Breast Cancer Awareness month was celebrated in symbol, memory and testimony in “Pink with a Purpose” Wednesday.

The event sponsored by The Southern University College of Business, Black Executive Exchange Program and Collegiate 100 Black Men and Collegiate 100 Black Women.

“Pink with a Purpose” focused on those directly and indirectly affected by Breast Cancer with personal testimony.

Garrett Edgerson, a senior computer science major from New Orleans, was one degree of separation from his mother who was diagnosed.

“I’m talking on behalf of my mother who has had breast cancer for nine years,” Edgerson said.

He found out about his mother’s diagnosis when he was in eighth grade.

“My mother told me, my sister and my brother that she had breast cancer,” Edgerson said.

He initially did not know how to react to his mother having breast cancer and still doesn’t.

“I still don’t know how to react,” Edgerson said.

He is thankful for his mother’s life, his mother recently graduated from Southern University-New Orleans earning her masters degree in social work.

Edgerson said it was difficult to see his mother go through breast cancer.

“I’ve never seen my mother with a bald head (before treatment). That was just

something I never wanted to see in my life,” Edgerson said.

He urged the crowd to get tested and know the symptoms of breast cancer.

“It can happen to anybody,” Edgerson said.

Janifer Peters a breast cancer survivor also spoke.

Peters discussed her experience when she first discovered she had breast cancer

Students and faculty have noticed sinkholes appearing on Southern University’s campus at the intersection of Jesse N. Stone Avenue and Elton C. Harrison Drive within the last month.

The area of Jesse N. Stone Avenue between W.W. Stewart Hall and Seymour Gymnasium has been blocked off for most of the semester because of the sink holes appearing.

Eli Guillory III, executive director of facility services, has been adamant that they are aware of the problem.

“Back in 1948 the existing water piping system failed in that particular area due to age of underground piping,” Guillory said.

He said a new piping system was designed in 1948 and installed in 1949.

Guillory said that most of the problems were created because

of the large volume of traffic in that area.

“A large volume of traffic and heavy vehicles have caused it to fail,” Guillory said.

He said some of those pipes are two to three feet below the street surface.

Guillory explained how when the physical problems arrived.

“It started having stress cracks within last two years, but it was difficult to find the exact location,” Guillory said.

He said it started giving out over the year and a month ago and started caving in.

Guillory said the project had to be delayed because of the homecoming activities.

“We slowed the process up because of homecoming, and the contractor has to get all their numbers together and mobilize for construction.

Guillory described the process that has to take place to fix problem.

“Five contractors will come

out to provide price to have issue corrected,” Guillory said.

He said the bids will be open this week, and will be awarded to lowest bidder.

“The project has been budgeted around $200,000,” said Guillory.

He said they will provide a timeframe of how long project will take.

Guillory said it is hard to know about underground issues.

“Never know of underground conditions because their

unseen,” Guillory said.Jerald Williams, instructor

in the health and education department said the blocking of that part Stone has caused issues.

“Parking, traveling to and from which is making traffic come from behind Seymour at faster rate,” Williams said.

He said the speed of traffic cutting through Seymour parking lot has been risky and

Southern University Police Department, Student Affairs and Residential Life have joined forces against drugs on campus.

SUPD, Student Affairs and Residential Life established a campaign to create a safer drug free campus.

Shandon Neal, director of Residential Life not only wants the campus to be a safe place for learning and living.

“We must eradicate the solicitation of drugs and controlled substances,” Neal said.

According to Lieutenant Williams of SUPD and Brandon Dumas, vice chancellor for Student Affairs said, this campaign began on October 11 with the initiation of three delta drug task forces.

The start of the task force searches were joined by a interdiction, (or legal sanction/prohibition) regarding highway drug trafficking activity and campus/dormitory activity.

The task force was composed of law enforcement officers from EBR and surrounding parishes to conduct random checks of residential facilities.

K-9s were in the plans to be utilized, however, due to the lack of communication, the exercise was cancelled.

While on campus, the task force made several random traffic stops. Because of these traffic stops, it resulted in three arrests for various charges. The charges consisted of one count of possession of marijuana, one count of paraphernalia, and one count of an open container.

According to Lieutenant Williams, this operation will ongoing and will be periodical and unannounced.

“Primary reason for this is to discourage drug trafficking or the use of drugs on Southern’s campus,” Williams said.

Even though there is still knowledge about drugs that are being either sold, distributed, or used all around campus regardless of this campaign going on, housing is taking the necessary steps in making sure that they are making it as

See Pink PurPose page 3

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Thursday, ocTober 25, 2012 www.southerndigest.com

Nursing, Cane’s partner for Isaac reliefsee News, Page 3

Wounded Jags regroup to take on PVsee Sports, Page 4

Kendrick Lamar shines on ‘good kid’see Culture, page 8

Volume 59, issue 13

Charles hawkins iiThe Southern Digest

James TeagueThe Southern Digest

ChrisTie CarralThe Southern Digest

The Encore Plus women informs the audience on the importance of getting checked for breast cancer during Wednesday’s “Pink with a Purpose” program.

photo by marian horace/DiGeSt

Sinkholes on Jesse Stone Avenue between W.W. Stewart Hall and Seymour Gymnasium were determined to have been caused by faulty piping and heavy vehicle traffic.

photo by arielle burkS/DiGeSt

COB finds a purpose for pink

Sinkholes force Stone Ave. closure

See sinkholes page 3 See drug searches page 3

Drugs at SU prompt searches

GraD prep DayStudents receiving their

degrees during Fall Commence-ment need to order their cap and gown, invitations, rings, stoles and Diploma frames today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Southern University Bookstore. A late/rush fee of $20 will be applied to all Cap and Gown orders after Nov. 2. For more information contact the bookstore at 225.771.4330

