SUMA: A Hidden Gem On Campus

In the back of campus, across the street from Mayberry Dining Hall stands a historical monument known as the Southern University Museum of Art. To many, it may look like a building that is always closed, but there is more to it than what meets the eye.
Although the museum was not established until 2000, the structure itself holds a lot of history alone. What is now SUMA is the oldest building on the Southern University Baton Rouge campus and is registered in the National Historical Registry. Because of this, no physical renovations can be done to it, just little things to upkeep it.
According to the museum coordinator, Crystal Hills, the building was originally for vespers, an evening service that was once mandatory for students. It was set up as an auditorium with seats, a stage, and even a balcony, that has since been covered, but still remains.
“This has been a place for financial aid, where students come to pick up their financial aid..they used to have board meetings over here. This used to be a place for everything before it became a museum,” stated Hills.
The museum has dividers that makes up the four art galleries, with one side dedicated to African American art pieces, including sculptures, paintings and abstract pieces. The other side is dedicated to just African art, which includes works from the leading art producing areas in Africa such as the Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and others.
The museum also has a Steve Harvey Exhibit. Hills says that Harvey was the commencement speaker at Southern in 2001 and he visited the museum, which resulted in him sending two truckloads of artwork, totaling over 250 pieces.
“I thought they were lost, and they pulled up in the driveway over there, and they started putting stuff all on the lawn, and the people passing thought we were having a garage sale, they were trying to buy stuff,”exclaimed Hills.
The museum also includes pieces from instructor Frank Hayden, who Hayden Hall is named after.
Outside one of the buildings, you see a monument in memoriam to Leonard Brown and Denver Smith, who were killed in a 1972 student demonstration, in the exact spot where that monument was placed.
Hills recalled the day and she remembers students going around and politely asking other students to join them. The students didn’t force anybody to go with them and they kept going until they eventually got enough people to join the crowd. She says that although they were only supposed to have tear gas, an officer brought actual ammunition, resulting in their deaths.
The museum holds a lot of history, but it is overlooked by many students.
“I think that the museum should be apart of the freshman curriculum. . .I think every student should use the museum before they leave here because the museum is more than just area,” Hills said.
Jaylon Brinson, a Florida native and junior studying Mass Communications has in fact had to visit the museum as an assignment for class.
“I think it’s a great asset to campus. Students should go and visit more often because there’s information in there that’s important to the culture here at Southern,” Brinson said.
SUMA has been closed for a few months due to necessary renovations from the winter storm that caused a few damages, but an effort will be made to have a Black History Art Exhibit.