Lomotey reaching out to SU online

In an effort to reach the Southern University family, Chancellor Kofi Lomotey recorded a podcast that will be accessible through the Southern DIGEST’s Web site later on this week.
A podcast, or podcasting, as it is regularly know as, began in the early 2000s and like radio broadcast, are able to be listened to via computers.
But unlike radio broadcasts, they are available for downloading and can be kept for long periods of time.
Although many of Lomotey’s initiatives have been discussed at length in the DIGEST and EGO Magazine, Lomotey wanted to reach out to the university’s online community.
Beginning with Lomotey’s L.A.G.N.I.A.P.P.E. initiative—Leadership, Accountability, Giving, Nurturing, Integrity, Accessibility, Pride, Patience and Excellence—the chancellor said L.A.G.N.I.A.P.P.E. is just another part of the university’s mission.
“Every campus I believe needs a set of values and beliefs that people are aware of…Accessibility is also important because it talks to the notion of being available for visitors, students and others when their needs arise.”
In the general plans segment, Lomotey discussed the mounting challenges the university has had to face in results to the national economic crisis.
In recent months, students, faculty and staff have seen classes, programs, staff, travel and supply budgets slashed in order to balance the state’s budget.
On a lighter note, when asked with new degree programs he would like to see brought to the Southern, Lomotey said nuclear energy.
“That is going to be an increasingly important area, not just in Baton Rouge and Louisianan, but nationally and internationally. We’ve had some discussions with some of the leadership at the Shaw Group on getting clarification in terms of some of the needs they have.”
His second priority would be to bring an African-American studies program to the university.
“I don’t think an HBCU can justify its existence if it didn’t have a program that spoke to the culture and history and life experiences of people of African descent.”
Unfortunately, the state has put a freeze on universities creating new degree programs until the nation’s economic crisis has been solved.
Meaning classes like introduction to women’s studies will remain an elective for the time being.
Revealing some of his personal life, Lomotey said he, like many from the Southern family, has gotten into following the women’s basketball team.
“I’ve always been a fan of basketball. I played while I was in high school and college,” said Lomotey. When asked what positions, he said, “I was a forward-slash-center. I used to be able to ‘jump out of the gym.'”
“I want to be supportive of all our teams…I want to encourage other members of the university to come out and support our teams. It gives everyone a chance to get away from the academic grind and reinforces a sense of camaraderie within the community.”
Ending the podcast, Lomotey spoke of the journals he is currently editing, his Chancellor Lecture Series, the summer jazz program and the importance of students, faculty and staff keeping a positive outlook on the future of the university, despite its current financial woes.
“We’re not going to close the door…we have to move the univ-ersity forward. There are some things we are going to have to cut back on, but this is a chance to seek sources of funding for the university that we haven’t tapped before.”