FeeD a FamilyThe Department of Social

Work is organizing a food drive to benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Area Food Bank. Help feed a family one meal at a time by donating non-perishables and canned goods on the 3rd floor of Higgins Hall. Contact Denise with any questions at 225.302.4729.

preSiDential manaGement FelloWS

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is looking for students to participate in their two year developmental fellowships. Fellows are paid with benefits accumulating 80 hours a year. Graduates from Fall 2010 to Summer 2013 are encouraged to apply. The informational session will be held on October 29 in Higgins Hall room 411. For more information contact Professor Smith at Blanche_Smith@subr.edu.

notice to Subr employeeSIn preparation for the 2013

plan year, which again will coincide with the calendar year, the Office of Group Benefits is holding meetings for OGB Annual Enrollment October 1-26 across the state. Changes in health plans will be effective January 1, 2013.

Employees and retirees can visit the OGB website, www.groupbenefits.org, and click the Annual Enrollment icon to view monthly premium rates, benefits comparison charts and information on Flexible

Benefits options for 2013.If you have questions about

your OGB health coverage or Annual Enrollment, call or visit any OGB Customer Service office or call OGB Customer Service at 225.925.6625 or 225.925.6770 (TDD) in the Baton Rouge calling area or (toll-free) 1.800.272.8451 or 1.800.259.6771 (TDD). You can also visit the OGB website, www.groupbenefits.org.

SGa DoDGe ball tournamentThe Student Government

Association is hosting a Dodge Ball tournament in Seymour Gym on October 31 at 5p.m. Packets to participate can be picked up on the Second floor of Smith-Brown Memorial Union in the SGA office. It is $5 per registration packet. If you have any questions contact Alaina Kinnon at 908.285.9223.

StepS to GraDuate SchoolThe Office of Graduate

Studies at Clark Atlanta University presents “Taking the first steps on your graduate school journey” on October 30 at W.W. Stewart Hall Auditorium at noon. Come and learn about The application and interview processes and more.

black hiStory clubThe Southern University

Black History Club will hold meetings every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Higgins Hall Room 117. Come out and join us for the next meeting.

criminal JuStice clubThe Southern University

Criminal Justice Club invites you to their weekly meetings. Every Tuesday at 6pm in Higgins Hall Room 226.

Social & behaVioral ScienceS conFerence

The Southern University Psychology department is pleased to sponsor the 14th Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference from 9 am to 1 pm on Nov. 15 in the Smith-Brown Memorial

Union Cotillion Ballroom. The conference will feature oral presentations of students’ empirical and theoretical research papers. For more information please contact Reginald Rackley (771-2990).

hiV/aiDS preVention proGramThe Center for Social

Research has a HIV/AIDS prevention program and you can get involved. Did you know Baton Rouge is #1 in the nation in AIDS case rates? Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to educate your peers about HIV/AIDS Prevention? Then join us as a Peer Educator Today. Contact Darnell Pledger at 225.771.3010 or via e-mail at Darnell_Pledger@subr.edu. Follow them on Twitter @SU_Stoppin_HIV and like them on Facebook SU HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. You can also obtain more info at subr.edu/socialresearch/hiv

cSS paper SerViceThe Center for student Success

is excited to announce our paper review service! free service 24 hour turn-around period feedback provided we check: sentence structure, clarity, thesis statements, spelling, etc. call or stop by the center for student success for more info. Stewart hall Rm 107 Call for more info (225)771-4312.

Su-racetrac partnerShipGood day all you Southern

Fans, We have an exciting partnership with RaceTrac that extends beyond the field this season. From today until the end of the calendar year RaceTrac will be partnering with Southern University to help provide funds for the university. The RaceTrac location down the street across from the airport at 3730 Harding Blvd. will give five percent back to Southern University on all (non-fuel) inside sales. Just let the store associates know that you want your purchase to go towards Southern. They will take care of the rest. Let’s help fuel Southern Programs.

Page 2 - Thursday, ocTober 25, 2012

camPus lifeThe senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926

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bring corrections to the southern digEst office located in Suite 1064, Harris Hall.

ISSN: 1540-7276. Copyright 2012 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 & Thursday) with a run count of 5,000 copies per issue during the Southern University - Baton Rouge campus fall, spring semesters.

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Southern 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.

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who’s speaking out?

“By providing a lot of information around campus including pamplets, handouts and articles.”

“I learned that breast cancer in second only to lung cancer in a reported cancer cases.”

“We actually discussed some facts about breast cancer the other day.”

“I have learned a lot about breast cancer through the banners and tweets from the SGA.”

reason domino

millerkelly

CourtniKelly

BATON ROUGESENIOR

HISTORy

rodneyMiller

NEW ORLEANSSOPHOMOREMECHANICALENGINEERING

Joshuareason

BATON ROUGESOPHOMORE

REHABILITATIONSERvICES

MariahdoMino

BATON ROUGESENIOR

PSyCHOLOGy

As the month of October comes to an end, how has Southern University educated you about breast cancer?

campus briefsTODAy

Hurricane Isaac relief comes in the form of chicken tenders, fries, coleslaw and toast as The Southern School of Nursing partners with Raising Canes.

Students, faculty, staff and the SU community are encouraged to participate in the event November 13 at Raising Canes at 5195 Plank Road, 15 percent of the purchases will go to families in need.

Southern IDs will be required at the time of purchase and the employee at the register will need to be informed that the percentage is to be donated.

Raising Canes will select the families that will receive the donations, for families that received damage the applications are due by November 9.

After efforts in the community such as health fairs, providing vitals and screenings the school was charged with doing something different.

Faced with making a decision of how to specifically help Isaac victims, Tameka Neville, nursing major from New Orleans and Kymberly McCoy, registered nurse and assistant professor from Ocean Springs, Miss., organized the event.

