As technology advances so does our heavy reliance upon it. With reliance comes susceptibility. The more we rely on technology the more habitual its use becomes. This second nature application of technology in our daily lives causes us to quickly relax in our need to protect our security. Cecilia Griffi n Golden, PhD, Assistant Provost warns students against this propensity to ignore the safety precautions set in place to protect against such violations as identity theft.

One such precaution is the university’s decision to no longer allow the use of social security numbers as a means to identify one’s self on campus. Julie Wessinger, interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, sent out a campus wide email on August 31st that served as an admonishment to students to memorize their student identifi cation numbers by September 11th if they had not

already done so. This email also informed the students that university forms should no longer request a social security number because all faculty and staff have been notifi ed of this change.

Because this deadline has since passed students are now required to use their student identifi cation numbers on all university related forms. This procedure should also be used for daily attendance sign-in sheets for those professors who use this method for attendance recording.

The university has also set in place safe and effective communication methods for students on campus.

Blackboard is the university’s chosen mechanism for the communication of course syllabi, canceled classes, course assignments, etc. Those teachers who are assigned to teach the class for which a student is registered are the only other persons aside from the student who has access to the blackboard account. Teachers can post announcements on blackboard and can use this tool as a means to keep their students informed about assignments, grades, or changes to any scheduled class activities. Blackboard is also a secure means for the electronic submission of assigned work.

Blackboard is also one vehicle through which students are

able to access the university’s email system. The university prohibits the use of alternate email communications. Any correspondence between University faculty or staff and students is considered University business and should be conducted only through the University supported email account. This email system is encrypted and therefore outside persons will be unsuccessful in their attempts to access personal information through the campus email system.

All students are now familiar with the use of Jagnet. During

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 .

HEATLH......................4 SPORTS......................5

PM T-STORMSHIGH 86° | 72° LOW

By tremaine sanDersDIGEST CONTrIBUTING WrITEr

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009WWW.SOUTHERNDIGEST.COM VOL. 54, ISSUE 7

estABLished in 1928

HEALTH

health bill changedDems’ concerns force revisions. pG. 4

SPORTS

su gets hard-earned winLee earns SWAC POTW. pG. 5

STATE & NATION

Big week ahead for obamaPresident stumps for policy. pG. 8

See identity page 3

By Breanna paulDIGEST STAFF WrITEr

See blood page 3

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

Baton Rouge police are investigating the shooting death of a 21-year-old man whose body was found in a parking lot on Monet Drive early Saturday.

Yuri Clement, 763 Monet Drive, was shot in the head in front of his r e s i d e n c e around 3:41 a.m., Capt. Carl Kelley, a police s p o k e s m a n said. Clement was a business management major.

Police knew of no witnesses, motives or suspects in the shooting by late Saturday, Kelley said.

Arrangements were not complete as of press time.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Baton Rouge Police Department Homicide Division at 225.389.4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225.344.7867.

DIGEST NEWS SErVICE

CLEMENT

Student slain at residencePolice seek answers in weekend shooting

Students must protect identity

Southern University students are reminded to do simple things like change PIN numbers in order to prevent identity theft.

photo By roBert FloriDa/DiGest

Students, faculty and staff gathered Wednesday at the Lakefront Room of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union to donate blood at the third annual blood drive sponsored by the JNO G. Lewis Jr. Masonic Lodge Institute 261.

According to the LifeShare Blood Center Blood Donor Educational Materials, in order to be an eligible blood donor, one must be 110 pounds, at least 17 years of age and in good health.

With just one donation, a pint of blood, three lives are saved.

The potential donator also may have not travelled to certain locations, take

specifi c medicines or have had a positive HIV test. There also certain stipulations on the length between getting a tattoo and donating blood.

Callie Abrams who has worked for LifeShare Blood Center for approximately two years said, “It is important to keep blood on the shelves because you never know how much blood will be needed.”

Abrams stated that donated blood is only good for 56 days. “People think that blood is good forever, but it’s not so it’s very important to keep blood on the shelves.”

Ronald Gradney, a freshman majoring in Biology from Baton Rouge has donated blood many times before this time.

“Some people are less fortunate than me and I felt the need to donate to save a life,”

Gradney said. “I feel as donating blood is undocumented community service. Donating blood is making the world a better place.”

Jamal Thomas donated blood for the fi rst time. When asked how this experience was going Thomas said “it’s all right. It’s not that bad.”

Thomas, a freshman computer science major from Saint Gabriel, had been procrastinating about donating blood. “I always said I was going to do it, but I never did. And today I did.”

Thomas said that donating just one pint of blood is giving back to the community and to people who need it.

Lewis lodge hosts 3rd annual blood drive SUS forum Thursday

Southern University’s Presi-dential Search Committee, charged with conducting a search for the university’s next system president, will hold an open meeting Thursday in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, located on the second fl oor of the J.S. Clark Administration Building on the SUBR campus.

The forum will allow all interested parties the chance to voice concerns.

DIGEST NEWS SErVICE

the Honors College at 771.4845 or go to www.hcasc.com.

stuDent orGaniZationsThe Office of Student

Programs announces that the due date for organizations to register for the academic year 2009-2010 is Wednesday, Sept. 30. Please come by the office, located in Suite 203 of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union to pick up and complete forms.

writinG proFiciencyThe Writing Proficiency

Examination is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15. Only those students who have officially registered (the Writing Proficiency must appear on the student’s class schedule) will be allowed to take the test. If the student has not registered, the deadline for doing so is Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Students can begin signing in at 3:15 p.m. at their appointed sites. To ensure that the test begins on time, there will be no admittance after 3:45 p.m.

