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

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

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

AM RAINHIGH 54° | 36° LOW

A&E............................6VIEWPOINTS......................7

sGa president demetrius sumner speaks during thursday’s student senate meeting. the student senate discussed proper protocol concerning filling vacancies in the senate and student judiciary branches.

photo By david clark iii/digest

By samantha smithdiGest staFF writer

By evan taylordiGest ManaGinG editor

See subr talk page 3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM VOL. 57, ISSUE 2

estABLished in 1928

STATE & NATION

jobs main point for obamaEconomy focus of State of Nation. pg. 4

SPORTS

su men split gamesSU women move into 1st place. pg. 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Banner’s new effort differentAlso: Digest reviews Sake Cafe. pg. 6

Brandon Dumas expressed concern to the university council regarding the logistics of the SUNO/UNO merger and its impact on Southern.

Dumas, Deputy Chief of Staff for the SU System, addressed the council about the proposed merger of Southern University at New Orleans and the University of New Orleans, and the possible implications for the respective campuses.

Governor Bobby Jindal announced January 18, his call for a study to be done by the Board of Regents that would consider the merging of SUNO and UNO. Low enrollment coupled with low graduation rates from both institutions are cited as possible reasons for such a merger.

The SU system president Ronald Mason released a statement saying that he was “shocked” by Jindal’s announcement and that SUNO will continue to work to meet the urban educational needs of the New Orleans area. SUNO faculty senate and New Orleans city council members have already voiced opposition to the merger.

“This is not the fi rst time that this has happened, similar proposal has been announced before now. This is something that we have been fi ghting against for quite some time now,” said Dumas. “This is a historical problem. SUNO has been in existence since 1956, the fi rst time a merger was mentioned was in 1979.” said Dumas.

The fi ndings of the study are to be released March 1, 2011. If the merger is approved, SUNO and UNO will become a new institution under the leadership of the University of Louisiana System and would serve as

SUBR council discusses merger

The Student Government Association senate debated over proper protocol regarding senate and judicial vacancies during their fi rst senate meeting of the semester in the Henton Room of Smith-Brown Memorial Union.

Senators discussed the procedure of seeking and appointing students to replace ineligible parties in the student senate and judiciary. New and old business included executive, treasurer, and committee reports and a petition for organizational funds by Phi Mu Alpha.

“Nothing and no one will get in the way of the progress of the Student Government Association,” said Demetrius Sumner, SGA President.

Sumner was responding to release of his appointment for SGA judiciary Chief Justice in his executive report. Sumner withdrew his appointment at the end of his statement and in his letter to the editor.

Controversy arose as Nykeshia Bryer, SGA judicial justice spoke during the public input section of the meeting.

“The student judiciary submitted a recommendation to president Sumner of

a candidate for Chief Justice,” said Bryer. She stated that if the senate were to confi rm the president’s appointment without the consideration of other candidates, the student judiciary would collectively resign from their positions. Bryer said, “Think independently” as she left the podium.

According to the SGA Bylaws Article 5, section K, “This same process shall be necessary when appointing an offi cial in the event of a vacancy in an offi ce that is under the direct

jurisdiction of the Student Government Association President. The President shall be bound to make the vacancy public to the undergraduate Student Body via the University newspaper at least two (2) weeks before fi lling it.” This is referring to rules for general election in which the procedure is the same as the appointment of positions that fall vacant. After discussion the issue was tabled for the next meeting.

Kye Lewis, Senate president and SGA vice-president prompted conversation about community service and grievances.

“I want to make sure the legislative body does what they need to do as far as community service,” said Lewis.

Mervin Allen, Jr, SGA Director of Finance presented the Treasurer’s Report

for the student senate. According to the fi nal budget review for fall 2010, the senate had $5,000 and now has $4,700 after a $300 expenditure for ten homecoming game tickets. This report did not include unpaid obligations of last semester.

There are no current expenditures.A representative from Phi Mu Alpha

Sinfonia came to petition for $500 from the student senate to aid in paying for expenses for an organizational event. The event is to recruit and entertain current and prospective students along with the community. The concert would include University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana State University, Southeastern, and the local community.

There are eight positions left vacant after students were ineligible for this semester. The following positions are open; SGA Chief Justice, Senior Class Senator, two Sophomore Class Senators, two Freshman Class Senators, Freshman Justice, and Freshman class Vice-President.

If the president does choose to appoint another person to chief justice it will be up to the senate to confi rm that candidate. If there is no appointment or the confi rmation is denied; the position will remain vacant until campaign season.

Sumner, Student Senate clashDebate over Student Government vacancies heats up during meeting

lane poetry contestThe Pinkie Gordon

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

grammar WorkshopsThe English Department

is offering Grammar Workshops during the month of February. The workshops will be facilitated by Professor S. Tohline and are a great review for Freshman Composition and the Writing Proficiency Exam. They are offering the following workshops: Understanding and Correcting Fragments and Run-ons on February 1st at 11:30am, Understanding and utilizing the past tense February 8th at 1pm, Writing topic sentences on February 18th at 11am, and Comma Errors: What are commas really on February 24th at 12 noon. All the workshops will be held in Harris Hall, Room 2024. Seating is limited to 18 students per workshop.

