August 30, 2022 . Volume 79 . Issue 1
Curbing The Parking Issue Jenna Bernard
THE SOUTHERN DIGEST A new semester means new students on the Bluff. There is an influx of new Jaguars at Southern University A&M College to secure their future. From freshmen to faculty, everyone desires to get to their destination in a timely manner to further themselves and acquire an education. In order to obtain these goals, campus parking is essential. Parking on campus has been the subject of debate for decades now; both alumni and current students wonder where they could park, why they’re accumulating tickets, and how they can receive some answers. Za’Laya LeDay, a freshman Business major from Lake Charles, Louisiana, shares some of her frustrations as well. “Parking is okay if you know a good perspective of where you need to go.” She goes on to add, “I definitely do think the school needs to There’s allow more parking in the front of the no hidden school as well.” The agenda… DIGEST met with the director of Traffic everything and Parking at we do is Southern University, rules and Eric Reid, to discuss regulations the grievances and questions that we that you can all desperately are find online.” searching for. Mr. -Eric Reid, Director Reid mentions that Traffic & Parking
A Home Away From Home? Jaidyn Nix
THE SOUTHERN DIGEST Southern University has now welcomed back students on campus for the 2022-2023 school year. Unfortunately, for many students they were unable to secure on campus housing. This school year it has been said that Southern accepted around 1,900 incoming freshmen despite the fact there is only enough housing to allow 2000 students to live on campus. On July 10th, a near seven hundred of returning students were sent an email that their housing application had been received but that housing for the Fall 2022 term had reached full capacity. The email stated that Southern University is “not able to guarantee an assignment for said student on or before August 15th.” This created a lot of social uproar for students. Many students felt that they were thrown into a very stressful situation because they now only had a month to See HOUSING page 3
Mental Health: Knowing What’s Important Tiffany Williams
THE SOUTHERN DIGEST Mental Health is also known as “The Quiet Crisis”. It is something everyone deals with whether they know it or not. You may be saying to yourself, “I would know if I have a mental disorder.”, but many people don’t! Everyone has or will experience small episodes of depression or anxiety in their lifetime. On the other hand, having acute episodes of depression, anxiety, or even A posted no parking sign just outsode of T.H. Harris Hall. Students. (DIGEST FILE) hearing a voice when no one is around doesn’t mean you have a the entire month of August is the busiest the campus as well as learn different spaces mental disorder. It’s actually more for them since they handle registration for to park. Tickets are only administered if you common than you think. If your Southern University students as well as the were to park in a reserved parking space, emotions or behavior affects your Southern University Lab School. such as faculty parking. He says, “There’s no lifestyle in a negative way, you It was brought to Mr. Reid’s attention to the hidden agenda…everything we do is rules and may need to give in and seek help. student body’s thoughts and concerns about regulations that you can find online.” A mental health fair, “Wellness Traffic and Parking such as tickets, booting, He goes on to explain where you could find Festival on the Bluff ”, was hosted and insufficient parking. He started by stating that Traffic and Parking gives students about See PARKING page 3 See MENTAL HEALTH page 3 a month’s grace period to get familiar with
Getting Familiar: University Counseling Center hosts Meet & Greet Te’yanah Owens
THE SOUTHERN DIGEST On Thursday afternoon, August 25, 2022, the University Counseling Center had their Annual Meet & Greet. It was scheduled to be on the lawn of the Counseling Center but due to the rain it was moved to the Intramural Sports Complex, also known as “The Rec”. Despite the rain, the event turned out to be a success. From free pizza and cold drinks to giveaways, the meet and greet had a lot to offer. Goodie bags were filled with lots of surprising prizes, such as Colgate teeth whitening kits. Students and athletes were excited with all the Counseling Center had to offer including games such as Connect 4, raffles, vendors, music, and plenty of dancing. It was a good time for both the old school and new school. DJ Curtis perfectly matched the playlist to both generations’ liking. Nothing but notable Southern classics were played. It felt like a mini party and family reunion going on a Thursday. Although there was a party feeling, the vendor
Executive Director, licensed Psycologist, Dr. Valaray Irving greets a student signing in at the University Counseling Center’s Annual Meet and Greet held inside the Intramural Sports Complex on August 25. (Te’yanah Owens/DIGEST)
tables were very informative.
Dr. Valaray Irvin, Executive Director and licensed psychologist at the University Counseling Center, stated what the purpose of the event was. “The last 20 plus years we have done this return
to school meet and greet so that students would find out about the services of the counseling center and meet the staff informally. We also invite other staff and organizations. Everyone gives information about their various offices.” To name a few, First Year
Experience (FYE), Louisiana Health Connections, and Project Peer partners with the University Counseling Center.
Graduating senior Shania Tyler, See MEET/GREET page 3
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA