Perfectly royal ending

“It’s Going Down By Any Means Necessary,” the slogan adopted to become one of Southern University’s 2006 Homecoming themes proved to be an adequate one, as the week was filled with numerous activities for students, alumni and the public alike.
It all began with… Homecoming week kicked off Monday, Oct. 30 with an Ecumenical Service in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union, which was open to the public. The day also served as the “Spirit Day”, where all attendees were urged to exhibit unity and wear blue and gold. The day concluded in the F. G. Clark Activity Center with “Making the Stage”, the annual talent show co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Before a modest crowd of the university’s student body, the show opened with the winners of House Party Production’s “Who Gives a What Where You From” contest exhibiting west coast styles of dance and fashion. “It’s official, Homecoming has started,” said Mr. Hipp of UKNODAT Entertainment, one of two emcees for the night. A unique spin to this year’s show was the intertwinement of the annual fashion show, which would usually be held during the talent show’s intermission, being woven between each performing act. The fashion portion of the show featured models from several of the university’s various modeling troupes. The audience was treated with another surprise when Elysian Fieldz, a sister act duo from Louisiana State University, who preformed their locally popular songs, “Soldierette” and “Patiently Waiting.”
Wednesday’s ‘pretty’ continuance On Wednesday, the university was treated with the appearance of Southern alumnus Bob “Butterbean” Love, the featured speaker for Homecoming Convocation.Before a crowd in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom, Love, an ex-basketball player now Director of Community Relations for the Chicago Bulls, addressed the crowd on his struggles and triumphs post his undergraduate career at Southern. Later that night, the SGA exposed the student body to a host of hearty laughs with its annual comedy show emceed by MTV and Nick Cannon Presents “Wildin’ Out” cast member Corey Holcomb whose film and television roles include “Like Mike”, Fox’s “Mad TV” and HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam.”SUBR Chancellor Edward Jackson made a surprise appearance to assure the students they would receive a safe and positive Homecoming despite an altercation between an officer and a student earlier that day in front of the student union.”Obey the rules and regulations and cooperate with authority,” Jackson said as words of advice to the crowd of students who cheered and booed the Southern University Police Department. Comedians Diamonique, Norde and David Williams kept the audience in stitches as they told jokes making light of everything from relationships to police situations.
Luckett, Juvenile give memorable performance
Thursday night’s concert extravaganza kicked off at 7:30 p.m. with Hall of Fame Entertainment and southern student Keith Jacobs performing his songs “I’m Sorry” and “Can We Dance.” The concert was emceed by Max 94.1 popular morning show radio personality Tony King who was accompanied on-stage by DJ Supa Mike who hyped and entertained the massive crowd of attendees that filled an entire side of the F. G. Clark Activity Center. The concert’s performance roster include Atlanta co-ed rap group Crime Mobb, Houston’s Trae, Capital Recording artist LeToya Luckett with a surprise appearance from 112 before New Orleans rap icon Juvenile closed out the show.
SU Greeks step for Homecoming glory
On Friday, the Southern University Greek organizations finally had their time in the limelight as they participated in the annual Greek Show step competition whose winners move on to represent the university in the State Farm Bayou Classic step show in New Orleans in late November. The Beta Alpha chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the Eta Alpha chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, who preformed at Southern for the first time in history, placed third with 71 and 70 points respectively. The Beta Alpha chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Rho chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. placed second in the competition. First place honors went to the Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. who won by a little more than 100 points. The Greek show’s sponsors, Tabasco and Warner Brothers, each contributed an additional $500 and $250 to winners, giving those who placed first $1,750 into the bank accounts of their organizations. “It feels good to win,” said Terrell Dupard of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. “The competition was good, they put on a good show. Hats off to Phi Beta Sigma.””Now we are just looking forward to the Classic,” Dupard said. Dreshellia Branch, a member of the Delta step team, agrees with Dupard’s sentiments.”It feels good to win,” Branch said. “We haven’t won in three years for Homecoming. This was a goal and an accomplishment that we made for ourselves.” “Our job is not done,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do for the Bayou Classic.”
A perfect end
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the Southern University Jaguars faced off against the Tigers of Texas Southern University in A.W. Mumford Stadium.The team awarded the massive crowd of supporting alumni, students and administration with a 34-17 win over the Tigers officially bringing a perfect close to Homecoming 2006 and reaffirming the theme: “SU: Defying Odds: Embracing Victories.”