Dear Southern University,
Southern University and A&M College is an HBCU and one of the top universities in the country. Unfortunately, we do not seem to be holding to this as of late.
Some of the issues I am referring to range from the lack of communication from administration to the community at-large, what looks to be a cut-off-a-leg-so-the-body-can-live style of money management in this ridiculously backwards statewide budget cut, a seemingly apathetic Student Government Association and an even more apathetic student body (which, personally, I believe my generation to be lazy for the most part).
I’m not going to plead the Fifth: I cut class occasionally. However, I at least try to get what I missed from someone and do not get all Jersey Shore/Real Housewives of Atlanta when I’m called out about it.
I understand the pressures of being a student in today’s world, dealing with issues that previous generations simply do not understand. Some of you work. Others, like myself, are out-of-state students that sometimes consider “independent pharmaceutical distribution and sales” or “late night dancing” in order to keep pace with the ever-increasing out-of-state fees.
You care about not only your future, but the future of our world (which, by the way, we will be running when the old dies out). Not only do some of you work, but you’re also a part of campus life, giving your time to 0rganizations, sports, the band, Greek life, the Office of Student Media or whatever else there is on this campus. There is also the personal stuff like families, relationships and all those other things that life has to offer anyone our age.
So you might need a break here or there, but that doesn’t mean you should abuse this or not expect there to be consequences to face. That’s what it means to be a “grown up” people! Lets get down to the point and have some RNS discussion here:
1: You’re here to get educated to carry your community and the world to higher heights, so stop acting like this high school and carry yo butt to class!
2: That means take some personal responsibility and make moves to stop you from falling deep(er) into a hole. Like Riley Freeman told Tom DuBois in the R. Kelly episode of “The Boondocks,” “When I see piss comin’, I move.” Which brings me to …
3: Stay informed! Read sometimes, it’s actually fundamental. Instead of just looking at us (the media) as gossip slingers and muckrakers look to us as what we are, The Digest Staff, does not stay in that office till all hours of the night for you people to just read the questions or the editorials. There might actually be some “news” in the “newspaper,” warning you of grave danger ahead so that you can prepare for it.
4: Have the self-fortitude to stand up to the people who are in charge or in those positions you put them in and make them produce some answers and results. Its time out for the silence and “under your breath talking.”
While I’m on the subject of silence … Where is SGA? We put you people in these positions so you can make a change not sit on those stipends and park in your parking spots by the union. I know you all are good people and this is not personal, but to call you out on your BS is my job. I took this position because I wanted to make a difference and if The Digest has educated just one person then the staff as a whole has accomplished this feat. All I ask is that Student Government officials do the same. If you have done so, please say something. I know the media and politicians are always at odds with each other, but we all need to work together here at SU and stop acting like we are at war. If you have done something, speak up and let everyone else know. The Digest is the students’ medium to be heard and that includes SGA. So dust yourselves off, get back in the game and start to make some change happen.
Now that I’ve said that to the students I have to say the same to those in charge of everything else. To the Administration and System leaders:
(Throwing up hands) What in the Hell!
Why don’t we ever hear from you all until after the stuff hits the fan? It would be nice to hear about the dog getting ready to bite us before it takes a chunk out of our rear ends. You might need to, no wait, you have to talk to us. Believe it or not, we pay your salaries. Now I know your argument is “No, we get paid through state funds.” You’ve got a point with that one, but the state determines how much money an institution gets based upon its number of ENROLLED STUDENTS. That means that the funds that pays your salaries depend on us enrolling and paying for school which means you need us. Communication between the higher-ups and the students should be the most important thing on your list.
It seems that our administrators love to grandstand and posture over the hiring of a football coach more than having their carcasses at the Capitol fighting for Dear Old Southern. Would board members have liked it if Piyush Jindal said “if you’re not at this meeting by 9 a.m., I’m kicking you off the board?”
Can someone tell me why the presidential search board hasn’t decided on a candidate yet? Can someone tell me who does interim president Kassie Freeman think she is fooling by calling these pay increases “temporary pay-overloads.” You’re giving them raises for doing the same thing they did last year. By the way, what do they do? Aren’t we facing budget cuts that could add up to $5 million? I don’t think raises — oh my bad “temporary pay-overloads” — are called for at this point in time. I think they were living just fine with their original pay and can hold out until we are in a better financial position. Let’s instead manage what we already have and make precautions to lessen the burden on our institution.
While I’m on the subject money, alumni, GIVE SOME MONEY TO YOUR SCHOOL! I know we all have had a bad experience or three with Southern, from those ridiculously long financial aid lines, grumpy and sometimes rude school employees and that occasional butthole professor.
However, I know there were good times too.
Don’t forget how much good came from your college experience. Don’t be so mad that a few memories of the bad times allow you to rob someone else of the same experience. Swallow that stupid pride and give a little!
Maybe if you became more active in other areas (outside of what my staff reports on or puts in the viewpoints section) and get on these other people’s cases you might be able to make someone’s college experience more enjoyable. Do your part!
All in all, lets get real about our situation. If something new doesn’t happen Southern is not going to make it past 2025.
This is the winter of our discontent. If we don’t get together and try to work with each other to make it through this difficult season Southern is going to lose and fall to the wayside of history.
Sincerely yours,
Norman J. Dotson Jr., Editor-in-Chief
The Southern Digest