citing the difference between the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and the Republican National Convention (RNC), She pointed out that DNC was more diverse in age, race and socio economic status.

While, the RNC contained mostly old white ‘folks’ and wealthy men in leadership positions.

Collins said, “When GOP says they want to take America back that means more of the new Jim Crow in which slavery shackles have become prison shackles. Wake up Louisiana. We have the highest incarceration rate in the world.”

Collins asked the question what does America need to be taken back to, and how the answer is moving forward.

“The question is what do they want to take America back to? My answer to the question of why Obama verses the competition is simple. I want to go forward. I don’t want to go back,” Collins said.

Willie McCorkle, a senior public relations major from New Orleans and SGA president said, he attended the event to support Bray’s initiatives to inform the SU student body on the November election.

With the 2012 Presidential election in November, politics and campaigns have been pervasive on television and the internet since the beginning of the year.

The presidential debate trade-offs between President Barack Obama and the Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney have made all the social media and TV ratings shoot through the roof.

According to the Nielsen rating company, a leading global information and measurement company that provides market research, insights and data about what people watch and buy, when former President Bill Clinton delivered his speech for Obama, an estimated 25.1 million people watched the convention, for the Democrats, between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on day one of the three day event.

Nielsen reported that the Democratic Convention ratings

beat ratings of the Dallas Cowboys’ season opener.

With 25.9 million viewers on the second day and 24 million on the third, the Democratic National Convention ratings held up well compared to 2008.

According to the New York Daily News, ‘Eastwooding’ is the latest Internet fad. The term, ‘Eastwooding’ was coined when actor, Clint Eastwood, who gave a speech at the Republican National Convention where he posed a question to the president on stage to the pretend president in a wooden chair, “So Mr. President, how do you handle promises you’ve made?”

The New York Daily News reported that by the end of the night, Eastwood-related Internet memes were buzzing across social media and Twitter users began uploading pictures of empty chairs with the hashtag, ‘Eastwooding’.

Students at Southern University had mixed opinions about the politics on TV.

Ayana Lery, a senior criminal

justice major from New Orleans said, “I’ve seen the president on TV and I watch the news, but I don’t know anything about the other people that’s with him. I feel he can’t move a mountain with the few years he’s been president. People would have to give him a chance to make things work.”

Lery said that the campaigns could be both negative and positive. “It just depends, because I’ve been hearing a lot of negative things but also positive things.

Keith Morgan II, a freshman mass communications major from New Orleans said he’s

seen an increase in politics and mostly Romney ads about his proposed policies. “Mainly, I’ve seen a bunch of things about the election, just about with Mitt Romney and the laws he’s trying to pass. To me, since the campaign, politics have defi netly increased.”

Actor Clint Eastwood speaks to an empty chair while addressed delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

photo By lynne slaDKy/ap photo

page 6 - Tuesday, sepTember 18, 2012

CulTureThe senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body sinCe 1926

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JaDe sMiThThe Southern Digest

ChrisTie CarralThe Southern Digest

Campaign rhetoric, ads mean little to Southern students

Students discuss differences between Obama, Romney

Hello there Jaguars! For the two years I’ve been working

for the Southern Digest I have been waiting for the perfect moment to finally arrive and give you all an insert from my perspective and outlook on life.

The title is of this editorial is “Get your weight up.” Many of you may be thinking, “What does that mean? Get your weight up?”

No need to wonder. I am going to give you an

informational, motivational and inspirational few thoughts for you to ponder.

Let’s clarify what, “Getting Your Weight Up,” really means.

The phrase is often thrown around in rap lyrics but it’s most common meaning is to better yourself by doing better and making wise life decisions.

Now that we have the meaning down, let’s touch bases on what you really need to know in order to ‘get your weight up’.

Now that we have an understanding on what it means to ‘get your weight up’, let’s take it a little bit further.

While in college, some of us like to think that our ‘rose bush’ doesn’t

smell bad, when actually, if we get our heads from up so high out of the clouds, maybe then we’ll get a whiff of what others smell (see) in us.

I often like to quote Big K.R.I.T, “Don’t drop the ball unless you have the strength of a winner.” Although he is a rapper his metaphor has a very strong and powerful message. My interpretation of the meaning is: if you drop the ball, take responsibility for it.

A lot of us students are always dropping the ball. Some of us let our financial struggles boggle us down, some quit school because of bad grades, and others just want to be lazy and discontinue their education.

We should not let potential problems ‘knock’ us off our destined path.

Most importantly, if we manage to drop the ball, we should not let the ball roll out of our view.

Some opportunities are not guaranteed to come more than once.

Although we deal with these things daily, we should not let them weigh us down. That’s why I’m telling you, you need to get your weight up to help you endure these extra obstacles life throws at us.