Please report as follows:•A-E: School of Nursing

Auditorium•F-L: Lee Hall

Auditorium•M-P: Harris Hall/

Classrooms•Q-Z: Stewart Hall

Auditorium

social anD BehaVioral sciences unDerGraDuate

research conFerenceThe Department of

Psychology is sponsoring the 11th Annual Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference Friday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Students in the departments of criminal justice, economics, history, political science, psychology, rehabilitation and disability studies, sociology social work and speech pathology are encouraged to submit abstracts.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Oct. 9. For more information, contact Dr. Reginald Rackley at 225.771.2990 or e-mail cozetrichard@yahoo.com.

is open to all majors campuswide.

center For stuDent success

Students peer tutoring is available at the Center for Student Success in Room 107 of W.W. Stewart Hall. Follow the Center for Student Success on twitter to see exciting upcoming events. Twitter.com/Jaguar_Nation

insurance licensinG courses

SU’s Division of Continuing Education and College of Business will sponsor insurance licensing courses on the Baton Rouge campus. The courses, which are open to anyone interested in becoming a licensed insurance agent, will include continuing learning classes for those who are already licensed.

Registration is ongoing for the classes. The starting date for the class will be determined at the end of registration. For more information about the courses or registration, call 225.771.2613.

campus QueensThe 2009 Homecoming

Committee announces the registering of all campus organizational queens for Homecoming pregame festivities. These forms can be picked up in Suite 203 in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. The deadline for these applications is Friday, Sept. 25.

THE SOUTHERN DIGEST 4 - DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 SATURDAY, SEPT. 26THURSDAY, SEPT. 24 FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

HI - 88° / LO - 72° 40% CHANCE OF RAIN

scattereDt-storms

HI - 88° / LO - 73° 40% CHANCE OF RAIN

scattereDt-storms

scattereDt-storms

isolateDt-stormsHI - 88°/ LO - 73° 30% CHANCE OF RAIN

Page 2 - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

CAMPUS BRIEFSwww.southerndigest.com

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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 225.771.2230.

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 bi-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 Gardner

CONTACTS (Area Code 225)Advertising Office - 771.2230DIGEST Newsroom - 771.2231Student Media Services- 771.3004The Jaguar Yearbook - 771.2464YEArBOOK Newsroom - 771.4614EGO Magazine Newsroom - 771.4614

Southern University and A&M College at Baton rouge is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.sacscoc.org.

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

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

2009 FALL DIGEST STAFF

PAGE 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS & PAID CLASSIFIED INFO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFNorman J. Dotson Jr.

COPY EDITORSKenyetta M. Collins

Erica S. Johnson

SPORTS EDITORLarry Young Jr.

PHOTO EDITORWil Norwood

LAYOUT EDITORDarrius Harrison

DIGEST STAFF WRITERSMary Davis

Morris Dillardrosalinda Clay

Candace EdwardsBreanna Paul

Tremaine Sanders

DIGEST PHOTOGRAPHERSNorman J.Dotson Jr.

April BuffingtonTrevor JamesJustin Wooten

robert W. Florida Jr.

CARTOONISTWil Norwood

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SUITE 1064 – T.H.HArrIS HALL

P.O. BOX 10180 – BATON rOUGE, LA 70813225.771.2231 PHONE / 225.771.3253 FAX

WWW.SOUTHErNDIGEST.COM

“the BluFF” car washIs your car dirty?

Haven’t had the time to get your car washed? Want to get your vehicle cleaned before the game? Let THE BLUFF-SU Web Radio wash your car or truck.

The Bluff will be having a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Advance Auto Parts parking lot at 7838 Scenic Highway (across from The Palisades). Come and out support THE BLUFF –SU Web Radio.

Dominoes tournamentThe Smith-Brown Mem-

orial Union’s Recreation Area will hold a dominoes tournament Oct. 14 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at Lacumba’s Playpen. Registration for the tour-nament will be Sept. 28-Oct. 9 at Lacumba’s Playpen. Registration is for individuals only, with a $3 registration fee.

honDa campus all-star challenGe

Student applications for the 2009 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge’s cam-pus competition are being accepted now until Monday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. The campus tournament will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. Participants in the campus competition are eligible to be selected to represent SU in the 2010 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship Tournament. For more information, contact

For more information call 225.771.2230 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:

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“the BluFF” online raDio station

Would you like to enhance your radio skills either on or behind the scenes?

The Mass Communi-cations Department is providing the opportunity to all students, regardless of major, to apply to work at their online radio station called “The Bluff.”

Some of the positions available include station manager, program director, disc jockey, news reporter and sports reporter.

The Bluff will only be accessible on Southern’s campus. Students in-terested in applying should pick up an application in W.W. Stewart Hall, room 135.

For more information about The Bluff, stop by the weekly meetings Thursdays at 3 p.m. in Room 154 Stewart Hall or visit the website at http://www.subr.edu/thebluff.

Beep meetinGsThe Southern Univ-

ersity chapter of the Black Executive Exchange Program meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in Room 222 of T.T. Allain Hall. BEEP

Campus BriefsTODAY

employmentAirport Texaco hiring

cashiers for evening, weekdays & weekends shifts full-time. Excellent customer service skills req’d. Very competitive pay. Apply in person to Baton Rouge Metro Airport Texaco.

ClassifiedsSEPT. 26

SEPT. 30

SEPT. 28

SEPT. 25

OCT. 9

Southern University’s inaugural study abroad program in Belize was a success. Carol D. McCree, Program Coordinator for International Studies in the College of Education, and Professor Warner Anderson, the coordinator of Study Abroad Programs at Southern University, accompanied five graduate students and two undergraduate students to Belize City, Belize, on June 13, 2009. The students, (Annie Fisher, Carli Francois, Phaedra Pea, Kelli Robvais, Linda Warner, Courtney Alexander, and Angelica Celestine), according, began a three- week study of Belizean schools, cultures, and languages. The goal for the undergraduate students was to earn credit for Spanish and Multicultural Education. The purpose for the Educational Leadership graduate students was to observe the K-12 schools in Belize, gather research for their Capstone / Thesis projects, compare instructional techniques, and provide workshops for Wesley High School and Wesley Junior College faculties in Belize City.