Let your voicebe heard!Send a...

Letter to the editor

What’s the quickest way to

get news and events to

the student body?

Put it in the...

CampusBRIEFS

Fax your campus event to

The Southern DIGEST

at 771-5840

Deadline for announcements are three days

prior to the publication

date.

THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26 SATURDAY, JAN. 29THURSDAY, JAN. 27 FRIDAY, JAN. 28

HI - 61° / LO - 38° 00% CHANCE OF RAIN

sunnyHI - 55° / LO - 32° 20% CHANCE OF RAIN

sunnysunnysunny

HI - 58°/ LO - 32° 0% CHANCE OF RAIN

Page 2 - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

CAMPUS BRIEFSwww.southerndigest.com

Page 2HI - 65° / LO - 41° 0% CHANCE OF RAIN

CLASSIFIEDthe southern diGest is not responsible for the contents, promises, nor statements made in any classified and reserve the right to reject any ad request with explanation. no classified ads will be accepted or processed over the telephone and must accept the type font sizes of the diGest.

aLL cLassiFied MUst be paid in adVance by cashiers checK or Money order. no personaL checKs accepted. students must have proper id and phone numbers to get student advertising rates.

rates do not apply to students who are representatives & employees of the company. in the event an error is made in a classified ad, immediate claims and notice must be given within 15 days. the diGest is only responsible for one replacement or run in the next publication. classified are due one weeK prior to run date.

paid classified can be ordered by contacting the student Media advertising Manager at 225.771.5833.

PAGE 2 / CAMPUS BRIEFSall submissions must be received by 3 p.m. each Friday for Tuesday’s Issue and by 3 p.m. each wednesday for Friday’s Issue.

paGe 2 is only available to officially registered campus organizations, southern University departments. all briefs should include a date, time, contact name & number.

submit announcements to:the southern diGest - suite 1064

harris hall, attn: paGe 2

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

bring corrections to the southern diGest office located in suite 1064, harris hall.

issn: 1540-7276. copyright 2008 by the southern University office of student Media services. the southern diGest is written, edited and published by members of the student body at southern University and a&M college.

all articles, photographs and graphics are property of the southern diGest and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission from the editor in chief and director of student Media services. the southern diGest is published twice-weekly (tuesday & Friday) with a run count of 6,000 copies per issue during the southern University - baton rouge campus fall, spring semesters.

the paper is free to students, staff, faculty and general public every tuesday & Friday morning on the sUbr campus. the southern diGest student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. the offices are located on the first floor of t.h. harris hall, suite 1064.

the southern diGest is the official student newspaper of southern University and a&M college located in baton rouge, Louisiana. articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body.

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 Journalist (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.

STUDENT MEDIA OFFICEwww.subr.edu/studentmedia

director - tbaassistant director - tbapublications asst. - Fredrick batisteadvertising Mgr. - camelia Jackson

CONTACTS (area code 225)advertising office - 771.5833diGest newsroom - 771.2231student Media services- 771.5812the Jaguar yearbook - 771.2231yearbooK newsroom - 771.5829eGo Magazine newsroom - 771.5829southern University and a&M college at baton rouge is accredited by the commission on colleges of the southern association of colleges and schools, 1866 southern Lane, decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, website: www.sacscoc.org.

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

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

SPRING 2011 DIGEST STAFF

PAGE 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS & PAID CLASSIFIED INFO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFnorman J. dotson Jr.

MANAGING EDITORevan taylor

COPY EDITORerica s. Johnson

PHOTO EDITORdavid clark iii

SPORTS EDITORMorris dillard

A&E EDITORbilly washington

CULTURE EDITORpatrick Galloway

LAYOUT EDITORtrevor James

DIGEST STAFF WRITERSsamantha smith

DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERSrobert Florida Jr.

polite stewart

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY sUite 1064 – t.h.harris haLL

p.o. boX 10180 – baton roUGe, La 70813225.771.2231 phone / 225.771.5840 FaX

www.soUtherndiGest.coM

intramural BasketBall league

Registration for the Intramural Sports Basketball League for men and women is now open! Registration ends on January 27th and League play begins January 29th . All games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays in Seymour Gym. Registration forms are available in the intramural sports weight room, first floor, F.G. Clark Activity Center. For more information contact Melvin Robinson at 225.771.3212.

Billiards tournamentCome out and test

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

cafÉ lacumBaCome join your

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

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

GET 36 ISSUES FOR JUST $40Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Daytime Phone: ( )

Campus BriefsTODAY

FEBRUARY 11

FEBRUARY 2

JANUARY 27

By alan scher zagierthe associated press

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - Page 3 www.southerndigest.com

subr talk from page 1

by the associated press

By steve szkotakthe associated press

its flagship campus. SUNO would no longer be considered a Historically Black College or University, and the campus and its funding would be lost to the SU System.

