Safe sex, alcohol awareness, breast cancer, vision, AIDs, STDs, and other health concerns were promoted Wednesday as part of the annual Wellness Fair in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.

Numerous students participated in different activities and received goodies as well as valuable information from each of the different stations that were participating in this fair. Also there were chances for the students to participate in either giving blood, getting tested, and getting valuable information involving the importance of their health.

The companies who are all in the attendance of the health fair were those such as Wal-Mart, Louisiana Center for Health Center, Southern Counseling Center, Lifeshares blood center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Also some of the Southern University Schools of nursing students were out in attendance helping and assisting the different sites of

the fair. “Have your vision checked,”

said Brian Zeno, a worker from Wal-Mart in Zachary, La. He sends a message out to the students, saying, “With the high STD rate at Southern University campus, one thing that it will affect is your vision. When the doctor gives you a thorough eye exam, he is actually seeing if there is something wrong with your eyes as well as see what’s wrong with your health.” Wal-Mart hosted their station with the vision center, helping students check their eye vision.

Jacqueline Farlely, a Southern University nursing student, who was at work with the Student Health center, had some words to say about staying healthy.

“Have your regular yearly check-ups, have a well balanced diet, and to seek as much information as possible on maintaining a complete comprehensive and thorough health,” she said.

The Alcohol awareness station worked with students, giving them a taste of how it felt for drunk drivers when they have to undergo field sobriety

tests whenever the police stop them.

The Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center had their station set up outside of the union, giving out free breast cancer test as well as educates those who may have breast cancer history or know of those who have experienced breast cancer. They also informed males as well that they also have

a possible chance of having breast cancer just as much as women can encounter it.

There was a good turnout of student as well as parents and their children in attendance. It seemed everybody in attendance enjoyed this fun, yet educating fair that put those in game about the certain understandings of staying healthy.

Chisolu Paula Isiadinso was celebrated as she was crowned Wednesday at the 81st Annual Miss Southern University Coronation as part of this week’s homecoming festivities in the Felton G. Clark Activity Center.

The theme for this year’s the coronation was “A Classic Southern Fairy Tale: From the Bayou to the Promenade.” The stage was decorated accordingly, as it mimicked a French courtyard with a fountain and also a decorated swing center stage for Isiadinso to sit on.

The coronation was hosted by Joshua DuBois and Ja’el Gordon. A host of university officials such as SUBR Chancellor James L. Llorens, were present for the festive event.

Homecoming courts from each university in the Southern

University System (Southern University at Shreveport and Southern University at New Orleans) were represented and recognized. Some past Miss Southern Universities who were also in attendance for the coronation and all SUBR residential queens were acknowledged as well.

In true fairytale fashion, Isiadinso arrived in a beautifully decorated, white horse carriage as she smiled and waved at the audience.

“The coronation was enchanting. Miss SU as well as the rest of the court looked gorgeous in their gowns,” said Jenny Newman, a junior therapeutic recreation and leisure studies major from Baton Rouge.

Markayla Foster, a junior The 82nd Miss Southern University Chisolu Paula Isiadinso was crowned Wednesday at Miss Southern University coronation. Isiadinso waved her scepter of power before the audience during her prommenade after being crowned by SU Chancellor James Llorens.

photo by trevor james/digest

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Local media reports Wednesday stated Southern will change from the regular five day class week to a four day class week next semester.

“This implementation is not solely focused on savings. The benefit of cost savings is that we’re already spending a tremendous amount of money in energy consumption. We anticipate by not having utilization of the classrooms on a five-day basis thereby reducing the cost of energy,” informed Chancellor James Llorens.

“It’s also an advantage for students and faculty to have more time to participate in counseling and advising. We may be able to cover more material by extending the class period also,” continued Llorens.

Some students were informed informally and through passing about the upcoming changes and the response were positive, according to Llorens.

“We think it’s something worth trying. We talked to the deans and asked for their advice and suggestions to see if it would fit or work into their schedule. The only conflict we experienced was with lab courses in architecture and engineering. So there may be some classes that meet on Friday mornings because of extended hours for lab,” expressed Llorens.

According to Llorens, the implementation of having a four-day week is considered

SU opts for 4-day weekStudent reaction mixed

Isiadinso takes walk as Miss SU

sam RossThe Southern Digest

Darnell Pledger, SU Center for Social Research Program Coordinator talked to senior psychology major Courtney Dorsey about HIV/AIDS prevention and protection at the 2011 Fall Wellness Fair.

photo by evan taylor/digest

Fall Wellness Fair promotes awareness

tag! you’re it! breast CanCer awareness Campaign

Baton Rouge General’s Pennington Cancer Center has launched a new breast cancer awareness campaign this year called, “Tag! You’re It!” The campaign encourages women to remember the importance of a proper, annual evaluation of their breast health and monthly self breast exams with the help of short message system (SMS) text message reminders. Women interested in registering to receive personalized breast health text message reminders can sign-up at www.brgtagyoureit.org.

FaCulty art exhibitThe SU Department of

Visual Arts presents “Visual Arts Faculty Past and Present Exhibition” featuring the work of Frank Hayden in The visual arts gallery. The exhibition will be open from October 25-November 18 (Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) For more information at the exhibit, special group visits, etc; contact Robert Cox 225-771-4103 or via email at robert_cox@subr.edu. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

don’t get spooked by hivThe SU HIV/AIDS preven-

tion program presents an informational concerning HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. Peer educators will be in Higgins Hall October 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. passing out candy and prizes. Come out and test your

knowledge of protecting yourself against risky sexual behaviors and HIV/AIDs awareness. For more information call 225.771.3010.