The schedule included the Educational Leadership students reporting to their observation schools from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day while the undergraduates attended Spanish class. At 4:30 p.m., on five consecutive days, all of the students gathered at Wesley for the cultural seminars presented by experts on the Belizean culture being studied. The seminars were reinforced by the excursions to significant sites in the country.

The Belizean culture is very mixed. The five major groups are East Indian, Garifuna, Kriol, Mayan, and Metizo. Asians, Africans, Jamaicans, Bahamians, and persons from the other Caribbean nations came to Belize in large numbers too. Although Americans cannot seem to get past race and ethnicity, the Belizeans seem to have put the issue to rest. Interracial marriages are very common in Belize. One could probably wager that a person could not correctly determine the ethnicity of four of any ten people living in Belize. Some very dark people may have straight hair, not relaxed, with blue eyes, and a very “Negroid” nose. On the other hand, there could just as frequently be a person with fair skin who also has fuzzy hair with dark features usually associated with East Indians or with the facial structures of an Asian. Who knows and who cares? They are all Belizean and everyone seems to get along without any racial unrest.

The Southern University (SU) group arrived during the last week of the 2009

regular school session in Belize. The students were able to assist with the closing of schools and the reopening of schools for the summer session. Targets of their observations included viewing the operation of the schools, the amount instructional time on a task, testing procedures, and how the schools meet the needs of special education students.

The students noted also that the social expectations of the parents and students seemed to be different from the beliefs of the parents and students in the United States. An announcement was made, over the intercom, for the students at Wesley High School (the laboratory school associated with our university partner, Wesley Junior College) to clean their desks. The SU group thought that the students would get uncommonly loud and use their bookbags to clean out their desks. Not so. The students quietly picked up their desks, took them outside, used several common buckets of water and sponges and literally cleaned the marks from every wooden desk. When asked about the apparent routine, the response was that each student used a desk; therefore each was responsible for the care of that desk. How well do you think that idea would go over in Baton Rouge or any city in the States?

Further insight into Belizean practices, which the SU students utilized, came from casual conversations and tours. The countryside between Belize City, the capital city of Belmopan, and Dangriga, a rainforest. In Dangriga the group visited the Garifuna museum. The Garifuna are the result of the intermarriage of the Carribeans from South America and the Africans that escaped from slavery to Belize. The tour guide explained the plight of these people and the fascinating history of these African descendants. Cassava bread is a Garifuna tradition and a delicacy. A tour of a cassava bread manufacturing center was both interesting and tasty, the students said.

After spending the night in San Ignacio, the capitol of the Cayo district in western Belieze, the group moved on to the Mayan country and viewed the gorgeous Mayan ruins at the Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve. No camera lens can capture the appeal of these historical monuments.

Just as hot dogs are an American classic, stew chicken is Belizean’s staple. Peas and rice dishes are also a favorite. What Americans call beans and rice is called stew beans and rice. The traditional foods symbolic of the various cultures that have migrated to Belize are also very prevalent but don’t look for a McDonald’s. There are

none. The teachers at Wesley ended their school

year by preparing for the next year with the SU travelers. To assist, the students presented a workshop entitled “Literacy: Everybody Can Help.” Literacy was chosen because it is a critical issue that affects student achievement throughout the world. The teachers were offered methods for incorporating literacy strategies in lesson plans for all classes. The workshop was a huge success. Many expressed gratitude and were eager to implement what they had learned. The delivery was interactive and truly a proud moment for Southern University.

Even though English is the official language of Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, Spanish is widely spoken. Tony Nketia, a Wesley Junior College professor, delivered a very hands-on course in Spanish. The students enrolled in this class were taken on numerous excursions throughout the city. They visited grocery stores, department stores, restaurants, museums to practice their ability to communicate in Spanish. The students showcased their ability to read Spanish and to translate it quickly by singing a Spanish song at the karaoke bar where the group hosted a going- away thank you party the night before leaving the country.

Belize has recently been promoted as a tropical paradise, and that it is. The SU team took a water taxi from Belize City to San Pedro and Caye Caulker. The views looked like postcards the students said. San Padro is the area of the country with white sand beaches and crystal blue water. Many cruise ships dock there. No cars are on the road. One has to rent a golf cart to move around. People line the streets selling handmade jewelry and wood carvings. Great deals can be made. The group spent the night in Caye Caulker and were there on the weekend. The city was hosting its annual Lobster Festival. There were lobster of all varieties to try. Many bands performed, and there were street vendors to explore. This was a wonderful way to end a very intense but rewarding three weeks.

Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Barbara Carpenter, dean of International Studies at Southern University, Mrs. Winsome Arana, Dean of Wesley Junior College, and Mrs. Brenda Armstrong, who is president of Wesley Junior College, Southern University has begun a partnership that is mutually beneficial for both institutions. Hopefully, this study abroad program will last for many years to come.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - Page 3

NEWSwww.southerndigest.com

identity from page 1

blood from page 1

the initial registration process students are assigned a generic pin number. This pin number is each student’s date of birth. For the safety and security of all Jagnet accounts the Chancellor’s office states that all students should have long since changed those given pin numbers to a more personal number that is easy to remember but difficult for others to ascertain. Students should never share the passwords to the aforementioned university tools with anyone.

For as long as can be remembered the advice to not share passwords has been reinforced. Students are not safe simply because they do not share their passwords with anyone. Terrence Cyriaque, Coordinator of IT Security, suggests that students change their passwords every thirty to sixty days. In the event that a password is reset because it has been forgotten students should then change the password again after its been reset. This is to protect against the possibility that someone saw the email in which the system administrator of that account included the reset information. When asked to convey security advice to students Cyriaque suggested that students should check all online accounts frequently, whether campus associated or not. If something is suspicious or changes have been made he believes, “The sooner you report it the better off you are.”