Demetris Sumner, SGA President reminded the council of the SU System’s purpose: “To provide opportunity and to serve the underserved.”

“Each system serves a separate purpose. Southern University is the system for opportunity. People who might otherwise not receive an opportunity, receive that opportunity here at Southern.” said Sumner.

He urges the students of SUBR to be informed, be proactive and to campaign the cause for SUNO at the state capital.

“Saving SUNO should become everybody’s project,” said Dumas.

The next University Council Meeting will be held in three weeks.

Gov. bobby Jindal speaks after meeting with members of the Louisiana hospital association and hospital ceos about medicaid cuts as department of health and hospitals secretary bruce Greenstein looks on.

photo By arthur d. lauck/ap photo

Black physician groups and operators of some health clinics for the poor have lined up in support of the Jindal administration’s plan to have state taxpayers purchase private health insurance policies for the poor.

But the much larger private physicians and hospital groups continue to oppose the idea, arguing that the state should embark on its own “managed care” system instead of sending Louisiana health care dollars to out-of-state insurance companies.

The debate continues as the administration prepares to move ahead with its “coordinated care networks” and a planned statewide rollout beginning in 2012, covering 830,000 Medicaid recipients. Medicaid is the government health insurance program for the poor.

The proposed new program would cover about two-thirds of Medicaid recipients enrolled today, mostly children.

The phase-in would begin in New Orleans and areas on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, then 60 days later move into the Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Lafourche and Terrebonne areas, then 60 days after that the rest of Louisiana.

State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein said the administration wants to see two different models operating an

insurance-based one and one in which health care providers drive the system but it’s not operated by state government.

The two types of plans working in competition side-by-side would lead to better and better health outcomes for the investment of health care dollars, Greenstein said.

“I’m a big fan of competition,” said Greenstein.

The Louisiana Medical Association, the New Orleans Medical Association and the Louisiana Primary Care Association favor the insurance-based model. The LPCA is a group of federally qualified health clinics.

Insurance companies would get paid a set amount, much like premiums paid for private insurance, and in return they would contract with groups of physicians, hospitals and specialists who would deliver care for enrollees. The providers would have to meet

certain medical care standards.Federally qualified health

clinics, generally referred to as FQHCs, favor the insurance model because it has “the most potential for success,” said Donald Hunter, an LPCA executive. The clinics operate at 82 different Louisiana sites.

FQHCs operate on a different financial basis than private-sector pediatric, family practice or general medicine clinics getting enhanced payments. The clinics, created under federal law, provide primary care in underserved urban and rural communities.

The other model in the administration’s proposal is one that maintains a “fee for service” system, which would be run by a nonstate entity that would form provider networks similar to those in the insurance model.

The Coalition to Protect Louisiana Healthcare is working on a different

version that would involve a partnership between the state and health care providers in a system of “community care.”

Community Care North Carolina went statewide there in 2007. A group of 14 nonprofit, doctor-directed regional care networks identify local resources to provide medical care and set quality-improvement goals to meet local Medicaid patients’ needs.

The Coalition to Protect Louisiana Healthcare includes the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Medicine Louisiana and the Louisiana Hospital Association.

Coalition members have said they favor a Louisiana version of a North Carolina plan that led to $200 million to $300 million in Medicaid savings. Under that plan, the state maintains oversight.

Jindal plan gets support

RICHMOND, Va. —Nearly 150 years after Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant fought in northern Virginia, a conflict over the battlefield is taking shape in a courtroom.

The dispute involves whether a Walmart should be built near the Civil War site, and the case pits preservationists and some residents of a rural northern Virginia town against the world’s largest retailer and local officials who approved the Walmart Supercenter.

Both sides are scheduled to make arguments before a judge Tuesday.

The proposed Walmart is located near the site of the Battle of the Wilderness, which is viewed by historians as a critical turning point in the

war. An estimated 185,000 Union and Confederate troops fought over three days in 1864, and 30,000 were killed, injured or went missing. The war ended 11 months later.

The 143,000-square-foot space planned by the Bentonville, Ark., retailer would be outside the limits of the protected national park where the core battlefield is located. The company has stressed the store would be within an area already dotted with retail locations, and in an area zoned for commercial use.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors in August 2009 approved the special use permit Wal-Mart needed to build, but the National Trust for Historic Preservation and residents who live within three miles of the site challenged the board’s decision.

They argued, in part, that supervisors ignored or rejected the help of historians and other preservation experts when they approved the store’s construction in Locust Grove about 1 mile from the national park entrance.

Hundreds of historians, including Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson, filmmaker Ken Burns and actor Robert Duvall have appealed to Wal-Mart to walk away and find another place to build in the county of less than 35,000 people.

McPherson is expected to testify that the store’s site and nearby acres were blood-soaked ground and a Union “nerve center” in the battle. Grant’s headquarters and his senior leaders were encamped near the site of the proposed store and Union casualties

were treated there or in an area destined to be the store’s parking lot, McPherson wrote in a summary of his testimony.