Neville a member of the Student Nursing Association contacted

Canes and asked if they would donate to families who are suffering from Hurricane Isaac. Neville chose to contact Canes because she was aware that Canes had been involved with helping the community.

McCoy thought the partnership was a good idea.

“I actually like it. Everybody reaches a little hard time, so I guess that would be a better way than saying hey I’m gonna give you this money,” McCoy said.

She looks forward to this year and hopefully years to come, partnering with Canes to make a difference.

“I look forward to possibly getting with Canes again in the future”, McCoy said.

The Nursing school will be accepting donations of nonperishable items such as canned foods, Personal care products such as soap and toothpaste, cleaning supplies, paper products and Baby supplies such as diapers and baby wash.

There are bins set up in the lobby in the Nursing school or can be brought to the BSN office located on the second floor in the Nursing school.

Flyers for the food drive will be posted shortly and the donations will be accepted until November 13.

Raising Cane’s still offers the Southern discount on Tuesdays with Southern ID.

newsThursday, ocTober 25, 2012 - Page 3

southerndigest.com

The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926

Jade smiThThe Southern Digest

could lead to a serious accident to occur.Joyce Polk, adjunct professor in the

health department, said she has had some inquiries about this problem.

“I was wondering during football game because it a inconvenience for visitors, for students, and it needs to be fixed,” Polk said.

She said she has yet to receive any information about the problem from the administration.

Guillory expects university personnel to provide assistance in locating problems on campus.

“Be cognizant of problems to let them know so they can rectify the problems,” Guillory said.

Bids for the project were opened Wednesday, however Guillory was unavailable for comment regarding who won the contract.

sinkholes from page 1

uncomfortable as possible for those who are participating in these illegal activities around campus.

Dumas said that the main concern of this entire operation is to ensure the safety of the students that live on campus.

“This is a matter that will be taken very seriously and that there will be no tolerance to the usage and distribution of drugs on campus,” Dumas said.

This campaign and the groups involved will take very serious steps and make sure that the students whom live in the dorms as well as the university apartments have an appropriate, yet safe and drug-free campus life.

drug searches from page 1

and coming to the realization that the cancer was out of her control.

“There’s a lot that you have to do. I had to go with a lot of things,” Peters said.

Peters discussed the tests she had to go through to have her cancer removed.

“All kinds of testing was coming within a week,” said Peters.

Peters said that she had to have ‘radical’ chemotherapy treatments.

“Even though this was a little pimple, it was a stage three,” Peters asked, “Do you know how close a stage three was?”

Peters said there are five stages, her doctor informed her of receiving chemotherapy and getting a port inserted for her treatments. Despite her personal refusal she encouraged others to us their doctor’s discretion.

“I would encourage you to get a get a port if they said, ‘You need a port’,” Peters said.

Ramona Boatner, director of YWCA Encore Plus of Baton Rouge, was a guest speaker who provided statistics and information on breast cancer awareness.

According to the program’s website, Encore Plus is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

At the end of the program, balloons were given to the crowd, who moved outside, to release the balloons and pay respects to those who lost their battle and those still fighting for the cure.

Pink PurPose from page 1 Nursing partnering with Cane’s for Hurricane Isaac relief

Both Southern men’s and women’s basketball programs are predicted to finish second at the end of the regular season by Southwestern Athletic Conference coaches.

Prairie View predicted to finish first in both divisions, Southern coaches Roman Banks and Sandy Pugh aren’t giving the ranks much consideration as they keep their eyes on the SWAC prize.

In his second season at Southern, head coach Roman Banks enters with his team in the Top five.

“I really don’t pay that any attention,” Banks told reporters during the SWAC preseason basketball teleconference. “I wont speak much about this because it’s a pick. It is what it is.”

SU returns a core of top players, including senior guard Derick Beltran.

Beltran joins three of his teammates: Jameel Grace, Cameron Monroe, Thomas Marshall, and Madut Bol are among the players returning from last year’s roster.

SU finished second in the regular season last season, finishing 9-2 after becoming the first school to face postseason bans because of academics.

“We lost a lot of young men off of last year’s team,” Banks said. “Some we didn’t bring back trying to straighten out APR situations.”

In 2011, the NCAA slapped a one-year post-season ban on Southern because its multiyear APR score (852) was incredibly low.

Still, the Jaguars received one first place vote and 69 overall points from a panel of

league coaches. Prairie View is first in

the order to finish, which marked the highest preseason prediction for the Panthers since 2003-04 and received four first place votes.

PV also returned all five starters from last season, which lost in the opening round of the 2011-12 SWAC tournament.

The Panthers earned 17 more overall points than defending SWAC tournament champion Texas Southern, which is fourth in the order to finish and received one first place vote despite returning the dynamic

duo Preseason All-SWAC First Team selections Omar Strong and Fred Sturdivant. Strong was also selected the SWAC’s Preseason Player of the Year.

In-state rival Grambling is ninth, respectively.

Jackson State is third, Alabama A&M and Alabama State are fifth and sixth. Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Alcorn State are seventh and eighth and Mississippi Valley rounded out at 10th.

The Jaguars begin their

The Jaguars had the chance to control their own destiny last Saturday.

After Southern defeated Texas Southern at home two weeks ago, another win against Western Division frontrunner Arkansas-Pine Bluff would have made their Southwestern Athletic Conference title run possible.

The SU coaches knew it. The players knew it and the 13,500 fans in A.W. Mumford Stadium last weekend knew it.

However, it didn’t happen.The Golden Lions drubbed

the Jaguars 50-21, dropping Southern 3-4 overall and 2-3 in league play.