Fright nightNAACP Presents Fright Night

in Seymour Gym from 7-9 p.m. on October 31. Students can get in for $3 or $2 with your voter registration band. Wear your best costume to get a chance to win $100. 13th Gate and Tobacco Awareness will be sponsoring the event.

grad prep daysThe Southern University

bookstore will hold their “grad prep days” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. SU students and faculty will be able to order their regalia, caps, gowns, announcements and rings on these days. For more information contact the bookstore at 225.771.4330.

wedding band: a love/hate story in blaCk and white

The Southern University department of Speech and theatre presents Wedding Band: A love/hate story in black and white by Alice Childress. The play details the interracial relationship between Julia, an African American seamstress, and Herman, a baker her white lover and common law husband. The story highlights racial politics, miscegenation, the role of African Americans in World War I, lynching, and the rights of African American women according to Kathy Perkins. The production opens November 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dramatic and Fine Arts Theatre in Frank Hayden Hall. The play will continue on Nov. 3, 4, and 5 at the same time. Admission is $3 for students and $5 for general public. For more information contact Dr. Hendricks at 225.771.5847.

soCial and behavioral sCienCes undergraduate researCh

ConFerenCeThe Departments of

Psychology and Social Work are pleased to sponsor the 13th Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Re-search Conference from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 18, 2011 in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Cotillion Ballroom.

For more information, please contact Dr. Reginald Rackley (771-2313) or Raven White (raven_white_00@subr.edu).

ag starsCalling all Freshmen, Sopho-

mores, and Juniors… Do you have a 2.5 GPA and no declared major? Pursue an exciting degree in agricultural sciences and become a member of AG stars mentoring program. Ag star participants will earn $1,000 stipend per semester. Apply today in Fisher Hall room 101.

ronald e. mCnair sCholarsDo you have a 3.0 GPA? low-

income first generation college student? Have a desire to earn a Ph.D. in your discipline? The SU Center for Social Research encourages rising juniors and seniors to apply for the Ronal E. McNair Scholarship. Applicants must have earned at least 60 credit hours. For more information contact Janeal Banks at 225.771.4717.

pinkie g. lane poetry ContestSouthern University students

can start submitting for the Pinkie G. Lane Poetry Contest. Each entrant may submit no more than three (3) poems of no more than 35 lines for each poem. The poems can be on any subject matter and in any format, provided the content is not vulgar or offensive, does not contain profanity, and is the original, individual work of the entrant.

For more information please contact committee chair Angela Proctor at (225) 771-2624, angela_proctor@subr.edu or committee co-chair Maya Banks at (225) 771-2776, maya_banks@subr.edu.

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

NEW ORLEANS —Louis-iana’s employment picture brightened in September as the state registered its lowest unemployment rate since April 2010, the state Workforce Commission reported Wednesday.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the state’s unemploy-ment rate in September also was 6.9 percent, down from 7.2 percent in August. The national jobless rate was 9.1 percent for both months.

Louisiana had 41,300 more non-farm jobs last month than in September 2010, according to the commission.

The number also represented an increase compared to August 2011, when the commission reported 30,300 more non-farm jobs than in August 2010. Those figures are not adjusted for seasonal factors.

Over the year, goods-producing industries gained 13,900 jobs, while the service sector added 27,400 jobs. Government employment dropped by 2,000 jobs last month compared to September 2010.

The commission said Louisiana’s unadjusted un-employment rate of 6.9 per-cent last month was down from 7.3 percent in August

and 7.7 percent in September 2010 and reached its lowest rate since April 2010.

In the goods-producing sector, manufacturing has gained 7,800 jobs since September 2010. Construc-tion jobs increased by 3,900 over the same period.

In the service-providing sector, private education-health services gained 18,900 jobs over the year. Trade, transportation and utilities gained 5,400 jobs, while leisure-hospitality jobs increased by 1,900 jobs.

Among the state’s metro-politan areas:

— New Orleans gained 10,900 non-farm jobs over the

year, all in the service-providing sector. Goods-pro-ducing employment didn’t change.

— Baton Rouge has lost 800 non-farm jobs since September 2010. Goods-producing employment gained 2,100 jobs over the year, but the service-providing sector lost 2,900 jobs.

— Houma-Thibodaux gained 2,900 non-farm jobs over the year, including 800 goods-producing jobs and 2,100 service-providing jobs.

— Lafayette has gained 4,400 non-farm jobs over the past 12 months, including 2,100 goods-producing jobs and 2,300 serving-producing jobs.

The Alumni Association of Southern University hosted their Annual Homecoming Open House festivities at the Alumni House Thursday. Over 35 members from Houston and other member from as far as to Los Angeles were in attendance.

This year the SU Alumni plans to host the Alumni Campus Tour and their Annual Homecoming Round Up Concert, both on Friday, with performances by R&B singer Keith Frank and recording artists, After Seven.

Keith Bynam from Houston, coordinator of the Alumni Annual Round Up Concert, stated that the concert gives the alumni an opportunity to meet with old classmates and have a good time.

Bynam stated that the concert had to be moved from the Royal Cotillion Ballroom to Clifford T. Seymour gymnasium because of the large turnouts.

“Southern is my heart,” says Leroy Sweeney of Los Angeles. “If it wasn’t for Southern, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Sweeney was also discussing the latest news of the university, stating that he hated to see the bad publicity for the university.

“It is a big difference from when I attended Southern,” says Henry Stamper class of 1957, of Baton Rouge. “It was more of a family atmosphere,”

he stated.Dennis Brown, National President of

the Alumni Federation, was discussing the future for the Alumni Association Building.

According to Brown, the future Alumni building have to wait because of the situation with the economy.

“We have an account strictly for the Alumni,” says Brown.

Brown says the money will not be used for any other purpose.

psychology major from Varnado, La., agrees and said that the coronation is surely something all of the queens of the night will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Chancellor Llorens and Miss Southern University 2010-2011, Kenya Warren, crowned Isiadinso. Darren Mire, chairman of the Southern University Board of Supervisors, also presented her with scepter of power.

“The coronation was amazing. Everything was well put together. The court was beautiful and represented SUBR very well,” said Briron Samuel, a junior nursing major from Jonesville, La.

The coronation also featured the

crowning of Isiadinso’s royal court; Amber Riley, Miss Senior Jemiela Castleberry, Miss Junior; Ayanna Spivey, Miss Sophomore; and Shanice Sam, Miss Freshman.