“Among other things, thousands of wounded and dying soldiers occupied the then open fields that included the Walmart site, which is where many of the Union Army hospital tents were located during the battle,” McPherson wrote.

An attorney representing Orange County argued the board and other officials acted properly and heard the opinions of hundreds of people before approving the store.

“There is no indication that any significant historical event occurred on this land,” Sharon E. Pandak wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “No state or federal law precludes development of the site.”

Wal-Mart vs. Civil War site: battle heads to court

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Tony Brown didn’t set out to overhaul his college’s policies on intellectual property. He just wanted an easier way of tracking local apartment rentals on his iPhone.

The University of Missouri student came up with an idea in class one day that spawned an iPhone application that has had more than 250,000 downloads since its release in March 2009. The app created by Brown and three other undergraduates won them a trip to Apple headquarters along with job offers from Google and other technology companies.

But the invention also raised a perplexing question when university lawyers abruptly demanded a 25 percent ownership stake and two-thirds of any profits. Who owns the patents and copyrights when a student creates something of value on campus, without a professor’s help?

“We were incredibly surprised, and intimidated at the same time,” Brown said. “You’re facing an institution hundreds of years older than you, and with thousands more people. It was almost like there were no other options than to give in.”

The issue has been cropping up on campuses across the nation, spurred by the boom in computer software in which teenagers tinkering in dorm rooms are coming up with products that rival the work of professional engineers.

Young inventors revamp rules

TUCSON, Ariz. — The man accused of carrying out a mass shooting in Tucson pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he tried to kill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides.

The plea by Jared Lee Loughner marked his second court appearance since he allegedly shot the congresswoman and 18 others at Giffords’ meet-and-greet event on Jan. 8 outside a grocery store in Tucson. Six people died, and 13 others were wounded.

Loughner, 22, faces federal charges of trying to assassinate Giffords and attempting to murder two of her aides. He will later face state charges dealing with other victims.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns of San

Diego asked Loughner attorney Judy Clarke whether there was any question about her client’s abilities to understand the case against him.

“We are not raising any issues at this time,” Clarke said.

Investigators have said Loughner was mentally disturbed and acting increasingly erratic in the weeks leading up to the shooting. If he pleads not guilty by reason insanity and is successful, he could avoid the death penalty and be sent to a mental health facility instead of prison.

At least eight U.S. Marshals were present at the hearing in the Phoenix courthouse, where Loughner entered Monday afternoon smiling and wearing an orange prison suit and glasses.

Prosecutor Wallace Kleindienst estimated that he would know within

the next 30 days whether additional federal charges would be filed against Loughner. Kleindienst said prosecutors provided defense lawyers with records taken from Loughner’s computer and documents of about 250 interviews

made in the case.Giffords and two of her aides were

among the 13 shooting victims who survived the attack. The six who died in the attack include U.S. District Judge John Roll and a 9-year-old girl.

By jacques Billeaudthe associated press

Page 4 - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

STATE & NATIONwww.southerndigest.com

in this artist rendering, Jared Lee Loughner makes his first court appearance at the sandra day o’connor United states courthouse in phoenix, ariz., Monday. Loughner appeared in federal court on charges he tried to assassinate rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a shooting rampage that left six people dead.

photo By Bill roBles/ap photo

By Ben fellerap white hoUse correspondent

by the associated press

WASHINGTON — Standing before a nation clamoring for jobs, President Barack Obama will call for targeted spending to boost the economy but also for budget cutting in Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, his first in a new era of divided political power.

To a television audience in the tens of millions, Obama will home in on jobs, the issue of most importance to the public and to his hopes for a second term. Though war and other concerns bid for attention, the president has chosen to lean heavily on the economy, with far less emphasis on Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism and foreign affairs.

Specifically, Obama will focus on improving the education, innovation and infrastructure of the United States as the way to provide a sounder economic base. He will pair that with calls to reduce the government’s debt — now topping a staggering $14 trillion — and reforming government. Those five areas will frame the speech, with sprinklings of fresh proposals.

Yet no matter how ambitious Obama’s rhetorical reach, his speech at the halfway point of his term will be viewed in the context of his new political reality.

The midterm elections gave Republicans control of the

House and a stronger minority vote in the Senate, meaning he hasn’t the option of pushing through changes over strong GOP objections. The contrast between the two parties’ visions remains stark, and the debate about where to slash spending, and by how much, will drive much of the debate for the rest of 2011.

As if to underscore that point, Obama’s speech will come just hours after the House is to vote on setting spending for the rest of the year at 2008, pre-recession levels. That resolution, largely symbolic, would put Republican lawmakers on record in favor of cutting $100 billion from Obama’s budget for the current

year as the party promised in last year’s campaign.

The atmospherics of the State of the Union, always watched with some fascination as a display of political theater, are expected to be more sober and civil than in recent years.