Each student when left to his/her own devices must do all that is both possible and necessary to protect one’s self from those who seek to infringe upon the inherent right to privacy. Not sharing passwords is merely a foundation for protection. This foundation can be solidly be built upon by simply changing passwords frequently and ensuring password strength. The university has set in place certain things to protect the student but these provisions will prove to be an exercise in futility if the students do not utilize them properly.

Jamal Crawford coordinated the third annual blood drive hosted by the JNO G. Lewis Masonic Lodge Institute 261.

Crawford said this organization is dedicated to helping the community. The Masonic Lodge Institute is a well-rounded organization. “We also assist with sickle cell donation as well as blood donation.”

Crawford stated that he would like to thank everyone who donated blood and who assisted with this year’s third annual blood drive on campus.”

SU Study Abroad program finds successBy carol mccree, ed.D.SPECIAL TO THE DIGEST

By erica wernerASSOCIATED PrESS WrITEr

Page 4 - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

HEALTHwww.southerndigest.com

BY THE ASSOCIATED PrESS

WASHINGTON—The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee was revising his sweeping health care bill Monday to address serious concerns from fellow Democrats and a key Republican about insurance costs, part of his ongoing struggle to deliver on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

The changes — which include possibly halving a penalty for people who don’t comply with a new requirement to purchase insurance — came a day ahead of a committee session beginning Tuesday to amend and vote on the bill, which Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., hopes his panel will approve by the end of the week.

“We’ve come a long, long way to satisfying the affordability concerns,” Baucus said Monday evening after meeting with committee Democrats.

“There will still be amendments offered, as there should be ... But my sense is the meeting today went a long way to dealing with a lot of the concerns that senators had,” he said.

Baucus’ 10-year, $856 billion package would extend coverage to about 29 million Americans who lack it now and institute insurance market reforms, such as prohibiting higher premiums for women or the denial of coverage to sick people. It would make almost everyone buy insurance or pay a fee, give subsidies to the poor to help them buy coverage and create new online exchanges where small businesses and people without government or employer-provided insurance could shop for plans and compare prices.

Release of the bill last week gave a boost to Obama’s health care agenda after a summer of angry town hall meetings, though plenty of political and policy hurdles remain before Congress could send a bill to Obama’s desk.

In the days ahead, Baucus faces the difficult task of keeping his 13 committee Democrats on board without moving so far to the left that he alienates Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the only one of the panel’s 10 Republicans seen as likely to vote for the bill.

Snowe’s support could become even

more critical presuming health overhaul legislation makes it to the Senate floor, as Democrats look for the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.

Snowe and a number of Finance Committee Democrats had raised concerns about whether subsidies in Baucus’ bill are generous enough to make insurance truly affordable for low-income people. There were also concerns about a new tax on high-value insurance plans, which some fear would hit middle-class workers even though Baucus is directing it at so-called “Cadillac” insurance plans that he says are enjoyed by a minority of U.S. workers.

Senators offered a raft of amendments on both those issues, and Baucus was incorporating some of the approaches in revised legislation he’ll unveil at Tuesday’s committee meeting. Details weren’t final, but Baucus said he was looking at lowering a $3,800 penalty that his bill would levy on households that don’t comply with a new “individual mandate” to purchase insurance.

Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, a key Finance Democrat, said senators were discussing cutting that penalty in half, to $1,900. The $950 penalty for individuals who don’t buy coverage, however, would not be changed.

Also under discussion, according to Conrad, was lowering the maximum amount

of income people could pay in premiums before becoming eligible for subsidies. It’s now 13 percent. Senators were also looking at adjusting the new insurance excise tax — now set to hit plans valued at $21,000 for a family and $8,000 for an individual — so that it’s limited to even more expensive plans over time, Conrad said.

The changes could add to the cost of the $856 billion bill, but since the bill would raise about $50 billion more than it spends over 10 years, there is some wiggle room. Conrad said new cuts were being considered to pay for the changes but he declined to specify what they were. The bill already would cut planned Medicare spending by $500 billion over a decade.

Baucus’ legislation is the most conservative, and cheapest, of five health care bills in Congress. The four other bills have already passed committees in the House and Senate, but Baucus’ is the most closely watched because he tried for a bipartisan deal, though without succeeding. In the other committees, majority Democrats passed legislation without GOP support that reflected mostly liberal priorities.

Also, the Finance Committee has a moderate makeup that resembles the Senate as a whole, so legislation that passes Finance could find favor on the Senate floor.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., second from right, speaks at a news conference on health care as U.S. reps. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., from left, Bob Brady, D-Pa., and Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., look on at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience Monday in Philadelphia.

photo By matt slocum/ap photo

Health bill changed

The costs of swine flu are helping push Louisiana’s Med-icaid program over budget, and the state health secretary said Monday that he expects a midyear deficit that will need to be closed.

Health and Hospitals Sec-retary Alan Levine wouldn’t put a dollar figure on the projected deficit, but he told the Senate Finance Committee he expects it will be sizable.

“I think we’re looking potentially at a pretty significant shortfall,” he said.

A formal estimate of the deficit will be released in November. Lawmakers and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration then will work with Levine’s department to devise ways to close the gap.

Levine said swine flu cases are driving up emergency room visits, trips to the doctor’s office and medication needs, and he said that’s driving up billing costs in the Medicaid program that cares for the poor, elderly and disabled.

Meanwhile, Levine said cost-cutting moves planned for the $6.5 billion program were taking longer to begin than he had hoped.

For example, cuts to the rates paid to doctors and hospitals who care for Medicaid patients that are estimated to save millions took a month longer to put in place than expected because of the bureaucracy for making rate changes.