“I was excited and proud that I had the chance to witness someone from my hometown get crowned,” said Shawnadia Mixon, a junior nursing major from Bogalusa, La., of Miss Junior, Castleberry.

Isiadinso, a Baton Rouge native and 2008 graduate of Christian Life Academy, says giving back to and mentoring kids in the Scotlandville community, campus beautification, and raising money as the Executive Director

of the Southern University chapter of “Up ‘Til Dawn” for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been some of her most cherished accomplishments on her extensive list of them as Miss Southern University 2011-2012. She is a political science major with a minor in Spanish and has a current cumulative grade point average of 3.8.

1”Miss Southern’s coronation was well coordinated and, as a freshman, it’s one I’m sure I’ll remember for years to come. Everyone that participated in the event did a great and was well dressed. I was impressed,” summed Josh Ross, a freshman business management major from Greensburg, La.

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ChRistie CaRRalThe Southern Digest

to be fixed for the following semesters but if it fails there is flexibility to return back to the regular five-day week.

“We didn’t receive any negative responses and this wasn’t any individual decision on our part. We also spoke to the academic deans and chairs and everyone said lets give it a shot and see if it works,” said Llorens.

The majority of students agree with having an extra day to study and to receive counseling from advisors, but some are skeptical of the news not being released to the SU community through mass email.

“They usually contact us by email, but I didn’t receive anything. The SGA should be more vocal on these issues,” expressed Jahmal Devore, 21, native of New Orleans, sophomore chemistry major.

“This is a good thing for students,” said Diana Johnson, 20, native of Brusly, La., junior psychology major. “Now we can have an extra day to study.”

Some students are concerned about the extended classes becoming boring and drawn out throughout the week; thereby, causing students to leave class before the scheduled dismissal of class.

“It’s a great change although classes will be longer and may become more strenuous,” said Nicole Briley, a 19-year-old native of Baton Rouge, sophomore elementary education major.

“Southern is a party school,” expressed Kash Nelson, 22, native of Montego Bay, Jamaica, senior chemistry major. “Majority of us won’t use this time to study. People learn best by repetition and by not having a five day week, classes will become longer and boring. They should send some American students to Third World countries and see how people there wouldn’t take education for granted.”

Scheduling details are currently being finalized and Spring 2012 registration will begin in November.

Southern University alumni mingle with each other during Thursday’s open house. The open house is one of several alumni-centered events planned for homecoming weekend.

photo by trevor james/digest

Alumni return for open house

The Associated Press

La. unemployment rate lowest since April 2010

Gov. Bobby Jindal sparked upheaval in the usually behind-the-scenes wrangling for House speaker when he backed Lake Charles Republican Chuck Kleckley for the job Wednesday.

A governor’s support for legislative leaders traditionally is the deciding factor in who gets the jobs when the new terms begin. The House speaker and Senate president are regularly chosen without any opposition after getting a governor’s endorsement.

But Lafayette Republican Joel Robideaux accused Jindal of pressuring lawmakers to support Kleckley. Robideaux refused Wednesday to drop out of the race for speaker, saying he wants a House floor vote when the new term begins in January.

In his formal announcement of support, Jindal said Kleckley has well above the 53 votes needed to get the job in the 105-member House.

“These are unambiguous commitments,” Jindal said.

The Republican governor said he threw his support to Kleckley,

currently chairman of the House Insurance Committee, because of his skills, his relationships with other lawmakers and his ongoing support of the Jindal administration.

“Chuck is a true conservative. He’ll be a speaker for all Louisianians. He’s proven he can work across geographical and partisan lines to do the right thing for Louisiana. Chuck has been a strong partner,” Jindal said.

At least five people had been vying for the speaker’s job. Kleckley acknowledged Jindal’s support was integral to get the position.

“His leadership and his support are very important for me in becoming the next speaker. I look forward to working with the governor,” Kleckley said.

Kleckley, 51, a small business owner, has been a low-profile member of the House since he won a 2005 special election to represent the Lake Charles-based district. He had previously worked on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

Among the legislation Kleckley sponsored was a bill preventing insurance companies

from charging more than one deductible per hurricane season, no matter how many named storms hit an area, after several homeowners were hit twice by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

Jindal and Kleckley said they are backing Democrat Jim Fannin to maintain his chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, the budget-writing panel for the House.

Fannin, D-Jonesboro, has

held the chairman’s job for the past four years and hasn’t always sided with the governor in budget disputes. Fannin recently had thrown his name out as a contender to be speaker, but now is supporting Kleckley.

state & natiOnPage 4 - Friday, OctOber 28, 2011 the sentinel OF an enlightened student bOdy since 1926

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melinda deslatteThe Associated Press

DALLAS — A Dallas-area rapist appears to be preying on members of a national black sorority, leading the organization to urge alumnae to remove any trace of their affiliation from cars, clothing and even their key chains.

Delta Sigma Theta issued the warning this week, citing four sexual assaults, all involving black women in their mid-50s to mid-60s. Police say the assailant indicated during the attacks that he knew personal information about the victims.

“We believe it’s more than just accidental,” said Matthew Kosec, deputy police chief in Coppell.

Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre, national president of the sorority, said it isn’t certain that the victims were targeted because of their sorority affiliation, but “we are erring on the side of caution” and advising members “to take the necessary precautionary measures.”

The group urged members to avoid displaying any items identifying them as sorority alumnae, including vehicle stickers, jewelry, clothing and accessories. They also warned members to remove information such as their whereabouts from social networking sites.

Detectives have not determined exactly how the rapist might be learning about the sorority affiliation.

“We just don’t know if the suspect is identifying these ladies as they are out shopping in the area or if it’s something more advanced than that” such as using

social networking sites, Corinth police Capt. Greg Wilkerson said.

The most recent attack was Oct. 14 in Shady Shores, said Corinth police, who are investigating the rape in the nearby community. The Coppell attack occurred Sept. 15.