The speech comes less than three weeks after an assassination attempt against Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz. She is recovering remarkably after being shot in the head during a one-man rampage that left six dead. Among those who will sit with first lady Michelle Obama at the president’s speech will be the family of a 9-year-old girl who was killed, an aide to Giffords who rushed to help

her at the shooting, and trauma surgeons who have treated the wounded lawmaker.

In an attempt at unity following an attack on one of their own, some Democratic and Republican lawmakers will sit together at Obama’s speech. Others have dismissed that idea as superficial. The focus on tone comes a year after Obama’s rebuke of a Supreme Court decision in his State of the Union speech led Justice Samuel Alito to mouth back, “Not true.”

Obama is trying to emphasize economic priorities that can draw both public appeal and enough Republican consideration for at least serious debate.

in this Jan. 27, 2010, file photo president barack obama, flanked by defense secretary robert Gates, left, and treasury secretary timothy Geithner leaves the U.s. capitol after delivering his state of the Union address. on tuesday, two years in to his term, obama will stand before congress again an size up an altered state: the economy undisputedly is on stronger footing, though still far from robust, there’s a new health care law on the books, and U.s. troops have been coming out of iraq, going in to afghanistan.

photo By paBlo martinez monsivais/ap photo

Obama to focus on jobs

Suspect pleads not guilty in deadly Ariz. shooting

Judge: Barge not flood cause

NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has ruled that a barge that landed on top of several homes in the Lower 9th Ward did not cause the floodwall to break during Hurricane Katrina.

Last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval Jr. of New Orleans exonerated Lafarge North America Inc. of negligence for a series of decisions made before and during the 2005 hurricane. Some residents claimed the barge caused two breaches in the eastern floodwall along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal.

The barge was washed out of the canal and landed on several houses after the floodwall gave way during Katrina.

Duval wrote: “Simply put, the barge did not do it.”

Still, the judge said Lafarge employees could have done more to prevent the damage from the barge. He said the barge was moored poorly and he faulted the company for not having a hurricane plan or a properly licensed VHF marine radio.

The judge sided with the defense which argued that the winds would have driven the barge toward the west side of the canal at the time of the canal breach. The breaches opened up on the east side of the canal. Duval also said there was ample evidence that the floodwalls gave way due to poor designs, the permeability of the soil, underseepage and the increased loading caused by the storm surge.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - Page 5

SPORTSwww.southerndigest.com

digest NeWs serVice

rob spivery and his Jaguar ball club split its road games in alabama this weekend, winning at alabama state but falling at alabama a&M. the Jags travel to “the reservation” thursday to take on alcorn state.

photo By Bill feig/ap photo

Southern’s up-and-down tour through Southwestern Athletic Conference play continued over the weekend, dropping a 68-58 decision at Alabama A&M Monday night after notching a 64-52 win over Alabama State Saturday.

At Normal, Ala., the Bulldogs won their third straight at the expense of the Jags (4-16, 3-5), powered by Cornelius Hester’s 20-point night in Elmore Gymnasium.

At Montgomery, Ala., Jameel Grace and Blake Sanford scored 14 points each to lead SU past the Hornets.

The Jaguars travel to take on Alcorn State Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to end the fi rst round of league play. The Braves (1-17, 1-7) fell 81-68 at Alabama State Monday.

AAMU 68, Southern 58NORMAL, Ala. —The

Bulldogs (8-8, 5-2) built a 16-point halftime lead and stretched it to 22 on Casey Cantey’s free throw with 12:21 left. But they made only one fi eld goal and fi ve free throws

after that, while the Jaguars (4-16, 3-5) rallied. Blake Sanford’s jumper with 40 seconds left made it 67-58, the closest Southern came.

Cantey added 13 points for Alabama A&M.

Southern, which led only after the game’s fi rst basket, got 14 points apiece from Sanford and Madut Bol, who made it a double-double with 11 rebounds.

Hester had 12 points in the fi rst half, when Alabama A&M shot 47.4 percent from the fi eld (18 of 38) and led 44-28 at halftime. The Bulldogs took 21 fewer shots in the second half and made 35.3 percent (6 of 17).

Southern 64, Alabama St. 52MONTGOMERY, Ala. —The

Jaguars shot 52.6 percent (10 of 19) in the second half to hold off the Hornets, who hurt themselves by making only 4 of 15 free throws in the second half and 11-of-26 overall.

Brandon White and Julius Ingram each made four free throws in the fi nal minute for Southern after Alabama State

had gotten within 56-52.Tramayne Moorer, playing

his second game of the season, led Alabama State with 11 points and had 10 rebounds. He had seven points in the fi rst half, despite sitting out the fi nal

10 minutes after drawing his second foul.

Ingram fi nished with 12 points and eight rebounds for Southern, which led 30-24 at halftime.

Jaguars earn split in Alabama

Alabama A&M (5-1 SWAC East), Jackson State (5-1 SWAC East) and Southern (5-1 SWAC West) lead their respective divisions as conference play commenced at the SWAC West Bowling Roundup in Baton Rouge.