I am not going to lie. I dropped the ball quite a few times. I even let it roll away out of view, so far out of view that I had to go looking for it.

Fortunately for me I was able to recover it. Ever since then I have not let the ball out of my sight nor have I dropped it again.

So, my fellow Jaguars get your weight up so that you’ll be able to handle the little extras life throws on your destined path.

‘Get your weight up’. If you don’t remember anything

I told you in this editorial please remember not to drop the ball unless you have the strength of a winner.

Thank You!

Tuesday, sepTember 18, 2012 - page 7

CommenTaryThe senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body sinCe 1926

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ChrisTie Carral

Four years ago, there was a man who planned to bring hope and change.

There was a man who was a unique individual, unlike any presidential candidate that we have ever seen, who promised to change the state of the economy for the better, to benefit the middle-class while evening out the deficit.

Today, that man, President Barack Obama, is running for the presidency again and he cannot get there without our help.

We, as young voters, have a very big voice together and together we can have a say in the outcome of this election if we all go to the polls on November 6th.

There are many issues to be debated on: jobs, the deficit, immigration, same-sex marriage, foreign policy, healthcare, energy and education.

President Obama is providing the platform needed to build our country back to greatness again, where the economy is thriving and our deficit is turned into a surplus.

According to CNN, President Obama is seeking to extend the tax cuts, put in place by Bush, but only for those making less than $250,000 annually, and is committed to ending tax cuts for the wealthy.

He has made a number of reforms

to constrain Wall Street practices and help small businesses.

One of the issues I am passionate about is same-sex marriage.

Of course you hear all of the gospel about how same-sex marriage is “not right”, but we live in America.

There are a lot of things, many issues that are not defined as right in America, but that’s what makes this land so great.

We have more freedoms than anyone else in the world.

America is the land of the free, so why can’t everyone have the same freedoms?

I am a straight woman, but I believe that everyone should have the same freedoms and rights.

President Obama stood up for those rights and I think that shows what type of character our president

has. The most important issue to me

though, as a woman, is the issue of healthcare.

In my opinion, women should be able to make their own decisions about their personal health, about their personal lives, in which the government should have no right to interfere unless you are breaking the law.

As a woman living in America, the greatest country in the world, I should know that if I am at a party thrown by a student organization off-campus, and I am raped, that I can go to the clinic and get adequate treatment without paying an arm and a leg.

I want to know that if I am raped and become pregnant, that I can go and have an abortion, if that’s what I want.

Sometimes in life, it’s not about what happens to you in life but the options you have after.

Bottom line, President Obama is the right choice for America.

Just because some may not think he has what it takes to serve another 4 years, think again because like former president Bill Clinton, NOBODY could have turned this economy around in just four years, he needs to be re-elected so he can complete the job he started.

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-mailed 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.

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FALL 2012 STAFFEditor-in-Chief ............................. Evan TaylorManaging Editor ....................Marcus GreenNews Editor..................... Charles Hawkins IISports Editor ........................ Aristide PhillipsCulture Editor .......................... Christie CarralCommentary Editor ................. Jessica SarpyPhoto Editor ..............................Ariana TriggsStaff Writer ........................... Lauren JohnsonStaff Writer ................................. Raees MalikStaff Writer ................................Erin PrestageStaff Photographer ...................Arielle BurksStaff Photographer .................. Trevor James

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Let Obama finish the job

ariana Triggs

Get your weight up

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Southern University’s faculty and students prioritize education and foreign policy among the top ten issues for the 2012 Presidential campaign.

The continuing education cuts and tuition increases can possibly deter students from seeking a higher education, while concerns for peace among foreign countries remains at the top of the list.

Phillip Cox, a junior, history major from Vivian, La., sees education as one of the major issues at stake this November.

“Secondary education is really riding on this election,” Cox said. Cox said Mitt Romney doesn’t seem to make education affordable.

Mercedes White, a freshman speech pathology major from Shreveport agreed with Cox on education as the top issue.

“Education, that is what every one is here for” said White.

William Arp III, Dean of the Nelson Mandela school of Public Policy and Urban Affairs viewed the election campaign as having many important issues.

“The top issues tend to be economy, healthcare, medicare, social security, and for the brief moment foreign policy,” Arp said.

He said these issues as being important to the entire nation, and not to just Southern University personnel.

James Louis, a senior, secondary education major from Baton Rouge has questions about education because it is the issue he is most concerned about.

“What is going on with student loans and the budget cuts on a more state level,” Louis said.

Considering enlistment post

graduation, Cox considered the conflicts in Africa a major concern.

“Uprising conflicts in Africa is a major issue to me because it could start a world war 3,” Cox said.