The other two assaults took place in Plano — one in April and another “prior to that,” said Plano police spokesman Andrae Smith, who would not elaborate on the earlier date.

The attacker is described as a black man in his late 30s to mid-40s, 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall and weighing 250 to 300 pounds. Police in Plano released a video shot in April from a surveillance camera showing an unidentified man who appeared to resemble the description. Authorities say they would like to question that man in relation to the attacks but declined to provide more details.

Smith, who said the victims did not attend the same college, said investigators noticed the similarities after the second attack and shared the information with surrounding cities.

“The pattern of the alumnae membership was the big flag that put this together,” Kosec said. “When you have a sexual assault like this, the detectives are very good about getting all sorts of details that could lead to the suspect.”

Delta Sigma Theta counts more than 200,000 mostly black college-educated women among its members. Seventy-six percent of the group’s members are alumnae, while 24 percent are still in college. The group has more than 900 chapters located around the world.

Texas rapist appears to target DST alumnae

Jamie stengleThe Associated Press

Rep. Chuck Kleckley-R, Lake Charles, right, speaks with members of the media Wednesday after Gov. Bobby Jindal, left, announced him as his choice for House speaker.

photo by arthur d. lauCk/ap photo

Jindal puts himself into speaker race

NEW ORLEANS — More than six years after Hurricane Katrina’s rampage, authorities have taken only halting steps toward identifying weaknesses in a nationwide patchwork of levees intended to protect millions of Americans’ lives and property during potentially catastrophic floods.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, accused of building substandard levees and floodwalls that failed when Katrina swamped the Gulf Coast in 2005, has spent $56 million since then developing the initial phase of a national levee inventory as required by Congress. The Corps on Thursday was releasing a database with information about nearly 14,000 miles of levees under its jurisdiction.

But the inventory doesn’t include what is believed to be more than 100,000 additional miles of levees not covered by the Corps’ safety program. Some are little more than mounds

of earth piled up more than a century ago to protect farm fields. Others extend for miles and are made of concrete and steel, with sophisticated pump and drainage systems. They shield homes, businesses and infrastructure such as highways and power plants.

The National Committee on Levee Safety, established after the Katrina disaster to evaluate the system and recommend improvements, issued a report in 2009 calling for the Corps to catalog and inspect every levee so deficiencies could be fixed. But Corps officials say Congress has not provided enough authority or money to add non-federal levees to the database, a massive undertaking that would take years.

“The reality is, we don’t know how many levees are out there,” said Eric Halpin, the Army Corps’ special assistant for dam and levee safety and vice chairman of the levee safety committee. He acknowledged the inventory presently includes only about 10 percent of the likely total.

“I think we’ve done a great

job putting forward a state-of-the-art tool,” Halpin said. “It’s a first step. It will be much more powerful once we can get all the data in there.”

For each levee system, the database will include its location, design and rating following one or more safety inspections.

Inspection ratings from nearly 700 of the roughly 2,000 levee systems under the Corps’ jurisdiction have been added to the database thus far, said spokesman Pete Pierce.

Of those, 77 percent had ratings of “minimally acceptable,” meaning they have “minor deficiencies” that make the levees less reliable but are not expected to seriously impair their performance. An additional 11.6 percent were rated “unacceptable,” or

likely to fail during a flood, while 11.3 percent were graded as “acceptable,” or without deficiencies.

Experts say the government is moving too slowly to complete the inventory.

“We need to be really candid with the American people,” said Sam Riley Medlock, policy counsel for the Association of State Floodplain Managers and a member of the levee safety panel. “This is yet another class of infrastructure that is aging and posing risks and we’re going to have to do something about it.”

Gerald Galloway, a former Army Corps district engineer and University of Maryland engineering professor, told a Senate committee this month the levee network has “significant”

problems and received an overall grade of “D minus” from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2009. The group estimated that $50 billion worth of improvements was needed over five years.

“So today hundreds of levees, whose integrity is in question, are in place in front of communities and properties with little realistic hope of funding for inspection, repair or upgrade,” Galloway said.

Concern about the levees dates to the 1920s and 1930s, when killer floods on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers led Congress to order construction of more levees. Many were designed for the biggest flood likely to strike a particular area within 500 years or even 1,000 years.

A Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West inspector passes in front of a huge pile of debris that had been previously “picked” from the clay fill while inspecting a portion of a levee, under construction, between the new Westwego Pumping Station and Orleans Village, in Marrero, La. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, accused of building substandard levees and floodwalls that failed when Katrina swamped the Gulf Coast in 2005, has spent $56 million since then developing the initial phase of a national levee inventory as required by Congress.

photo by susan poag/ap photo

the sentinel OF an enlightened student bOdy since 1926 Friday, OctOber 28, 2011 - Page 5

Feds make slow progress on flood levee inventory

Cain BuRdeau &John FlesheRThe Associated Press

DENVER — President Barack Obama recalled his struggles with student loan debt as he unveiled a plan Wednesday that could give millions of young people some relief on their payments.

Speaking at the University of Colorado Denver, Obama said that he and his wife, Michelle, together owed more than $120,000 in law school debt that took nearly a decade to pay off. He said that sometimes he’d have to make monthly payments to multiple lenders, and the debt meant they were not only paying for their own degrees but saving for their daughters’ college funds simultaneously.

“I’ve been in your shoes. We did not come from a wealthy family,” Obama said to cheers.

Obama said it’s never been more important to get a college education, but it’s also never been more expensive. Obama said his plan will help not just individuals, but the nation, because graduates will have more money to spend on things like buying homes.

“Our economy needs it right now and your future could use a boost right now,” Obama said.

Obama’s plan will accelerate a measure passed by Congress that reduces the maximum required payment on student loans from 15 percent of discretionary income annually to 10 percent. He will put it into effect in 2012, instead of 2014. In addition, the White House says the remaining debt would be forgiven after

20 years, instead of 25. About 1.6 million borrowers could be affected.