The Bulldogs and Lady Tigers are tied for fi rst in the Eastern Division with a 5-1 mark while the Jaguars lead the Western Division with a 5-1 record.

Alabama State (2-4) and Mississippi

Valley State (0-6) are third and fourth, respectively, in the SWAC East. Prairie View A&M (4-2), Texas Southern (3-3) and Grambling State(0-6) round out the second, third and fourth place spots int he SWAC West.

Alabama A&M posted a 13-1 overall mark during competition at the West Roundup. The Bulldogs (and here) lost its only game to Eastern Division rival Jackson State, 914-799 on Sunday.

JSU fi nished 11-3 during action the Roundup while Western Division leader

Southern posted a 10-4 record in the three-day event.

Alabama A&M led all teams totaling 12,588 pins in 70 games on the weekend. Lady Panther Kristina Sadler rolled a high game of 257 and Bulldog Melanie DeCarlo was tops in individual total pins with 2727. DeCarlo posted a 194.8 average leading the competition at the Roundup.

As a team, Alabama A&M had a high pinfall of 1031 in a matchup against the Devilettes. Jackson State knocked down 1,009 pins in a win over Texas Southern.

SU bowling takes early division leaddigest NeWs serVice

Southern (10-8, 7-1) outlasted Alabama A&M in overtime for a 67-62 win Monday night to give SU sole possession of fi rst place in SWAC play The Jags held off Alabama State 50-41 Saturday.

Southern returns to action Thursday at Alcorn State (6-11, 5-3) for a 5:30 p.m. contest.

SU 67, AAMU 62 (OT)NORMAL, Ala. — Hannah

Kador made one of two free throws with 33 seconds left to tie the game at 52-52 and sent the game into overtime.

The Jags took control midway through the extra period. Whiquitta Tobar made one of two free throws to cut SU’s lead to 56-55 at the 3:12 mark, but baskets by Foster and Jamie Floyd gave Southern a 60-55 lead with nearly two minutes left in overtime.

A Tobar three cut the lead to 62-60 with 32 seconds left to play, but Kador converted a three-point play with 18-seconds left to push the lead to 65-60. Kador’s fi nal bucket gave SU the fi nal margin.

Kador led SU with 22 points while Jamie Floyd added 12 points and Tiffany Foster with 10 points and seven assists.

Tobar, the SWAC’s second-leading scorer, led all players with 25 points. Strickland added 17 in a losing effort.

SU 50, Alabama St. 41MONTGOMERY, Ala. —

Southern led 22-17 at halftime before putting the clamps on Alabama State’s offense. The Jags harassed ASU into 7-of-25 shooting in the second half.

Carneta Henderson, Floyd and Foster each posted eight points to pace Southern.

Women sweep; claim top spotdigest NeWs serVice

The David Banner who is known for club classics like “Get Like Me”, “Like A Pimp” and “Play”turns things around with his new album “Death of a Pop Star.”

The change of pace for the artist does not take away from the sure genius of rhymes and production on this album. The SU alum (David Banner), who usually produces his own work used a different approach and connected with prolific producer, DJ, rapper and lecturer 9th Wonder for this collaborative album.

From a music standpoint this collaborative effort may seem peculiar but their similar background brings value to the Hip-Hop culture.

Both artists attended an HBCU and have had roles as Hip-Hop activists. 9th Wonder (a North Carolina Central University alum) may be a mystery to some but his collaborations have included production with Jay Z, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, Destiny’s Child, Little Brother, Wale, De La Soul and many others.

What started as a mixtape turned into a 30-minute, 10-track album that contains hard-hitting drums over smooth soulful rhythms that make Death of a Pop Star a continuous head nodding gem. In addition

to the production, David Banner delivers stellar rhymes that not only focus on typical ego-driven rap artists. Listening track-by-track David Banner’s rhymes become more personal and enlightening. It makes for a more meaningful mood, and can be specifically seen in the singles “Slow Down” and “Strange.”

David Banner’s lyrics deal heavily with the troubles of society, the problems of the Hip-Hip industry and black on black crime that is strongly recognized on the inspirational track “Something is Wrong.”

Club songs are limited on the album but are made up for with in his second single “Be With You” featuring fellow Southern rap icon Ludacris. The track brings a soulful stamp with crashing cymbals and powerful vocals from former Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius. This track cannot be compared to one of his previous club classics but it still has that distinctive sound and two stepping rhythm that can be danced to.

There are many positive aspects to Death of a Pop Star but a minor downside is the failure clearing sample on some of the songs. “Slow Down” and “Strange” were the first songs revealed before the release of the album. The two songs contained soulful chopped up samples that are a typical component in 9th Wonder’s production. However on the final cut,

the album version the samples that were originally used were recreate by vocals and musical instrumental. That may not be a big issue but if you are fan of the sample heavy production that was in the two tracks this may be a letdown.

