Making Moves: SUS Board of Supervisors Meet to Discuss New Initiatives, Campus Repairs and Permanent Positions

On Friday, September 22, the Southern University System (SUS) Board of Supervisors met in the Board Room of the J.S. Clark Administration Building.
After invocation, the Southern University Law School (SULC) gave a special presentation to announce the latest law and technology initiatives that will be taking place soon.
The announcement included plans for a new application, “Hello Officer”, designed to equip citizens with knowledge about encountering law enforcement.
Ashley Freeman, a third year, full-time SULC student of Lake Charles approves of these initiatives saying, “I think it’s very important in the 21st century to combine technology with law to educate citizens about their legal rights and to make the legal process affluent.”
The SULC representatives also announced that the SULC will be using this new application to compete in the Bayou Classic BizTech Challenge for a chance to win $10,000.
The BizTech challenge gives students the chance to design technology that solves a problem in the marketplace, and create a successful business model around that technology.
“If the SULC wins the challenge,” Freeman says, “I would like to see SULC use the $10,000 to increase the technology presence that is available to students.”
Moving along in the agenda, the facilities committee opened the floor for public comments regarding any SUS facilities. A student, Jamar Myers-Montgomery approached the podium to address the water and air quality in the dormitories. Montgomery stated that the air near the dormitories has a “sweet smell indicative of pollution.”
Board Member, Attorney. Tony Clayton addressed the room, “To allay the students’ concern, I think that when the water smells like that, isn’t it hydrogen sulfate that [they] put in the water?”
Eli Guillory, the SUS Director of Facilities Planning, addressed Clayton stating, “In the past when the students are not here, we’ve had some problems with the water not being circulated and it becomes dormant, but the water is not polluted.”
The facilities committee went on to address long-standing concerns about the renovations amongst the system campuses.
In 2014, Southern University settled a lawsuit filed against the school for failure to accommodate disabled students. The settlement entails 34 physical upgrades that must be made on campus through 2019.
Updates include projected roofing projects in the works for four buildings, mechanical repairs for four buildings, 80 percent completion of the Southern University Museum of Art, and the announcement that the fire alarm system in the John B. Cade Library will be fixed, in addition to the elevators by November 2017.
According to the Finance Committee, the Department of Education recently awarded Southern University $5 million that was disbursed to support accreditation efforts across campus.
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Luria Young, emphasized, “It was decided in fairness to all entities across this campus, because our accreditation spreads across the campus, not just in Nursing, Business, and Engineering.”
As the search for a permanent Executive Vice President and Provost continues, the Board members are preparing to spend as much as $35,000 to assemble a search committee.
The search committee will be, “… representative of what we did when we appointed the previous Executive Vice President,” according to Dr. Ray Belton, SUS President-Chancellor.
This means that the committee will include a mixture of student representatives, alumni, and a distinguished SUS professor. Candidates will be presented to the Board for selection.
In 2015, lawmakers agreed to a framework for dispensing medical marijuana, but will only allow Southern University, along with LSU, to grow the product.
Friday, the board selected a vendor to run the medical marijuana program for the university.
Prior to making a selection the vendors, Advanced Biomedics, Southern Roots, and Med Louisiana, were given the opportunity to elaborate about using Louisiana-based resources.
After three brief presentations, the board selected Advanced Biomedics, of Lafayette, LA, as the vendor for the program.
“We come here with a ton of experience, and we look to make a lasting impact on this community and really become a part of the Southern community,” said Eugene Monroe, a retired tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and Advanced Biomedics representative.
Monroe will be heading community outreach for the program.
When asked about expectations for the program, Research Scientist at the Agricultural Center, Dr. Janana Snowden, said, “The number one expectation is to produce quality medicine for Louisiana residents.”
The next BOS meeting will be held on October 20 at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the J.S. Clark Administration Building.