Abbie Albarez, a junior, mass communication major from Plaquemine, La., believes President Barack Obama has the best chance of fixing these issues in the United States.

“President Obama, because he is more focused on needs for everyone equally,” Albarez said.

White agreed with Albarez about which candidate can better mend issues in the United States.

“Obama, because he has a better plan for education and he plans on helping the middle class,” White said.

Although the opposition brings the viewpoint that hardly any change has occurred, Cox views the

situation as President Obama having to finish his plans for all the change to be tangible.

“He just has to finish his plans,” Cox said, “He just has to complete his plans.”

However, Louis is less optimistic about the political process, but still plans on participating.

“Both candidates have the power, but rather if they will fix the problems remains to be seen,” Louis said.

CNN’s online election center lists the top ten issues from surveys they have conducted.

Economy, taxes, debt & deficit, jobs, healthcare, immigration, foreign policy, education, abortion, and same-sex marriage are listed in their top ten issues.

The election center also details the major differences in the strategies of President Obama and candidate Mitt Romney has towards these issues.

Southern University graduates are among the contenders in Louisiana state and local elections.

Candidates felt that their Southern University education prepared them for the political race ahead.

Dewayne Bailey, a 1989 mass communication graduate is in the race for Louisiana’s Second Congressional District said he had ‘great’ experiences at Southern.

“The mass communication department prepared me to do a lot of public speaking and speak on radio,” Bailey said.

He said the communication skills he learned let him become involved around the state so he his deeply indebted to Southern University.

Hazel Bradley, East Baton Rouge Parish educator and Metro Council District 7 candidate said her Southern education was essential with socioeconomic background.

“Being from an impoverished area, education was important in my household,” Bradley said.

She said professors urged her to become active in her community while attending school paired with the history of her grandmother led to her political activity.

Bailey has his sights set to look for new ways to ‘stabilize’ the university.

“I bleed blue and gold so I would definitely look into raising funds and resources to stabilize the university,” Bailey said.

During Bailey’s attendance at Southern, there were 10 thousand students enrolled. Donaldsonville native hopes to increase recruitment efforts at home.

“Push to recruit students in that area,” Bailey said.

Bailey revealed past recruitment efforts along with executive director of the SU system foundation Ernie Hughes.

“We held a recruitment night in Donaldsonville at our church,” Bailey said.

He mentioned the financial aid assistance was provided as well as enrolling at Southern University at the recruitment event.

Despite running for different positions candidates are firm on standing for the people.

“My concern is the high crime rate in my district,” Bradley said. She said she will work with Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination otherwise known as BRAVE and other police initiatives to fight crime.

High un-employment among youth as another issue Bradley says she wants to address if elected.

“There are no jobs in the area and no recreational activity for the youth,” Bradley said.

She said one solution to the problem is job training for the youth.

Bailey said his reasoning for running for U.S. Representative 2nd Congressional District.

“I want to provide professional level, strong leadership for our district especially with the new changes,” Bailey said.

He said the merging pre-existing districts to create a new district line due to the decline of citizens in the state of Louisiana, leaving the Second District the only minority majority district in the state.

“It will be the only minority majority district,” Bailey mentioned. He believes the district will need a leader who

will give the power back to voters as well as give constituents opportunity and resources.

Jessica Pleasant, a senior English major from Baton Rouge, said she plans to vote in November.

“I will be voting for Judge Guidry for Associate Justice Supreme Court, Fifth Supreme Court District because I think

he has a great platform and helps the youth,” Pleasant said.

She looks to vote for Mayor President Kip Holden as well because of his hard work and dedication to improving Baton Rouge.

Southern alum, Democrat Tiffany Foxworth is competing for City Court Judge in November’s election.

The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body sinCe 1926page 8 - Tuesday, sepTember 18, 2012

The new Second Congressional District (in blue) is the only minority-majority congressional district in Louisiana after redistricting. Southern graduate Dewayne Bailey is running for the Second District congressional seat. Maps for all districts in Louisiana’s state and national elections are available at house.louisiana.gov.

image courtesy of la. house of representatives

Southern grads vie for offices

Charles hawkins iiThe Southern Digest

For those with smartphones, use your code reader to scan the QR code to the left. The code will bring you to the Louisiana House of Representatives’ Web site, where you can find information and maps for the six newly-drawn congressional districts. Maps for new state Senate and state House of Representatives districts are also available.

If you do not have a smartphone, do not worry, the Web site is house.louisiana.gov. Once there, click on “New House District Maps” and follow the easy-to-read instructions.

Education, foreign policy key issuesCharles hawkins ii

The Southern Digest

Don’t Be AfrAiD!

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