Death of a Pop Star as a whole is a unique step for both artists. They created a record that lures fans to the essence of Hip-Hop rather than just becoming a

typical Southern rap album to stack on the shelves. Death of a Pop Star takes two sides of the Hip-Hop industry (mainstream and underground) and meshes them together to bring out this musical masterpiece. So, if you are a David Banner fan and new to 9th Wonder (or vice versa); this album will open your mind and show that the two sides of hip-Hop can coexist and make a classic.

Page 6 - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

arts & entertainmentwww.southerndigest.com

By Billy washingtondigest a&e editor

By patrick gallowaydigest culture editor

Banner, Wonder take different approach

There is a taboo subject amongst black Americans surrounding Asian cuisine. We sometimes tend to believe that their food either consists of dogs or rats; this stereotype was created after the war in Vietnam when the supply of food was scarce.

For those who do not choose to support such stereotypes and are willing to try something new, sushi, a Japanese dish that consists of rice and other ingredients, is this week’s choice!

For those who may not be familiar with the term sushi roll, a roll has a center portion, which is usually raw fish or vegetables (sushi) and rolled with a layer of cooked rice, wrapped in seaweed.

Yesterday, Digest food ambassadors visited Sake, located at 6401 Bluebonnet Boulevard — about 15 to 20 miles from SU, and tried several different types of sushi rolls. For starters and to be on the safe side, we tried the snow crab and crawfish rolls. You can never go wrong with seafood, unless you’re allergic.

The crawfish roll came with avocado in the center which we didn’t notice until we were close to calling for the check. Both rolls had a small stint of spices within them but they were smoldered by the cool temperature of

the entrée. However, the temperature didn’t

take away from the entrée but rather, gave us a sense of relief once digested. The relief was probably due to our strict routine of eating plenty of fast food throughout the previous week.

When ordering please remember this, the menu will list a variety of rolls to choose from and each roll consists of six individual pieces. We initially thought a roll was one individual roll for the price of $4.95.

Not only was the food great but the atmosphere was amazing as well. Can anyone say fung shui? We were amazed and tantalized by the fixtures, especially the lighting. The lighting that hung from the ceiling was similar to the chaotic cosmos of the universe; with the positioning of the light bulbs on each fixture set.

There were also hypnotizing waterfalls situated all throughout the loft. The setting included colorful lights that transitioned different colors on the glass.

Overall, Sake is definitely a place that redefines harmony and balance while eating. Their food is exquisite and their prices are also reasonable and affordable for any college student to handle. Sake receives an “A” for great tasting food and a pleasurable experience.

Sake Cafe impresses Digest food ambassadors

Anyone watch Maury just to hear the child’s name?

“When it comes to three-month old Shaniqua, Tyrone you are … NOT the father!” Mother exits stage left running through Maury’s backstage like a track star screaming, “Maury, that CAN’T be right! He was the ONLY one!”

Then the man who just found out he is not the baby’s daddy is running around singing, “Told you I ain’t the daddy!” Well, all of that nonsense is beside the point; did you hear the child’s name? Sometimes, even Maury has a hard time pronouncing names!

Names for African-American children have gotten more “unique” and “urban” with time. Unusual names have gone so far people cannot properly pronounce them because of all the unnecessary apostrophes, capital and unexpected letters.

Why is this? Reports suggest that because some African-American parents are not the richest people in the world, the only thing

they can give their children is a unique name. However, there is a difference between a “unique” name and a name that is unpronounceable.

I’m not saying one has to name their children Ruth, Mabel, Ethel, Abraham, Otis or Thurgood. There are other names that have a flare to them but don’t have interesting prefixes or suffixes like –sha, ta, la, esha, isha, or té.

A friend told me that her boss goes through submitted applications and if she can’t pronounce the name on the first try, the application is thrown away. Would you want your child denied employment because of their name?

There are some cases when people with “unique”

names have gone far in the corporate world. For example, Condoleezza Rice; she served as Secretary of State while President George W. Bush was in the White House, and how many Condoleezzas do you see in the professional workplace? In contrast, how many people are named Elizabeth, Gabrielle, Mary, Lauren, etc.?

Recently, my pastor was baptizing children and one child’s name was “Demon.” My pastor pronounced the name like it was spelled “Dee-mon”; he was quickly corrected. The child’s name was pronounced “De-mun” and not “demon” like a devil. Do you really want people calling your child “Demon”?

I know it’s none of my business to care about what people name their children, but how far will this ghetto name epidemic go? I’m just asking parents to think twice before giving their child a supposedly true-individual name. Remember, unique does not have to be unpronounceable.

SUBMISSIONS POLICYthe southern digest welcomes letters from readers commenting on current issues and other matters of general interest to the su family and public. We set aside this space to publish these letters for others to enjoy. this newspaper is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on its editorial and opinion pages. the southern digest reserves the right to edit any contributions and or reject them without notification. authors are encouraged to limit the length of submissions to 300 words. letters should not include libelous statements. offensive and personal attacks will not be permitted. the digest will not print “open letters” addressed to someone else. all contributions must be type written, signed and must include the author’s address and phone number. unsigned letters will not be printed. southern university students should include their majors, hometowns and year in school. When referring to specific digest articles, please include the date and title. all materials should be directed to the editor in chief of the southern digest, P.o. Box 10180, Baton rouge, la. 70813. Materials may be delivered by hand to the digest office located in suite 1064 Harris Hall or can be e-mail to digest@subr.edu.