UAPB gained 510 yards of total offense, including 214 rushing yards and five rushing scores, which tied for the most scores allowed by the Jaguars this season.

“We missed a lot of tackles,” linebacker Corry Roy said, who has 25 tackles and three sacks so far this season. “That’s something we have to work on. Every team pretty much does the same thing. We just got to tackle.”

On Saturday, the Jaguars play in Shreveport, where the Panthers present a much more difficult test for SU.

Prairie View’s 52-37 victory

over Alcorn State helped them move up a spot in the West Division, tied second with the Jaguars.

PV is ranked third in total offense (374.9) and fourth in rush offense (185.3). But the Panthers display an offense that average 24.9 points a game, which also is third.

“They been winning, you got a team that’s found their stride,” SU interim head coach Dawson Odums said.

PV remains the league’s most penalized team, averaging 97.0 yards a game.

Odums described the Panthers offense as “very talented” and said, “we have to be able to stop some of their skill guys.”

Odums said that this season, the SWAC is “unpredictable” and Prairie View has built confidence, coming off back-to-back wins over Grambling and Alcorn.

“It’s not like we’re lacking for confidence,” Odums said. “We just played a bad football game, but I really believe our guys will get ready to go.”

With the Jaguars preparing for Saturday, Odums said the defense needs defensive back Virgil Williams closer to the ball, who started at safety against UAPB.

“It takes away from his skill when we put him that far away from the football,” said Odums. “Its not Virgil’s fault. He had

limited reps back their at safety and he did the best job he could.”

In the loss against UAPB, the Jaguars defense allowed 7.5 yards per play, recovered two fumbles and allowed five touchdowns inside its own 20-yard line.

“I don’t think we pursued to the ball well,” Williams said. He added that the defense would return to its original form when they line up against the Panthers.

The Panthers’ three running backs — Fred Anderson,

Courtney Brown and Spencer Nelson — combined for 197 rushing yards and two scores against Alcorn. Anderson became the only player in the conference to rush more than 100 yards.

“He did a good job, the guys were down field blocking for him,” PV head coach Heishma Northern said. “We’re a team that goes running back by committee. We have a slasher, we got a guy that’s sort of a bruiser and we got a that will make you miss in the phone booth.”

Page 4 - Thursday, ocTober 25, 2012

sPorTsThe senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926

southerndigest.com

Southern linebacker Corry Roy walks off the field during last weekend’s loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Roy and the shorthanded Southern defense must regroup for this week’s game against Prairie view A&M in Shreveport.

photo by DaViD clark iii/DiGeSt

you looking for more info on SU athletics? All you have to do is scan the QR code or go to sdjaguarnation.blogspot.com.

See Jags Picked 2nd page 5 See su inJuries page 5

morris dillard iiiThe Southern Digest

Jaguars must regroup for PV

Southern interim head coach Dawson Odums evidently believes the best players should play. He also believes he has players that haven’t given up on the season- seven games in.

Three days ago, the Southwestern Athletic Conference named linebacker Bill Ross of Arkansas Pine Bluff defensive player of the week for his performance against the Jaguars in a 50-21 win for the Golden Lions. But according to Odums, the Jaguars (3-4, 2-3) are preparing for the Shreveport Classic with thoughts of last Saturday behind him.

“Whether we win or lose we only worry about it for 24 hours,” Odums said. “We put it behind us and focus on the next game.”

The Jaguars based this week on getting better and practicing the way they did when they were winning.

SU’s biggest challenge, however, is Prairie View (2-5,2-3). The Panthers won the last four games between the schools, including a 30-16 win in Shreveport against a Jaguar team plagued by losses and injuries.

“Two years ago, first play of the game I tore my MCL,” defensive tackle Casey Narcisse said, who has two sacks and a fumble recovery this season. “So this game is real personal. I never PV and beating them would mean a great amount to me and these guys.”

Even more troubling was the injury to starting defensive back Mychal Bell, who suffered a knee injury in practice last Wednesday. Odums ruled Bell out for the season after an MRI revealed two torn ligaments in his knee.

SU didn’t escape last week without a few players getting dinged up. Offensive lineman Aaron Hall had a scare late in the game, injuring his knee. Hall had to be helped off the field and is out for the remainder of the season. Ultimately, the offense expects freshman Terrell Lee to replace Hall.

“Aaron knew everything,” senior offensive lineman Chris Browne said. “He was making all the calls so I think I have to step in and take over the role of making the calls. That was his third year in the offense, and Terrell doesn’t know the calls as well.”

Southern injuries piling up

morris dillard iiiThe Southern Digest

Men’s Predicted Order of Finish(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Prairie view 81 (4)2. Southern 69 (1)3. Jackson State 65 (1)4. Texas Southern 64 (1)5. Alabama A&M 51 (1)6. Alabama State 507. Ark.-Pine Bluff 458. Alcorn State 42 (1)9. Grambling State 1810. Miss. valley 12

Women’s Predicted Order of Finish(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Prairie view 81 (6)2. Southern 763. Alabama A&M 61 (1)4. Alabama State 585. Alcorn State 516. Miss. valley 39 (1)7. Jackson State 378. Grambling State 349. Texas Southern 32 (1)10. Ark.-Pine Bluff 23

swac baskeTball Preseasoncoaches’ Picks

SWAC coaches pick SU teams 2nd

morris dillard iiiThe Southern Digest

The Southern Lady Jaguar Soccer team seeks to finish strong as they travel to face Prairie View 4 p.m. Friday.

After suffering a close 2-3 home loss against Alabama State, the Lady Jaguars aim to put pressure on the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Jaguars (0-10-1, 0-2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) are currently fourth in the SWAC Western Division.

In Southern’s home finale against Alabama State, (6-7-2, 1-1 SWAC) SU scored a season high four goals in a game, the only problem was two of them were for the Lady Hornets.

“That’s what makes soccer what we call the beautiful game,” Courtney Prather, assistant head coach said. “Because it can be very beautiful when it works in your favor and it’s beautiful for the other team when it works in their fashion.”

In Sunday’s game the Lady Jaguars were up 2-1 at halftime but allowed Alabama State to score their first goal three minutes before halftime in the 42nd minute of the first half.

“We are still having a big problem in finishing halves and finishing games,”

Prather said. The Lady Jaguars have allowed their last

two opponents to score in the last minutes of games.

In their game against Alabama A&M the game was tied zero all, until the Lady Bulldogs scored their first goal in the 78th minute of the game and within 12 minutes scored two additional goals to hand SU a 0-3 loss.

“Its our job as a coaching staff to keep working with the girls on how to close out those games,” Prather said. “We definitely have to put them in a lot more pressure situations in practice and try to get that killer mentality and put teams away.”

The Lady Jaguars’ final two games of the season are on the road in Texas against Prairie View A&M and their season finale against Texas Southern.

For Southern these last two games will ultimately determine if they will play in November for the SWAC soccer championship.

“Our playoffs start this weekend if we don’t take care of business this weekend we are not getting into the tournament so its very important that we look at it as a win or go home situation,” Prather said.

Their next opponent PVAMU (6-10, 2-1) is currently first in the SWAC Western

Division two games ahead of the Lady Jags. Prather believes that her team is starting

to incorporate all the things that they have been working on all season to get sharper.

“We still feel like that no matter what’s been happening with the outcome in terms of wins and losses and ties we think we can still be the team that surprises everybody,” Prather said.

The resurfacing of Roscoe J. Moore track will allow Southern Track athletes to focus on the competition instead of the dangers of an “injury-causing” training ground.

The track is no longer the blue that Southern alumni may remember, but the standard red color along with yellow exchange zones for relay runners.

The track had not been resurfaced in 26 years, and it is recommended that a track is resurfaced every seven years. Due to poor maintenance, it has become an injury-causing surface.

110-meter hurdler Erich Seals said that the track caused a lot of injuries, some happened because of the holes in the track during inclement weather.

“All of the sprinters were really getting downsized because you have to put so much impact and force on it,” Seals said. “When you have something that just has not been taken care of in the last 26 years, its crazy.”

Seals’ fellow runner suffered from two stress fractures because of condition of the track.

The Roscoe J. Moore track hit its all-time low when the Pelican Relays (a track meet that has been held on Southern’s campus since 1959) went to a different location because it wasn’t suitable for runners at the collegiate and high school levels.

The only other time the Pelican Relays wasn’t held on Southern’s campus was in 1981, during that time A.W. Mumford

Stadium was undergoing a total renovation.

“I was actually here the year before they didn’t have the relays and no one wanted to come here, nobody wants to run on anything that has not been taken care off,” Seals said.

He said the recruitment efforts and perceptions of the Southern program were at stake with the delay of the track’s maintenance.

“It looks bad for recruiting, it looks bad for high school kids who wanted to come over here, and it looks bad when you don’t have colleges here to run,” Seals said.

Southern track head coach Brian Johnson can take a sigh of relief along with his runners with the resurfacing complete.

Johnson, a member of the 2008 United States Olympic team, said that the new track can help revive the Southern’s track and field teams.

“I like it a lot its going to help me out a lot in recruiting so much just having that new red and yellow surface,” Johnson said. “It’s a really soft surface I can really train them hard on it and I don’t have to worry about them getting injured as much.”

This year’s Pelican Relays will mark its 53rd year since inception, and it will be held on the Roscoe J. Moore Track for high school runners only due to the track’s completion date too late for the collegiate schedule.

Johnson is still excited about having the Pelican Relays back on campus.

“We are trying to have 36 teams here and make it big and that will help us out in recruiting and it will allow us to see the local talent as well,” Johnson said. “We are going to have a DJ here so we are going to try to make this really big.”

Although the Southern men’s and women’s teams won’t be able to compete on the track this year they will probably be happy just to see meets being held on the track.

“Even though we can’t host it for collegiate teams it’s still good to have high school kids come here and eventually they will want to come here because they will see that we have a nice track,” Seals said.

The Pelican Relays are scheduled for April 6-7, 2013.

The newly resurfaced Roscoe J. Moore track recieved its first face lift in 26 years and will host the 53rd Annual Pelican Relays to only high school athletes in the spring. University officials said the track’s completion came too late in order to schedule it for collegiate teams this year.

photo by talor kinZy/DiGeSt

The senTinel of an enlighTened sTudenT body since 1926 Thursday, ocTober 25, 2012 - Page 5

Jags Picked 2nd from page 4

Midfielder Jazmine Harrell practices in an early morning session with the Southern soccer team.

photo courteSy oF John oubre/Su publicationS

arisTide PhilliPsThe Southern Digest

arisTide PhilliPsThe Southern Digest

su inJuries from page 4Soccer seeks strong finish

New track boosts hopes at SU

Odums confirmed that safety Levi Jackson (arm) is expected to return Saturday, defensive back D’Mekus Cook (shoulder) will be re-evaluated and Franchot West (shoulder) is day-to-day.

SU is facing a team Saturday that is averaging 361.8 in total defense, which is seventh in the conference. Prairie View quarterback De’Auntre Smiley was named offensive player of the week after throwing for 251 yards and four touchdown passes in their 52-37 win over Alcorn State.

The Panthers played to its defense against the Jaguars last season, the approach preserving a three-point victory over SU, 23-20.

PV head coach Heishma Northern understands that a win Saturday will keep the Panthers in the hunt for a West title.