He will also allow borrowers who have a loan from the Federal Family Education Loan Program and a direct loan from the government to consolidate them into one. The consolidated loan would carry an interest rate of up to a half percentage point less than before. This could affect 5.8 million borrowers.

Student loans are the No. 2 source of household debt. The president’s announcement came on the same day as a new report on tuition costs from the College Board. It showed that average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges rose $631 this fall, or 8.3 percent, compared with a year ago. Nationally, the cost of a full credit load has passed $8,000, an all-time high.

Student loan debt is a common concern voiced by Occupy Wall Street protesters. Obama’s plan could help him shore up re-election support among young voters, an important voting bloc in his 2008 election. But, it might not ease all their fears.

Anna Van Pelt, 24, a graduate student in public health at the University of Colorado Denver who attended the speech, estimates she’ll graduate with $40,000 in loans. She called Obama’s plan a “really big deal” for her, but said she still worries about how she’ll make the payments.

“By the time I graduate, my interest rate is going to be astronomical, especially when you don’t have a job,” Van Pelt said. “So it’s not just paying the loans back. It’s paying the loans back without a job.”

the sentinel OF an enlightened student bOdy since 1926Page 6 - Friday, OctOber 28, 2011

WASHINGTON — Recognizing that college students and recent graduates are facing rising tuition prices and burdensome student loan debt, President Barack Obama announced a plan that seeks to lessen the burden of paying back student loans.

Some questions and answers about student loans:

Q: How big a problem is student loan debt?

A: Total outstanding student debt has passed $1 trillion, more than the nation’s credit card debt, and average indebtedness for students is rising. The College Board said Wednesday that the average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges rose an additional $631 this fall, or about 8 percent, compared with a year ago. The cost of a full credit load has passed $8,000 — an all-time high. The board said about 56 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients at public schools graduated with debt averaging about $22,000. From private nonprofit universities, 65 percent graduated with debt averaging about $28,000. Experts say those average amounts usually are still manageable, at least for those who finish a degree. But they are concerned about the

rate of increase, the growing numbers with substantially more debt and the increase in those apparently in over their heads repaying them. The Education Department said in September that the national student loan default rate for the 2009 budget year had risen to 8.8 percent.

Q: What does Obama’s plan do?A: Obama will accelerate a law passed by

Congress last year that lowers the maximum required payment on student loans from 15 percent of discretionary income annually to 10 percent for eligible borrowers. It goes into effect next year, instead of 2014. Also, the remaining debt would be forgiven after 20 years, instead of 25. The White House said about 1.6 million borrowers could be affected.

Obama also will allow borrowers who have a loan from the Federal Family Education Loan Program and a direct loan from the government to consolidate them at an interest rate of up to a half percentage point less. This could affect 5.8 million borrowers, according to the White House.

Q: How much does it save borrowers?A: Some borrowers will save several

hundred dollars a month in payments.

Q: What’s the difference between government-backed student loans and private student loans? And, does Obama’s

plan impact private loan borrowers?A: Before the law change, borrowers

wanting a student loan backed by the government could get loans directly from the government or from the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Those from the Federal Family Education Loan Program were issued by private lenders, but basically backed by the government. The law eliminated the private lenders’ role as middlemen and made all such loans direct loans. The law was passed with the overhaul of the health care system with the anticipation that it would save about $60 billion over a decade. Private loans are one students typically get when they get all they can get from the government. They’re typically from banks, and they are where students tend to get into the most trouble because they don’t have the same government protections and they usually have higher interest rates. Obama’s plan won’t help students stuck in those. The amount of private lending has fallen sharply in recent years as lenders have cut back and demanded higher credit scores. However, for extremely expensive colleges, students may hit the maximum federal borrowing limits and have no choice but to look for private loans.

Q: Are there others who don’t benefit?A: Borrowers already in default won’t

qualify. The accelerated component of the

income-based repayment plan only applies to borrowers who take out a loan in 2012 or later and who also took out a loan sometime between 2008 and 2012, according to the Education Department. To be eligible for the consolidated loan component, a borrower must have both a direct loan from the government and a loan from the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

Q: The White House says the plan is free to taxpayers. How can that be?

A: A White House official says it doesn’t cost taxpayers anything because when the loans are consolidated, the government no longer has to pay a subsidy to private lenders on the Federal Family Education Loan Program loans.

Q: What do Republicans say?A: Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the ranking

Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said in a statement that Obama crafted his plan behind closed doors and “we are left with more questions than answers.” Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a former U.S. education secretary, said the real way to reduce the burden of student-loan debt is to slow down the growth of tuition and the best way to do that is to “reduce health care costs and mandates that are soaking up state dollars that in the past have gone to support public colleges and universities.”

KimBeRley heFlingThe Associated Press

Some questions and answers about student loans

Gan Golan, of Los Angeles, dressed as the “Master of Degrees,” holds a ball and chain representing his college loan debt, during Occupy DC activities in Washington. As President Obama prepared to announce new measures Wednesday to help ease the burden of student loan debt, new figures painted a demoralizing picture of college costs for students and parents: Average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges rose an additional $631 this fall, or 8.3 percent, compared with a year ago.

photo by jaCquelyn martin/ap photo

Jim Kuhnhenn &KimBeRly heFling

The Associated Press

Obama announces help for student loan borrowers

Jaguars linebacker Larry Johnson practiced with the first team defense Tuesday, an indication he’ll see playing time this weekend.

He hasn’t logged much time with the unit, instead making his presence known on special teams.

“I am excited about Johnson getting the opportunity to play linebacker,” second-year head coach Stump Mitchell said during Tuesday’s weekly press luncheon. “It’s not scout team anymore. Now you have a chance to show that you deserve to play.”