The combination of increased costs and less-than-expected savings is almost certain to cause a deficit in the 2009-10 budget that began July 1, Levine said.

“There’s too many variables working against us. There’s just too many headwinds,” he said.

Medicaid deficit expected

Southern quarterback Bryant Lee earned the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top weekly honor for offensive players for his performance against Tennessee State Saturday.

The 2008 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, and preseason selection as the league’s top offensive player, completed 23 of 32 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns in leading Southern to a 21-17 come-from-behind win over TSU.

The senior from Boutte threw touchdown passes of two and 15 yards, and directed a 7-play, 65-yard game-winning drive that ended with Brian Threat’s 9-yard touchdown run with 3:47 remaining for the win.

Lee, a Payton Award nominee, leads the SWAC in passing effi ciency (153.58) and total offense (254.3 yards per game). His 724 passing yards ranks ninth in Division I Football Championship

Subdivision play. Lee ranks 16th in the nation in passing effi ciency and 18th in total offense. The Payton Award goes to FCS’ top offensive player.

Grambling defensive end Christian Anthony picked up the SWAC’s defensive player of the week honors after the Tigers’ 27-17 win over Jackson State. Anthony had eight tackles (seven solo, including 2.5 TFL), 1.5 sacks and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Anthony picked off a JSU pass late in the fi rst quarter and returned it 30 yards for the game’s fi rst touchdown and helped keep JSU out of the end zone until late in the game. The SWAC’s preseason defensive player of the year is a nominee for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in FCS.

Texas Southern quarterback Arvell Nelson picked up top newcomer honors while Alabama State kicker Jake King was named specialist of the week.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - Page 5

SPORTSwww.southerndigest.com

Southern U. tennessee St.21 - 17

DiGEST nEwS SErVicE

Southern quarterback Bryant Lee fires a pass to Brian Threat (34) in the flat during Saturday’s game against Tennessee State. The Payton Award nominee earned the SwAc’s offensive player of the week honors for his play during the Jags’ 21-17 win over TSU.

photo by april buFFinGton/diGest

Although playing in their third-straight nonconference game to start off the season, last week’s 68-0 thrashing of Central State steered Southern in the right direction of triumph.

Tennessee State holds a 26-11-2 series lead over Southern including last season’s come from behind 32-34 win in Nashville, Tenn.

Saturday marked the 39th time and third consecutive season both teams squared off to do battle on the gridiron.

This year 12,247 fans witnessed SU (2-1) come from behind to win 21-17 in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Brian Threat led the game-winning drive with a 31-yard screen pass from Bryant Lee and capped it off with a 9-yard touchdown run with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter. The defense was called upon once more to hold off TSU (1-2) and put an end to a remarkable comeback.

“I thought if we could make a stop defensively, that would energize our offense because we were moving the ball offensively,” said coach Pete Richardson.

Averaging 232 yards rushing per game, SU found little daylight against the defensive front of TSU, gaining 17 yards on 24 carries through the fi rst three quarters. Brian Threat led all running backs with 22 carries 44 yards and one touchdown.

Lee had no problem fi nding open receivers completing 23 of 32 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Juamorris Stewart led all receivers with 10 receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Lee and Stewart continue to set their mark at SU, hooking for a two-yard touchdown pass for a 7-3 halftime lead. Lee found Stewart again for a 15-yard touchdown that gave SU a

14-3 third quarter lead.Tight end Warren Matthews continues

to become an open target for Lee being able to fi nd holes in the secondary for big gains. Matthews had four receptions for 69 yards, including a 28-yard pass down the middle of the fi eld to open the game.

SU got off to a slow start offensively; scoring one touchdown on six drives in the fi rst half. SU lead the SWAC in

third down conversions but were held to six conversions and three throughout the fi rst three quarters. SU also muffed several punts and turned the ball over twice which yielded SU to 197 yards of total offense through the third quarter and fi eld position deep in their own territory.

“We had a number of opportunities to close it out and made some mistakes,”

Richardson said. Lee was sacked for the fi rst time this

season on the opening series and was later dropped on back-to-back plays in the third quarter.

The mobility of TSU quarterback Calvin McNaril kept the SU defense playing on their heels and opened up running lanes for TSU to move the chains on the ground. SU held TSU to 169 total yards rushing but were relentless in the red zone forcing TSU to a 23-yard fi eld goal late in the second quarter. “I thought that the goal line play was stellar for this team,” Richardson said. “Defensively, I think we’re young and excited about playing.

Free safety Jason House made his presence felt for the second straight week replacing starter Anthony Wells. House met head-on with TSU running back Preston Brown shy of the goaline, which prevented a TSU score. House also intercepted his second pass in consecutive weeks off a tipped pass on the second play of the third quarter.

“I think House is starting to learn how to be a safety,” Richardson said. “When he can fi gure out what’s going on, he’s going to put himself in the right place to come up with the ball.”

TSU refused to go away quietly, capitalizing on an SU fumble that led to a TSU one-yard touchdown run with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter. TSU reclaimed the lead at 17-14 with 11:49 remaining in the game. TSU had erased an 11-point defi cit in the second half but the SU defense managed to get the offense the ball back with enough time for one more drive.

Southern hosts Alcorn State at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Alcorn fell 48-0 to Central Michigan last weekend.

Jaguars earn hard-fought victory over Tenn. State

Southern wide receiver Juamorris Stewart tries to put a move on Tennessee State’s Ty’ron Johnson (26) late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. Stewart caught passes on three straight plays to set up Brian Threat’s go-ahead touchdown as the Jaguars defeated the Tigers 21-17.

photo by treVor james/diGest

By morris dillardDiGEST SPOrTS wriTEr

Lee earns SWAC POTW

LOS ANGELES—Katherine Jackson’s attorney says a judge’s ruling that she can challenge the administrators of her son’s estate could result in a deal that will determine control of the singer’s gargantuan assets.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff determined in a ruling released Friday that Michael Jackson’s mother can argue against keeping the men currently administering her son’s estate without being disinherited.

Jackson’s mother had sought a favorable ruling from Beckloff that she could contest the authority of attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain to guide the pop singer’s fortune. The men were named executors of the estate, which could be worth more than $500 million, in Michael Jackson’s 2002 will.

Beckloff’s ruling clears the way for further arguments and possibly a hearing on whether the men were best suited to control the Jackson’s considerable estate. The pair have already brokered deals for a movie, books, museum show and various memorabilia that are expected to generate tens of millions of dollars.

Katherine Jackson’s legal team, however, has sought to challenge one or both of the men’s authority. A key roadblock was whether a challenge would be deemed a contest to Michael Jackson’s will. A provision of the singer’s private trust — which calls for his mother to receive 40 percent of his assets — calls for anyone that challenges the will to be disinherited.

“We now hope to resolve the outstanding administration matter, without further costly litigation, in the best interests of the beneficiaries which are Mrs. Jackson and her grandchildren,” Katherine Jackson’s attorney, L. Londell McMillan wrote in a written statement after Beckloff’s ruling.

He noted that although Katherine Jackson was pleased with the ruling, she continues to mourn her son, who was interred earlier this month at a private cemetery in Glendale, Calif.

Most of Katherine Jackson’s arguments for why she should be allowed to challenge Branca and McClain’s authority have been sealed, but Beckloff noted in his ruling that they raised several issues, including whether Michael Jackson was under “undue influence” when he signed his 2002 will.

Katherine Jackson’s attorneys may challenge Branca or McClain’s fitness as administrators of the estate, or they may

seek a member of Jackson’s family or trusted adviser to become a co-administrator. Katherine Jackson’s attorneys have noted that her son chose to have three men serve as executors of his estate, although one dropped out after the singer’s will was signed.

Attorneys for Branca and McClain did not challenge Katherine Jackson’s petition for a ruling. If her attorneys were to opt to formally challenge the authority of one or both of the men, then Beckloff would convene a hearing and hear testimony.

Katherine Jackson’s attorneys have not objected to most of the deals Branca and McClain have negotiated to date, although they raised concerns about a deal involving concert promoter AEG Live for a memorabilia exhibit. Other deals include a $60 million agreement with Columbia Pictures to create a movie using footage of Jackson’s final rehearsals for a series of London comeback concerts. The film will be released in theaters for a limited time beginning in late October, and the agreement allows special additions to be produced for DVD sales.

Beckloff ruled over Katherine Jackson’s objections that the exhibit of her son’s items — including some of his possessions from

Neverland Ranch — could go forward.Michael Jackson’s music and merchandise

has sold briskly since his death on June 25.The singer died in considerable debt, a

fact underscored by creditor’s claims that continued to be filed in his estate case. This week, two claims filed by Jackson’s former hairdresser and a law firm totaled more than $243,000, and the singer was involved in several pending civil lawsuits when he died.

Attorneys for Branca and McClain have repeatedly said they consider Jackson’s estate solvent. Experts predict that it could eventually grow to be worth more than another music superstar who died unexpectedly — Elvis Presley.

Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren are the only three people named to receive money from the estate. They stand to receive a combined 80 percent stake of the singer’s estate; the remaining share is slated to go to unnamed charities.

The estate is currently paying more than $86,000 a month to support Jackson’s mother and children, who range in ages from 7 to 12. Katherine Jackson has been named the permanent guardian of the children as was called for in the 2002 will.

Page 6 - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Arts & ENTERTAINMentwww.southerndigest.com

Taj Jackson, right, son of Tito Jackson leaves court with attorney Burt Levitch after a hearing Aug. 21 in Los Angeles. A judge approved a deal Friday between Michael Jackson’s estate and concert promoter AEG Live to exhibit the King of Pop’s memorabilia, over the objections of the singer’s mother and witness Taj Jackson.

photo by nick ut/ap photo

Ruling paves way for Jackson dealsBy anthony mccartneyAP EnTErTAinMEnT wriTEr

BELLAIRE, Mich. (AP) — Filmmaker Michael Moore gave residents of his adopted Michigan community an early showing of his new documentary on Saturday and urged them to help overthrow an economic system he said was beyond redemption.

More than 500 people crowded into a theater in Bellaire to see “Capitalism: A Love Story,” a film based on the premise that greed and corruption have subverted U.S. democracy.

“I know what’s in front of me these next weeks and months,” Moore told one audience member, anticipating withering criticism from conservative politicians and commentators, then added with a laugh: “That’s why I wanted to watch this with you guys before I’m thrown to the lions.”

Moore keeps a lakeside home near Bellaire, a rural village about 240 miles northwest of Detroit in Michigan’s northwestern Lower Peninsula, and produced the film in a nearby town. The two showings along with three parties raised about $25,000 for the local Antrim County Democratic Party, its chairman said.

Michigan’s unemployment rate of 15.2 percent is the nation’s highest. It’s even worse in parts of northern Michigan, where numerous auto parts factories and other manufacturers have folded in recent years.

The film blames the economic crisis on President Reagan-era deregulation and greedy business executives who Moore believes undermined free enterprise by pushing for policies that benefited the richest 1 percent while hurting the lower and middle classes.

Moore and his team produced “Capitalism” in a studio in Traverse City south of Bellaire.

“It was better for us to be here, in the heart of the trouble, instead of in the bubble of New York,” said Moore, a Flint native.

There’s little doubt the film will be controversial. Moore has long enraged conservatives with darkly satirical works such as “Bowling for Columbine,” which criticized the nation’s love affair with guns, and “Fahrenheit 9/11,” an attack on the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq.

Moore has been a polarizing figure since his first documentary, “Roger & Me,” accused General Motors Corp.’s executives of fleecing his hometown 20 years ago.