“We tell our guys that the next game is always the biggest game of the season,” Northern said. “If you drop this one then all of the other one’s don’t matter.”

season Nov.9 against Iowa State.On the women’s side, head

coach Sandy Pugh doesn’t place a lot of value in preseason predictions. But she insists that her team will not begin their schedule as a second place team.

“We have a lot to look forward to,” Pugh said. “We were attempting to go for the three-peat on the regular season and that didn’t happen...I think the kids are really looking for to gaining ground and getting back to being in that number one chair; the place we’re familiar with and where we would like to be.”

Selected by SWAC head coaches, the predicted order to finish: Prairie View, Southern, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, Grambling State, Texas Southern, and Arkansas Pine Bluff.

The two-time defending SWAC tournament champions Prairie View, coming off its title run a year ago, is the unanimous pick to win the league. Their junior forward, Latia Williams was named the preseason Player of the Year.

The Panthers received six first place votes and SU received zero. No.3 Alabama A&M, No.6 Mississippi Valley and No.9 Texas Southern each had one first place vote.

SU’s junior guard Kendra Coleman also picked up preseason honors. Coleman was selected preseason First Team ALL-SWAC after leading the Jaguars with 12.9 points per game.

The Jaguar women are scheduled to play No. 12 Texas A&M and No. 22 Ohio State this season and Dillard, UL-Lafayette, Tulane and Southeastern at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The federal government is urging a federal judge to deny a Hobby Lobby Stores request to block enforcement of a new health care law that requires employers to cover insurance costs for morning-after pill and the week-after pill.

The arts and crafts supply chain fi led a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City last month, alleging the mandate is unconstitutional and will force the company’s owners “to violate their deeply held religious beliefs under threat of heavy fi nes, penalties and lawsuits.” Failure to cover the drugs in Hobby Lobby’s health insurance plan could lead to fi nes of up to $1.3 million a day, according to the company.

The Oklahoma City-based chain requested an injunction to prohibit the law’s enforcement. But government attorneys claim Hobby Lobby cannot claim to exercise religion to avoid laws designed to regulate commercial activity.

“Hobby Lobby is a for-profi t, secular employer, and a secular entity by defi nition does not exercise religion,”

the government said. It says a corporation and its owners are separate entities and Hobby Lobby’s owners, the Green family, cannot eliminate the legal separation to impose their religious beliefs on the company and its employees.

The government’s response also says granting an injunction “would permit for-profi t, secular corporations and their owners to become laws unto themselves.”

Hobby Lobby is free to discourage the use of contraceptives, the government said, but an employee’s health care choices remain his or her own.

An attorney for Hobby Lobby said the government claims businesspersons have no constitutional right to freedom of religion and that its arguments “are legally very weak.”

“The government repeats its old line: you give up your religious freedom when you go into business. That’s a startling and disturbing claim for our government to make,” said Lori Windham, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby.

The morning-after pill prevents ovulation or fertilization. In medical terms, pregnancy begins when a

fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce a woman’s chances of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent.

But critics of the contraceptive say it is the equivalent of an abortion pill because it can prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

The lawsuit states the Green family’s religious beliefs “forbid them from participating in, providing access to, paying for,

training others to engage in, or otherwise supporting abortion-causing drugs and devices.” The family also objects to providing coverage for certain kinds of intrauterine devices that the lawsuit alleges can destroy an embryo by preventing it from implanting in the wall of a woman’s uterus.

Windham reiterated that Hobby Lobby doesn’t object to all forms of birth control, only “drugs that might cause abortions.”

WINNSBORO, La. — Forensic evidence indicates that a 20-year woman suffering from extensive burns set herself on fi re then invented a story about being doused in fl ammable liquid by three men who she said also wrote the initials KKK and a racial slur on her car, state police said Tuesday.

On Sunday at 8 p.m., Sharmeka Moffi tt called 911 from a walking trail in Winnsboro and told authorities she had been doused in fl ammable liquid by three men wearing white hoodies. She suffered extensive burns on more than half her body and was taken to LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport for treatment.

After two days of investigating the case, authorities said Tuesday that the forensic evidence indicates Moffi tt set herself on fi re.

“The evidence does not support the statement that she was attacked by three males,” said Louisiana State Police spokeswoman Lt. Julie Lewis.

Lewis said Moffi tt’s fi ngerprints were found on a lighter and lighter fl uid recovered from the scene. Investigators also believe Moffi tt used toothpaste to draw the KKK initials and racial slur on her vehicle. DNA evidence

also points to Moffi tt, she said.Investigators have not been

able to interview Moffi tt because she remains in critical condition. Without speaking to her, it remains unclear why she might set herself on fi re, Lewis said.

Police are handing the case over to the Franklin Parish District Attorney’s Offi ce, which will decide whether to fi le charges against Moffi tt, she said.

“I feel a hurt for the victim,” Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas told a news conference Tuesday.

“Nobody knows, it could be you, it could be me, it could be one of our family members struggling like this,” added Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb.

Several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, began looking into the alleged attack as a possible hate crime.

Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas speaks during a news conference at the Franklin Parish Courthouse in Winnsboro, La. on Tuesday announcing that Sharmeka Moffitt fabricated a story about being attacked and burned Sunday night at Civitan Park. Forensic evidence indicates that a 20-year woman suffering from extensive burns set herself on fire then invented a story about being doused in flammable liquid by three men who she said also wrote the initials KKK and a racial slur on her car, state police said Tuesday.

PHOTO BY arelY d. casTillO/THe neWs-sTar/aP PHOTO

meLinDA DesLATTeThe Associated Press

sTaTe & naTiOnpage 10 - Thursday, OcTOber 25, 2012 The senTinel Of an enlighTened sTudenT bOdy since 1926

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The Associated Press

Woman set herself on fi re

Entergy to make changes after Isaac

Entergy offi cials told Louisiana’s utility regulators Wednesday that the company is working to improve communication with its customers, after complaints about lengthy outages and inadequate updates after Hurricane Isaac.