Johnson replaces starting linebacker Jamie Payton, who will begin serving a two game suspension Saturday for his involvement in a brawl that followed the Jaguars’ loss at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Oct 15.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Tuesday to stagger the suspensions of the 40 Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff players suspended for their roles in the postgame fight

between the teams.The suspensions will come

over the teams’ next three games. For the Jaguars, it means wide receiver LaQuinton Evans – along with defensive lineman Kenneth Hill Jr., safety Levi Jackson, running back Kaelan Mayfield, defensive back Jaleel Richardson, safety Marlon Smith, wide receiver William Waddell and linebacker Franchot West – will be available for Saturday’s homecoming game against Alcorn State.

The conference also reinstated linebacker Corry Roy, who the SWAC confirmed did not participate in the altercation. The SWAC determined who would sit out the next three games for each team using an alphabetical listing of the players affected as a random determining factor.

Payton, cornerback LaMark-ius Pettaway and kick returner/running back Byron Williams remain suspended for the Alcorn State game and the Nov. 5 Texas Southern game.

Running back Terrell Alex, wide receiver Lee Doss and linebackers Anthony Balancier

and Daniel Brown will not play Saturday against the Braves. Evans, Hill, Jackson and Mayfield will not play the Texas Southern game.

Payton, Pettaway and

Williams will be available to return to action for the Nov. 12 game against Alabama State. However, Richardson, Smith, Waddell and West will sit out that game.

Mitchell said Johnson has done a great job playing special teams and adds speed to a unit ranked last in rushing defense.

Friday, OctOber 28, 2011 - Page 7the Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926

SPOrtSsoutherndigest.com

Southern defensive lineman Jeffrey Watkins pursues Prairie View’s La’Darryae Groover during the Jaguars’ Oct. 8 game against the Panthers. The Jaguars will lean on younger players like Watkins as they return to action to face Alcorn State Saturday for homecoming.

photo by trevor james/digest

Morris DillarD iiiThe Southern Digest

Young players look to fill void vs. Alcorn

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the Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926Page 8 - Friday, OctOber 28, 2011

GRAMBLING, La. — Suddenly, Grambling State University is back in business in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Well, almost.“We’ve won our last two games, but

this season is far from over and there’s no need to start bringing out the black and gold pom-pons and start cheering,” said Tigers’ Head Coach Doug Williams. “There’s still a whole lot of work to be done and it all starts Saturday.”

Grambling (3-4, 2-3) will have an important 2:30 p.m. test against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3, 3-2) at the Golden Lions’ Stadium.

It will mark the Tigers’ fi rst road appearance in nearly a month after having dealt with an open date and then back-to-back home games, the latest being last week’s 30-24 overtime victory against Mississippi Valley.

Saturday’s game looms signifi cant in the SWAC chase. UAPB is in second place and GSU third for the Western Division.

“Arkansas-Pine Bluff is very tough to play at their place,” Williams said. “They’ve got a good team, are well-coached and have a lot to play for in terms of the conference race, too. I’d love to say that, with two straight wins, we are starting to turn things around after a slow start, but I can’t. Let’s just say it’s a better feeling to win a couple of games than to lose them and, hopefully, it can help us fi nish strong.”

Grambling got its win against Valley in thrilling fashion. The two teams battled to a 24-24 score in regulation time before the Tigers won it in OT with a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D.J. Williams to wide receiver Mario Louis.

“We had actually called for a running

play, but D.J. audibled at the line of scrimmage and elected to go to Mario, who made a great leaping catch for the winning touchdown,” Doug Williams said.

The younger Williams replaced junior Frank Rivers, who had started the gamed and went on to pass for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

But going strictly on a “hunch,” Doug Williams chose to replace Rivers with D.J. Williams in the overtime period.

“Joe Gibbs, my coach in Washington (Redskins), used to tell us about having a gut feeling on things,” Doug Williams said, “and my gut told me that D.J. was the one to use in the overtime. Frank had played very well and had certainly helped us get in a situation to get the win. Fortunately, everything turned out all right.”

As far as who starts at quarterback against UAPB, that’s likely to be a game-time decision.

“We’re just not sure yet and will have to see how everything goes,” Doug Williams said. “Whether it’s Frank or D.J., we feel comfortable with either one and both of them are capable of leading our offense.”

Grambling’s inconsistent running game will have to face a strong Golden Lion’s defense that ranks No. 3 in the conference against that mode of attack.

“’’That’s what they do best, stop the run,” Doug Williams said, “and that’s an area we haven’t been doing well with for most of the season. And another thing we’ve got to do is avoid turnovers.”

The Golden Lions’ roster has been depleted with the suspension of 25 players by the SWAC for being involved in an altercation after a recent game in Pine Bluff against Southern University. Twelve of the Golden Lions won’t be suiting up against Grambling, based on staggered suspensions announced by league offi cials earlier this week.

Grambling St. looks for win at UAPB

“It’s been hard work and staying hungry,” Johnson said. “It’s an opportunity I’ve been waiting on. I had a chance to show my talent against my team, but now it’s time to just let it all out on a different jersey.”

Johnson said that a win Saturday would be the breakthrough Southern has anticipated following back-to-back conferences losses to Prairie View and the Golden Lions.

“All these close games, it’s time for a breakthrough,” Johnson said. “We’re the underdogs on our homecoming, but I think we’re going to pull it off. This would be the great game for it.”

Mitchell said that the SWACs’ decision to stagger suspension will put his team in position to make a difference in the outcome of games remaining. He added that Johnson’s shoes may need to be fi lled once starters return.

“He’s from Baton Rouge, he’s going to play,” Mitchell said. “The question will be, will they be able to come back and fi ll the shoes that Larry wears.”

Southern has been outscored 45-19 in the fourth quarter and has four losses of fi ve points or less.

Through eight games, Alcorn State ranks fourth in scoring offense (29.6) and average 120.7 rushing yards per game.

Southern is allowing 4.4 yards per carry and 198 yards a game on the ground. Tennessee State’s Trabis Ward (141), Pine-Bluff’s Dennis Jenkins (111) and Justin Billings (101) (127) put up more than 100 yards against the Jaguars. Mississippi Valley’s Trey Bateaste had 86 yards.