“Capitalism” also includes scenes from Flint, as Moore and his father — a former GM worker — visit the site of the spark plug factory where the elder Moore once worked.

Moore shows new film in home state

NEW YORK (AP) — The skies cleared at the box-office for “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” as the 3-D animated family comedy topped all films with $30.1 million.

The success of Sony’s adaptation of the popular 1978 children’s book was a good sign for the much anticipated big screen version of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” due out Oct. 16.

The weekend’s total box-office gross was approximately $100 million, an increase over the $88 million that was made

on the corresponding weekend last year.

The top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are:

1. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Sony, $30,304,648, 3,119 locations, $9,716 average, $30,304,648, one week.

2. “The Informant!” Warner Bros., $10,464,314, 2,505

locations, $4,177 average, $10,464,314, one week.

3. “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself,” Lionsgate, $9,877,436, 2,255 locations, $4,380 average, $37,749,545, two weeks.

4. “Love Happens,” Universal, $8,057,010, 1,898 locations, $4,245 average, $8,057,010, one week.

5. “Jennifer’s Body,” Fox, $6,868,397, 2,702 locations, $2,542 average, $6,868,397, one week.

6. “9,” Focus, $5,563,134, 2,060 locations, $2,701 average,

$22,918,077, two weeks.7. “Inglourious Basterds,”

Weinstein Co., $3,818,142, 2,519 locations, $1,516 average, $110,116,807, five weeks.

8. “All About Steve,” Fox, $3,373,212, 2,159 locations, $1,562 average, $26,651,633, three weeks.

9. “Sorority Row,” Summit Entertainment, $2,499,758, 2,591 locations, $965 average, $8,880,742, two weeks.

10. “The Final Destination,” Warner Bros., $2,388,473, 1,805 locations, $1,323 average, $62,405,206, four weeks.

Skies clear for no. 1 film ‘Chance of Meatballs’

My Fellow Jaguars,

The date of the founding of this institution, 1880, has been rightfully pierced into our memory. From our arrival, by way of festivities such as Founders’ Day, to emblematic apparel and documents, the history of our institution has remained ever present in our daily interactions. Nonetheless, it is not so much the date itself, but the tremendous story Southern University has created and the legacy it has produced that must remain the most impactful. Our Southern University has never simply been a given. It has always been a struggle – an occasionally bitter contest between academicians who embraced the idea of the advancement of our race and those who desired an illiterate and unable demographic whom they could take advantage of and subject to poverty and instability. Southern University was fought for by men and women who refused to settle for less than equality.Unfortunately, we have veered off track and our activist spirit has been dimmed. We have grown stiff with the false contentment that the threat to our very existence is no longer a reality. We couldn’t be more wrong. A pervasive sense of selfish apathy has consumed us as a Student Body, causing us to focus

more on our personal advancement in disregard of the future of this institution. Commissions, such as the Tucker Commission, whose sole responsibility is to, in essence, present documented evidence for why our institution and institutions like ours should cease of exist in theoretically post-racial environment. But we cannot blame the government alone for their desires for we have produced an atmosphere where others gain the feeling we don’t care about our institution. Administrators, faculty, and students alike have dropped the ball on addressing these critical concerns.Jaguars, this struggle for existence and better utilities is about more than just us as a people. It is about the legacy of Southern University. Hundreds of thousands of men and women, absent Southern University’s existence, may not have had the vital opportunity to acquire a valuable education, and our nonexistence could mean the deprivation of hundreds of thousands more. Before us, we face a deep contest against those interests who could care less about ours, but behind us we possess a defense enriched with our historic values and unparalleled pride. I can not, and will not, be an idle spectator to the vicious

offense on our institution, but so long as I am your At-Large representative in the Student Government Association, I will continue to fight alongside our current SGA President, Stanley White Jr., for the legacy I will one day be a part of. This requires us to look not simply at our external enemies but our internal ones. This year, in the SGA Senate, I will present legislation geared at placing card-access gates on all University Apartments, increasing administrative accountability, and offering solutions to our persistent financial aid and registration woes. Furthermore, I will work diligently with my Senate Colleagues to place before the Senate a bill to completely restructure the Student Government Association in a manner that best serves the students, and not personal interests. Though I am not the first student leader to seek solutions to these persistent concerns, I am committed to being the last. It is my humble hope that you will stand up alongside all of the initiatives of this Student Government Association with diligence so that our future and our legacy may be brighter than our past.

Most Humbly,Demetrius D. Sumner

Senator, Student Government Association

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.com.

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, September 22, 2009 - Page 7

VIEWPOINTSwww.southerndigest.com

How do you feel about the new student section

at A.W. Mumford Stadium?

Briancollins

MArinGOUinSEniOr

THErAPEUTic rEcrEATiOn

“As Mens’ Federation president, I feel as if the students deserve their seats back and

we will regain them ‘by any means necessary.’”

cOLLinS

jeanitra a.dear

nEw OrLEAnSJUniOr

MArKETinG

“The student section should have not been taken away from the beginning!”

DEAr

langstonwilliamsBATOn rOUGE

JUniOrTHEATrE ArTS/

MASS cOMMUnicATiOn

“In the 3rd quarter, the students’ voices

were heard and Section 9 was opened to 50 students. The SGA will fight to have this number increased.”

cornBreadanderson

OPELOUSASSEniOr

AniMAL SciEncE

“I don’t feel comfortable rockin’ to ‘Talkin’ out the Side of Your Neck’ from afar.”

sPeaK oUtBy morris dillard

DiGEST SPOrTS wriTEr

wiLLiAMS

AnDErSOn

Letter to the Editor

WASHINGTON—A former Louisiana congressman con-victed of corruption has lost his bid for a new trial in federal court.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria, Va., denied a request by former Rep. William Jefferson on Friday for another trial. Jefferson was convicted Aug. 5 on 11 of 16 federal counts for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa after federal agents found cash in his freezer.