“We can do a better job of getting information out ahead of the storm and setting better expectations for the duration,” said Bill Mohl, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC, which have more than one million customers in the state.

He said the company must remind people that after a Category 1 hurricane like Isaac, they need to be prepared to be without power for a week. He also said the utility needs to provide more detailed information about restoration efforts in individual neighborhoods so people can track progress.

But Mohl also defended the utility’s restoration work after Isaac as he spoke to the Public Service Commission, which is investigating power companies’ preparation for and response to the August storm and considering whether to level any penalties against them.

“We believe it was a good restoration, 90 percent of customers restored within fi ve days,” Mohl said.

More than 900,000 utility customers — or 43 percent of homes and businesses — were left without electricity after Isaac crawled ashore Aug. 28 in south Louisiana, bringing days of high winds, rain and fl ooding. Entergy’s customers made up 787,000 of the 903,000 who lost power.

Commissioner Eric Skrmetta of Metairie, who represents some of the parishes hardest hit by the storm and pushed for the investigation, pressed for details about Entergy’s contracts for utility restoration workers, logistical planning and tree-trimming standards.

“Hurricane Isaac caused a great furor and a lot of people are very upset,” said Commissioner Lambert Boissiere III, of New Orleans. “I’m not blaming you for it yet. We have to fi gure it out.”

Dennis Dawsey, vice president of transmission and distribution operations for Entergy Louisiana, said more than 10,000 workers were called in to help restore power after Isaac.

A woman walks from a Hobby Lobby Inc., store in Little Rock, Ark. Christian pastors plan to deliver petitions to Hobby Lobby officials in protest of the Oklahoma-based company’s lawsuit challenging health care guidelines that require the coverage of the morning-after pill.

PHOTO BY dannY JOHnsTOn/aP File PHOTO

Judge must deny Hobby Lobby morning-after caseTim TALLeY

The Associated Press

Jessica sarpy

I am not only a student, but I’m an editor. I’m not going to lie, often times I push my editor duties to the back burner and do something school-related or just rest.

Unfortunately, when it comes to priorities in the real world we don’t have the luxury of having a two-burner stove work ethic.

So if you are the type to constantly push things to the back burner, then you’re going to end up with a lot of dropped pots, or should I say opportunities.

In the real world we have to balance our priorities.

Sticking with the theme of things, in some jobs we can’t even afford to be four burner stoves. We often find that we have to be the entire kitchen in a four-star restaurant.

No one is looking to hire people with a ‘microwave’ work ethic, and by microwave I mean quick, sometimes sloppy, and often times without much preparation.

Sure you might get a job with the ‘microwave’ work ethic but you’ll never get the job you want.

Any job you do is going to have your name attached to it. It’s imperative that you take control, and most importantly, take pride in your job position and the work that you

produce in it. That really applies to any job you

do whether it be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a janitor at your local McDonalds.

Be passionate about whatever job you are hired for. If you care more about what you do then you’ll do it better.

If you are proud of what you have done then you can be passionate about it. It is a rotation that feeds on itself and increases your capability and work ethic.

Make a difference and set yourself apart from your coworkers.

Tackle your responsibilities head on and do your job the best it can be done.

Take ownership for your success and failures, and most importantly,

learn from your failures. Your employers will see the

improvement. That is what taking ownership and

pride really means. You may not be the first choice for a

specific job but once it is given to you it is up to you to get it done the best way possible.

If you do that, people will notice. When they see you taking pride in

every job your name is attached to, they will start to give you the jobs that are important to them because they have seen what you are capable of.

With success comes complacency.You might start to think, “Every job

I do has my name all over it. People will know it was me who did it.”

Don’t let that thought process ruin you.

Even though you are doing well doesn’t mean you can’t do better. There is always room for improvement.

Constantly show your employers why you are not expendable.

The people who get promotions and bonuses are the one’s who make a difference.

If there is no difference between what happens when you do or don’t come in to work, why would anyone want to pay you?

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.

PUBLIcATION ASSOcIATIONSThe Southern DIGEST is a member of the Black College communications Association (BccA), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), University - Wire Network (U-Wire), Associated collegiate Press (AcP), college Media Advisers Association (cMA), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Full member of the Associated Press (AP) and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA).

ADVERTISER MEMBERSHIPSThe Southern DIGEST subscribes to the American Passage, Alloy M+M, 360 youth, Zim2Papers, All campus Media, Ruxton Group and college Publishers On-Line services.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYSUITE 1064 T.H. HARRIS HALL

POST OFFICE BOX 10180BATON ROUGE, LA 70813

PHONE: 225.771.2231FAX: 225.771.5840

ONLINE @ www.southerndigest.com

STUDENT MEDIA OFFIcEDirector .............................. Heather FreemanPublications Asst..................Fredrick BatisteBusiness Manager .............camelia Jackson

cONTAcTS (area code 225)Student Media Front Desk ............771.2231Student Media Newsroom........... 771.5829Advertising Office ......................... 771.5833Student Media Services ................771.5819

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 .......................... Morris Dillard IIIStaff Writer ........................... Lauren JohnsonStaff Writer ................................. Raees MalikStaff Writer ................................Erin PrestageStaff Writer .................................... Jade SmithStaff Photographer ...................Arielle BurksStaff Photographer ...............Marian HoraceStaff Photographer .................. Trevor James

The Office of Student Media is a division of the Office of

Student Affairs.

Thursday, OcTOber 25, 2012 - page 7

cOmmenTaryThe senTinel Of an enlighTened sTudenT bOdy since 1926

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Don’t be complacent ... put in work

Have a Grievance?