However, Mitchell’s defensive unit held Alabama A&M’s leading rusher Kaderius Lacey, who’s 544 rushing yards ranks third in the conference, to 21 yards on 11 carries. They allowed 60 rushing yards against the Bulldogs — the fewest in a game this season.

“We left some points on the fi eld against Pine Bluff,” offensive lineman Chris Browne said. We feel like we’re going to take all of our aggression out on Alcorn this week.”

NEW ORLEANS — City Park’s tranquil surroundings will transform with the wail of electric guitars as the annual Voodoo Experience puts New Orleans under its spell over the Halloween weekend.

From Friday through Sunday, fans can rock out to acts like Soundgarden, Blink-182, Fishbone, the Original Meters, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Girl Talk, The Raconteurs, My Chemical Romance, Fatboy Slim and Snoop Dogg on six stages showcasing alternative music and the city’s food and culture.

This year’s event features more than 100 bands, including legendary Seattle grunge rock band Soundgarden. The group’s appearance is expected to be their only U.S. festival performance of the year.

“We built this festival on the concept of taking great music and having no rules. There’s really no format to how it’s put together,” said Stephen Rehage, who started Voodoo in 1999. “We’re lucky to host these great musicians who have a profound appreciation for our culture and the musicians who live here.”

“Landing Soundgarden was huge,” he said. “I’m looking forward to their opening night show.”

Besides the national and international acts scheduled to perform, several homegrown musicians will share their talents, including the Original Meters —

Art Neville on keyboards, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist Leo Nocentelli and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste — whose 2006 Voodoo performance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers still has fans talking, Rehage said.

“To be able to sit backstage and watch the interaction between the national artists and the local artists is a sight to see,” he said. “To see the smiles after the Chili Peppers played with the Meters, in an unrehearsed set for more than 12 minutes. That’s a ‘Wow’ moment.”

Other national and local pairings will feature Ani DiFranco, Ivan Neville and Herlin Riley; Beausoleil with Dr. Michael White; Bonerama and Dave Malone of The Radiators; and Dr. John and the Lower 911 with special guests Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville and Walter “Wolfman” Washington.

Rehage said he and his staff this year deliberately moved some of the bigger-named artists to smaller stages.

“That’s a move that will help get the energy levels up and give fans a chance to experience the levels of a big, full-on production. That’s when spontaneous combustion can happen,” he said.

Twelve years in, Rehage said he believes Voodoo has grown into its own.

“I really feel that in New Orleans, people live and breathe music,” he said. “People around the world appreciate the city for its culture and uniqueness and experiences around the music, but what’s essential is the music.”

NEW YORK — Occupy Wall Street, meet Occupy the Bar.

The nearly 6-week-old social protest in Manhattan has inspired campaigns, headlines and spoofs that often have nothing to do with income inequality or challenging corporate overlords: Occupy the NBA and Occupy the Bathroom are just a couple.

Turns out that the same open-source nature of Occupy Wall Street that inspired Occupy London, Occupy Muncie and other protests worldwide makes it easy to co-opt the catchphrase for non-revolutionary aims.

That meets with mixed feelings from the occupiers camping out in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan. Some protesters are concerned that frivolous uses could dilute their serious message — but others can take a joke.

“I think a little humor can’t hurt. I mean, ‘Occupy the Bar,”

it’s funny!” said Zach Cheney, a 24-year-old from New Orleans.

“Occupy” is already being tossed around by the American Dialect Society for its “Word of the Year,” chosen every year. The word could eventually join the recent winners “app” and “tweet.”

Many Occupy “movements” live only on the Web, like Occupy the Bar, (“What do we want? An ice cold Guinness! When do we want it? Now!”).

The online spoof “Occupy Sesame Street” features digitally altered pictures of Elmo, Grover and the gang being hauled off by New York City police along with the claim that “99% of the world’s cookies are consumed by 1% of the monsters.”

On Facebook, Occupy Lego Land features little Lego demonstrators.

The social network is also home to pages for Occupy Uranus and the Occupy My Couch Movement (“All this not protesting is wearing me out”).

Twitter hashtags include: (hash)Occupymyfridge and (hash)Occupythebathroom.

Mainstream media headline writers are riffing on the phrase, too. The New York Times offered “Occupy the Classroom” in a column advocating the expansion of early childhood education.

An Associated Press column on college’s Bowl Championships Series included “Occupy the BCS!”

Even the Ivy League can’t resist: Cornell University pitched a “sustainability summit” in New York City this weekend under the heading, “Occupy the environment.”

Pro basketball’s labor strife has inspired Occupy the NBA, and fans of radio host Dan Patrick who sneak in posters on ESPN’s college football pregame show take part in “Occupy GameDay.” Show host Kirk Herbstreit rates his own, separate movement, “Occupy Herbstreit.”

culture the Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926

southerndigest.com

Friday, OctOber 28, 2011 - Page 9

In this Oct. 21, 2011 file photo, people sleep in New York’s Zuccotti Park, home to Occupy Wall Street protesters. The same open-source nature of Occupy Wall Street that inspired Occupy London, Occupy Muncie and other protests worldwide makes it easy to co-opt the catchphrase for non-revolutionary aims such as “Occupy the NBA,” “Occupy the Bathroom” and “Occupy the Bar.”

photo by richard drew/ap photo

Michael hillThe Associated Press

chevel JohnsonThe Associated Press

Snoop Dogg, Fishbone scheduled for Voodoo

‘Occupy’ protests give birth to new catchphrase

MIAMI — There’s a new routine these days whenever Amber Mullaney goes out to eat at a restaurant. While waiting to be seated, she asks her husband to get the phone ready to hand over to their 2-year-old daughter, Tatum.

The phone — with its ability to stream episodes of Dora the Explorer — is a godsend, Mullaney says.

Attempts at going out without whipping out the gadget have been disastrous, the Denver mom says. Her curious, independent toddler gets into everything. Salt shakers are fiddled with, drinks are spilled.

“She’ll color for a little bit or talk with us for a little bit, but it’s short-lived,” Mullaney says. “It’s miserable because all she wants to do is get out.”