A jury in Virginia ruled Jefferson must forfeit roughly $470,000 in bribery receipts. He later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation.

In his request, Jefferson argued that during the trial he should have been allowed to use information about a sexual relationship between Lori Mody, a cooperating witness, and then-FBI agent John Guandolo. He wanted to challenge the credibility of FBI Special Agent Timothy Thibault, who headed the case, or the integrity of the investigation, according to court records.

Guandolo posed as Mody’s driver during the investigation. She did not testify at the trial.

Jefferson’s motion also alleged that prosecutors delayed disclosing information about the relationship between Mody and Guandolo. Defense attorneys said that receiving information about the relationship sooner

could have helped Jefferson’s case, and that withholding the information violated Jefferson’s constitutional rights.

Ellis ruled that Jefferson did not show how the relationship was relevant or warranted being included as evidence.

The relationship “has no bearing on the reliability of the evidence obtained through the investigation,” the judge wrote.

TROY, N.Y.—President Ba-rack Obama, squeezing in a pitch for his domestic agenda, is promoting his administration’s promises of innovation at a New York community college before weeklong meetings on international priorities.

Obama traveled to Troy, N.Y., on Monday to discuss programs he says help spur innovation and transform the U.S. economy. He then moves on to New York City, where he will become the first sitting U.S. president to appear on David Letterman’s “Late Show” couch — another example of a White House strategy designed to put Obama in front of as many cameras as possible to sell his message to a skeptical public.

“He’s been on everything but the Food Channel,” joked Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Embattled New York Gov. David Paterson was the first to greet Obama as he walked off Air Force One into the epicenter of a dispute over the New York governor’s race. The two men shook hands after Obama arrived Monday. The president leaned over to make a brief comment to Paterson

Obama’s visit to a college near Albany comes a day after Washington Democrats sent a message to Paterson to drop out of the 2010 race. Obama’s aides insist the president isn’t

interfering with New York politics.

On the campus, Obama toured a classroom lab where students were working with transformers and studying power distribution.

“This looks complicated,” the president said. He chatted with students as he examined the circuitry and computers and asked instructors about the real-world applications of the students’ work. He was accompanied by Jill Biden, a college instructor and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

Obama made appearances on five Sunday morning talk shows at the top of a week that will take him to New York for the U.N. General Assembly and to Pittsburgh for a gathering of the world’s 20 largest economies. Both will be the focus of international attention but come as the administration is trying to spark a domestic agenda that has stalled in the Democratic-controlled Congress.

To that end, his speech at Hudson Valley Community College was repackaging his programs as part of a strategy for innovation. The White House said the remarks would reflect Obama’s belief that new ideas produce new jobs and the United States must invest in education, infrastructure and research.

Hudson Valley Community College already has received

some $2 million in federal grants to promote environmentally friendly jobs and train students in energy efficiency programs.

During his remarks, Obama plans to decry a U.S. economy that relies on explosive growth in some areas that mask long-term weaknesses. Instead, he plans to say, the economy has to be a consistent string of new ideas that refresh the market at a constant pace. The president — fond of criticizing “a bubble-and-burst” cycle — also plans to describe a future built by skilled workers and sound investments.

He will point to more than $100 billion in economic stimulus dollars that Congress approved earlier this year to look for breakthroughs in areas as diverse as health, energy and information technology and to his spending priorities, which included the largest increase in basic research in history. Although deeply unpopular among conservatives, administration officials insist the spending pulled the economy back from the brink and avoided a potential economic depression.

And to prevent future crises, Obama will tell the audience the United States must continue to invest in projects so the nation isn’t left trying to catch up with global competitors and to make sure regulations don’t stifle new thinking crucial to economic stability.

Page 8 - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

STATE & NATIONwww.southerndigest.com

President Barack Obama is pictured with host David Letterman during a break at a taping of cBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman” Monday at the Ed Sullivan Theater in new York.

photo by charles dharapak/ap photo

Big week ahead for ObamaBy Ben fellerASSOciATED PrESS wriTEr

www.southerndigest.comget online @

Federal judge denies Jefferson new trial

Former congressman william Jefferson (D-La.), left, exits U.S. District court with his wife Andrea Jefferson in Alexandria, Va., in this July file photo. A judge denied Jefferson a new trial on federal corruption charges Monday.

photo by jacquelyn martin/ap photo

THE ASSOciATED PrESS

Court overturns judge’s order for teen to cut hair

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans judge can’t order a teenager on probation to get a haircut or go to jail, a state appeals court ruled Friday.

During a hearing last month, Juvenile Court Judge David Bell warned a 10th-grader on pro-bation for possession of stolen property that he would be jailed for one year if he didn’t cut his dreadlocks by Sept. 23.

But a three-judge panel from Louisiana’s 4th Circuit Court of Appeal reversed Bell’s order, saying it isn’t supported by state law.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana challenged Bell’s verbal order on behalf of the minor, who is identified in court papers only as “A.B.” The group’s lawyers argued that making a haircut a condition of probation violated the teen’s constitutional rights.

“It bore absolutely no relation to his offense or his probation,” said Marjorie Esman, the ACLU

of Louisiana’s executive director. “There has to be some relevant relationship between the punishment and offense.”

Bell said this wasn’t his only haircut order, but said he couldn’t provide details of other cases. In an interview Friday, the judge said taking away something a child values can be a fair alternative to jail.

“When a kid violates their probation, my choices are to incarcerate them or to do something else,” he said. “This was the lesser of the two punishments.”

Bell said he ordered a haircut for this teen “because you want to take something that he valued.”

“For this kid, that was his hair,” he said.

In court papers, ACLU lawyers said the teen’s mother told Bell that he didn’t get a haircut “because they want to go to trial, and his hair is evidence.”