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

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - Page 7

VIEWPOINTSwww.southerndigest.com

1. Who got their refund check yet?

2. Wait … don’t we ask this question every semester?

3. Is it bad we still have to ask this?

4. Better yet, is it bad that no one still has an answer to why it takes so long to get them on time?

5. What are y’all doing with our money anyways?

6. Weren’t the Jaguar Blue Cards supposed to fix this?

7. Who has ever heard of Higher One?

8. Why didn’t we use Chase? Or Regions?

9. Is it because they were afraid that too many students already owed these banks money?

10. Why we got to pay an extra 50 cents to use their own ATM?

11. But no seriously, where our money at?

12. Do we have to resort to sle ... we mean, doing extracurricular favors to get our money?

13. Is our adviser going to get fired for that last question?

14. If so, will we ever get the 09-10 and 2011 yearbooks?

15. Why Piyush trying to merge SUNO with UNO?

16. Even better, when was the last time he has been to SUBR?

17. Has he ever been to SUNO?

18. Aren’t we up the street from him?

19. Is he going to just make up a name for this new university like he did for his own nickname?

20. Will he try and shut us down for real after that last question?

21. Or will he just merge us too?

20 Questions

I’M JUST aSKING STaTEMENT

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

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

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

BREANNA PAUL

Do you plan on using your Jaguar Blue Card?

Why?

Jaala thomas

BatoN rougeseNior

Political scieNce “I will utilize the card for it’s convenience. After viewing the website, it looks like the money

management and budget application will be highly beneficial for all consumers.”

tHoMas

laurawilliamsalexaNdria

1st year laWstudeNt

“No. I attend SULC and was able to physically pick up my refund

money. There was no need for the blue card.”

WilliaMs

whitneywilford

WarNer roBiNs, ga.

soPHoMorePolitical scieNce

“Yes I will us the Jaguar Blue Card. I will use it because it seems easier and

I heard that you would be able to recieve your refund money faster.”

andreamitchell

MeMPHis, teNN.JuNior

Political scieNce

“I plan to use my card mainly for rent. I prefer to keep my refund in a separate

account from my normal salary. Having the extra account allows me to keep track of my finances.”

speak outBy evan taylor

MaNagiNg editor

Wilford

MitcHell

www.southerndigest.comget online @

What’s in a name?

Read the

at WWW.

southerndigest

.com

Page 8 - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

diversionswww.southerndigest.com

Don’t be surprised if some powerful ambitions that will inspire you to work toward greater material accumulation are awakened during the coming months. Don’t give up too easily, and a substantial amount of your desires could be fulfilled.

aQUarIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19): getting along well with others could simply be a reflexive action. instinctively you’ll know how to charm and impress everybody you encounter, be they friend or stranger.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20): a wonderful, loyal friend who is aware of your troubles will help diminish your problems. don’t try to stop him/her or get in the way.

arIES (March 21-april 19): find the right person to help you achieve a goal if you cannot reach it on your own. don’t ask just anybody; it must be someone who understands what you’re trying to accomplish.

TaUrUS (april 20-May 20): the secret to your success is your ability to establish a partnership arrangement with a kindred spirit whose ideas and philosophies are compatible to yours. it works every time.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Because friends and/or associates appreciate your style and demeanor so much, they are likely to want to emulate your way of doing things. Be willing to serve in any way that you can.

CaNCEr (June 21-July 22): your actions shouldn’t be based solely on material goals. the real worth of your involvements needs to

stem from activities of an intangible nature.

LEO (July 23-aug. 22): a standoffish person, who you thought didn’t like you, has actually always held you in high esteem. activities that take place will make this apparent.

VIrGO (aug. 23-Sept. 22): your instincts concerning commercial situations are likely to be more in focus than usual. if you have a strong hunch about how something should be done, follow your nose.

LIBra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): don’t be surprised if you discover that others who find themselves being swayed by the example you set are closely observing you. Make it a good one that they’ll be anxious to copy.

SCOrPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22): this is a fine day to get everyone together concerning a family matter of a confidential nature. collectively you will come to a decision upon which everyone can agree.

SaGITTarIUS (Nov. 23-dec. 21): if you make it a point to get all of your special friends together for the purpose of a social shenanigans, it will enhance the fun and make special the event you’re trying to pull off.

CaPrICOrN (dec. 22-Jan. 19): this is likely to be a unique period of time where you will be able to increase your resources through your own initiative. Visualize what you want and devise ways to acquire your goal.

———copyright 2011, united

feature syndicate, inc.

Astro-Graph By Bernice Bede Osol

The KnighT LifeBy Keith Knight