With the iPhone, however, Tatum sits quietly in the booth while her parents get to enjoy a meal.

Mullaney, a marketing manager for a technology company, sometimes wishes they could do without the phone because she doesn’t want people to think they’re using technology to shut their child up, but she also doesn’t want to give up going out.

“Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do,” she says.

Mullaney is in good company. About 40 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds (and 10 percent of kids younger than that) have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media. Roughly 1 in 5 parents surveyed said they give their children these devices to keep them occupied while running errands.

There are thousands of apps targeted specifically to babies and toddlers — interactive games that name body parts, for example, or sing nursery rhymes. It has become commonplace to see little ones flicking through photos on their parents’ phones during church or playing games on a tablet during a bus, train or plane ride. Parents of newborns rave about an app that plays white noise, a womb-like whoosh that lulls screaming babies to sleep.

In fact, toymaker Fisher Price has just released a new hard case for the iPhone and iPod touch, framed by a colorful rattle, which allows babies to play while promising protection from “dribbles, drool and unwanted call-making.”

Denise Thevenot acknowledges that some people would look askance at the idea of giving a

child a $600 device to play with — she had the same concerns initially. Then she discovered the sheer potential.

“The iPad is movies, books and games all wrapped in one nice package,” says Thevenot, who works in the New Orleans tourism industry. The iPad, she says, keeps her 3-year-old son Frankie busy for hours. And, when needed, taking it away “is the greatest punishment. ... He loves it that much.”

Kaamna Bhojwani-Dhawan is an unapologetic proponent of the trend.

“If you’re raising children, you’ve got to raise them with the times,” says Bhojwani-Dhawan, who lives in Silicon Valley and founded the family travel website Momaboard.com. “If adults are going all digital, how can we expect children to be left behind?”

Her 2 1/2-year-old, Karam, loves the GoodieWords app, which explains complex concepts like “shadow” and “electricity.” Other favorites are a memory matching game with farm animals and a drawing program.

Bhojwani-Dhawan points out

that Karam also has books, crayons and Legos. “It’s not replacing any of these things; it’s one more thing he’s getting exposed to,” she says.

Experts say balance is key.“It’s really important that

children have a variety of tools to learn from. Technology gadgets can be one of those tools, but they shouldn’t dominate, especially when we’re talking about very young children,” says Cheryl Rode, a clinical psychologist at the San Diego Center for Children, a nonprofit that provides mental health services.

the Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926Page 10 - Friday, OctOber 28, 2011

Frankie Thevenot, 3, plays with an iPad in his bedroom at his home in Metairie, La. About 40 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds (and 10 percent of kids younger than that) have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media.

photo by gerald herbert/ap photo

rasha MaDkourThe Associated Press

Squirmy toddler? There’s an app for that

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FALL 2011 STAFFEditor-in-Chief ............................. Evan TaylorManaging Editor ...................................... TBACopy Editor ..................Norman J. Doston Jr.Photo Editor .............................. Trevor JamesStaff Writer .............................. Christie CarralStaff Writer ...............................Morris DillardStaff Writer ........................... Lauren JohnsonStaff Writer ......................... Torrance LathamStaff Writer ................................ Breanna PaulStaff Writer ......................................Sam RossStaff Writer .......................... Samantha SmithStaff Writer ......................... Billy WashingtonStaff Photographer ......................Talor KinzyStaff Photographer ...................Keldric Nash

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

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Friday, OctOber 28, 2011 - Page 11

cOmmentarythe Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926

southerndigest.com

evan taylOr

According to the Society for Professional Journalists, an ethical journalist is to seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable.

This code of ethics is used to recognize those who report on as humans, be the watchdog for the public, and be held accountable for unethical and useless content.

A great reporter works to bring the audience a story free of bias and ultimately where they don’t become a part of the story.

Due to the thin line between unethical and ethical, journalists are becoming more newsworthy than the news itself; falsifying information, misquoting, and just not doing their due diligence.

With unethical and ethical journalists working together it has become harder and harder to know where to turn for your news and who to trust.

The Southern Digest, EGO Magazine, and The Jaguar Yearbook are press/media organizations.

Our jobs are to tell the stories that concern the Southern University community. This includes the students, faculty, staff, area community and alumni community.

Our organization has never been — and will never be — a place to play, to attack, or to determine the fate of Southern University. We are here to seek the truth and report it; the good, the bad and the ugly.

Just as any other media

organization or job, you learn and gain valuable experience to take into your next job and your next stage of life.

The Office of Student Media has never been a laboratory to experiment with the powers of the administration, faculty or students.

This is a real-world transition from being only accountable to yourself and becoming accountable as a team and a publication.

We are trained young professionals who also balance classes, other jobs and life.

Our jobs have never been simple or easy to explain. We wear many hats as future media professionals, future photographers, future engineers, future doctors, future lawyers and future teachers.

We not only carry the burdens of full-time and part-time students, but also of a profession that others are quick to judge and criticize. We try not to shine false light on the

issues and concerns of the Southern University community no matter how large or how small.

We ask some of the toughest questions and get some of the most important answers.

Our office is and was the home of great media professionals who have grown inside this office and through their experiences.

They received the training and exposure they needed to apply the techniques and education they acquired in the classroom.

Without the Office of Student Media and its accomplishments and efforts, Southern University would not be home to a consecutive award winning publication staff.

If there is anything, that is in question concerning the journalists that work for The Office of Student Media it is when and how the next year’s staff will perform and what opportunities their involvement will place in front of them.

The Office of Student Media is a way to keep your foot in the door. The Southern University degree gets you in the door, the experience during and after your college career keeps you there.

The editors before me and hopefully after will continue to offer the opportunity for all students to get published, work as a team, gain work experience, be held accountable, compete in this global economy and be compensated for their work; as the world outside this university works.

Real experience, not experiments

the Sentinel OF an enlightened Student bOdy Since 1926Page 12 - Friday, OctOber 28 , 2011