Have a point you want to Get across?

see sometHinG on campus you don’t like?

let your voice Be Heard!

suBmit a letter to tHe editor

simply suBmit letters to diGest@suBr.edu

Despite it’s title, “Sinister” the latest “must-see” thriller failed to provoke fear and lacked shock value.

The main character, Ellison Oswalt, (Ethan Hawke) began to write for the love of literature, passion for to solve crimes and to bring justice to victims.

After he began to thoroughly enjoy the success from the first book, Ellison never truly regained the notoriety in his following books.

Once Ellison started his new book, he moved his family to a quaint town, into a house where an unsolved family murder occurred that left four of the five members dead and a child missing.

Promising his wife Tracy, (Juliet Rylance) they had not moved near another house where tragedy struck.

He hid the fact that they didn’t just move near the house, in fact, moved into the house where the murders took place to make his book’s research easier.

Arrogant and unwilling to adhere to his family’s plea to return to their home, Ellison began research in the house for his book.

Unknowingly, Oswalt uncovered secrets that put him and his family in serious danger.

He found a box of old ‘Super 8 films’ and a projector with ‘Home Movies’ dated back to the 60’s, with deceiving names such as ‘Pool Party, Lawn Work and Family BBQ’, only to reveal that the names described something much worse.

The films turned out to be actual recordings of the brutal murders of families on tape, each leaving one young child missing.

Still chasing his fifteen minutes of fame, Ellison decided to watch each movie by himself, one by one, and some he watched more than once.

His children began to show signs of trouble. His son began to have horrible night terrors about the murders, his daughter began to see things and his son began to see things of an unworldly nature.

Oswalt’s daughter revealed to her mother that this was the house that the family was killed in and that she had seen the missing daughter in the house.

Shocked, Tracy confronts Ellison about moving in the house only to be told that, “They didn’t die in the house, it happened in the back yard.”

After nights of no sleep because of the night terrors, Ellison had been experiencing.

The terrors left his son in an unusual place in the middle of the night, Ellison sucks up his pride and moved his family back to their old home.

He discovers a shocking connection to all of the murders in his research.

Lastly, he found an extended cut reel that mysteriously appeared, which showed what happened to all of the missing children and who was the culprit in all of the murders.

Overall, the movie was lacking in torment and shock value.

page 8 - Thursday, OcTOber 25, 2012

culTureThe senTinel Of an enlighTened sTudenT bOdy since 1926

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AriAnA TriggsThe Southern Digest

Juliet Rylance, left, Ethan Hawke, right, and Michael Hall D’Addario in a scene from “Sinister.”

PHOTO BY PHil carusO/summiT enTerTainmenT/aP PHOTO

JAmes TeAgueThe Southern Digest

West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar brings back old sound in debut album after fan anticipation.

After releasing “Section-80” independently two years ago, he headed back into the studio, to release his major label debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city” Monday.

If you are a fan of real hip-hop, looking for something new to listen to, or if you’re tired of hearing the same old typical rap music that you hear every day on the radio, then you need to stop everything you are doing and give this album a spin.

This is the first hip-hop album that has came out as a ‘concept album’ since Tyler the Creator dropped “Goblin” back in 2011.

Lamar tells the story of his life growing up in Compton, Calif.

Each song is tied together, either through concepts or outros that occur right after the song fades away.

The story starts off with Sherane aka Master Splinter’s Daughter where K.Dot, the main character of “good kid, m.A.A.d city” as well as a younger Kendrick Lamar.

He meets a girl, Sherane at a party and gets her number. The song speaks from the view of K.dot about a month after he has met her.

He explains how they had got to know each other and despite her family history of gangs it didn’t stop him from wanting to hook up with her.

At the end of the song, he drives up in his moms van to meet up with Sherane only to find her standing outside of her house with two dudes in black hoodies, whose identities are not confirmed.

Different characters emerge and make their lyrical appearance in the album such as, Lamar’s parents, his friend Dave, Demetrius, Sherane’s favorite cousin, Uncle Tony, Sherane’s grandmother, etc.

They all played a role towards building and sustaining the plot and storyline of the album.

Songs; “The Art of Peer Pressure”, “Poetic Justice”, “Money Trees”, “Real”, “Singing About Me”, and “Dying of Thirst” all paint pictures and give pieces of the problems and situations in the story.

Lamar recalls when he was engulfed in a persuasive environment, running the streets with disobedient friends on “The Art of Peer Pressure.” That song seamlessly connects with “Money Trees,” where 25-year-old Lamar and guest Jay Rock eloquently rap in detail about a young man’s mentality to commit home invasions with the hope of becoming a rap star.

“Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” which is 12 minutes long, is a combination of two songs that brilliantly tells three different emotional stories. Lamar is also strong on songs like “Real,” ‘’(Expletive), Don’t Kill My Vibe,” ‘’Swimming Pools (Drank)” and the Drake-assisted “Poetic Justice,” which samples Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place.” Some listeners may not grasp and follow the album, because of the complexity of the lyrics and stories.

This is one of those albums where you just cannot say that’s it’s an alright album, the stories recounted are personal and took place within a 24 hour time period.

You can either love this album or you can hate this album, which is hard since there aren’t too many reasons to hate it, unless Lamar’s music just isn’t your cup of tea.

Lamar’s album is debatably the Hip-Hop for this generation of Hip-Hop fans.

After consistently working hard on his music, the debut has not disappointed.

This CD cover image released by Interscope Records shows “Good Kid m.A.A.d. city,” the latest album by Kendrick Lamar.

PHOTO BY inTerscOPe recOrds/aP PHOTO

Kendrick Lamar shines on ‘good kid’

‘Sinister’ not so threatening