Drake: Thank him or not?

Drake's debut album entitled "Thank Me Later" released in early June was a very interesting mix of hip-hop, R&'B, and a splash of emo-esque music styling.

Underneath all the moody lyrics there was a near endless need to find love and a good time. What struck me the most about each and every song was his excessive need to constantly refer to himself. According to pitchfork.com this seemingly self-indulgent rapper said the word "I" 410 times, and if my math is correct that's one pronoun on an average, every 15 seconds in each song… cocky much?

Outside of the endless shout outs to himself the album keeps you interested with its amusing and unique beats that sort of resemble Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreaks. The shear awkward pleasantness of the tracks isn't surprising seeing the list of producers; Timbaland, Kanye West, and Noah 40 Shebib who are known for their out of the box style of laying down beats and track.

However, the only down side to this album was its "hit or miss" lyrics. Compared to his hugely successful mix-tape "So Far Gone" where his lyrics stood out strongly and earned him the respect of many veteran rap all stars, "Thank Me later" failed to have the same impact. Instead of awe inspiring lyrics with substance, they were replaced with a slew of empty and seemingly pointless phrases that just so happen to rhyme and keep beat. In my personal opinion he focused more on having "banging" beats and remember-able hooks instead of meaningful substance behind the market value to hold it altogether.

Not all songs, however, fell pray to this stigma. Fireworks ft. Alicia Keys was a favorite of mine to listen to. The hook complimented the body of song perfectly in a metaphorical fashion. What I do applaud Drake for is the way he avoided the same ole same ole in rapping like idiotic drug use and pointless violence toward his fellow man. When he expressed anything throughout the album it was his want to find, in his journey to superstardom, a good time and someone to share it with.

Overall the album was good but not as good as he has shown us in the past. Maybe he spoiled us with hits like "Best I Ever Had" or my all time Drake favorite "Say What's Real." Don't get me wrong I would definitely add this album to my iTunes, but next time catchy beats will not be enough to carry him on his following up album. If he could just combine the two creative energies in writing and beats from his mix-tape and debut studio album, I'm more than positive he could get a 5 out of 5, but for this one I'll give him a 3 out of 5, a pat on the back, and a try again next time.

The Bottom Line...

Higher education takes yet another cut from the state as an estimated $518.6 million total reduction is projected for the year 2011-2012. An estimated $27.5 million is expected to come from the Southern University System and over half of that will come the Baton Rouge campus.

According to a memo sent out by Chancellor Kofi Lomotey Aug. 26, "The Louisiana Division of Administration has requested that the Board of Regents devise plans to show the specific prioritized effect of state general funds allocated to postsecondary education by approximately 35 percentage for FY 2010-2011."

Although stimulus money is being distributed to every institution they don't cover the amount of funds being cut out overall. The SUBR campus is to receive approximately $11.7 million in stimulus funding, but there is also a projected number of over $15 million in cuts on this campus alone.

President Ronald Mason Jr. has requested a first draft from each campus by Friday. Reductions are to be implemented at three levels. Level one reductions consist of those activities or units not directly related to the core priorities of the university (i.e. museums, galleries, sports activities, etc…). Level two reductions consist of those activities or units that support core priorities but are not directly engaged in delivering the core functions. Level three reductions consists of elimination or reduction of core programs.

"At this point I don't have any information to give and I won't have anything until I meet with all the departments this week," said Lomotey.

Lomotey is asking that all departments specify the targeted area(s) to budget reduction. He wants the departments to identify and describe proposed actions needed to achieve budget reductions. The chancellor is asking each department to indicate how the reductions relate to mission or core priorities as well as describe the cost benefits of implementing the proposed reduction and how they will be achieved. This, hopefully will project how the reductions will impact the university's ability to fulfill its mission.

Cuts add strain to SU

An estimated $4.6 million cut puts an even larger dent in the already strained Southern University budget. According to Chancellor Kofi, Lomotey, SUBR is in an even worse situation than last year and next year will be even worse.

At the start of this year there were already layoffs of at least 27 members of staff and administration. Only one instructor was laid off.

"We are still in the process of trying to balance the budget," said Lomotey. "If what we anticipate occurs next year, which is an $11 million cut, that represents about 50 percent of our non-faculty payroll which would put us in an even worse situation than this year."

Two years ago the state received several million dollars of what was called stimulus money and "gave" Southern $11 million, however, at the same time they took $11 million out of the budget.

"They really didn't give us anything, but in fact they are going to take the $11 million away when the stimulus money runs out," said Lomotey. "Basically they are reducing our budget by $11 million."

Southern was not the only institution where this occurred; all across the state institutions of higher learning were victims of this as well. With SUBR being the largest school in SU system, our cut was the largest out of the estimated $19 million total budget cuts system wide.

"We can't layoff enough people and still be an institution, we are going to have to eliminate some degree programs," commented Lomotey.

Some of the least productive programs are up for consideration, those degree programs with the lowest graduation percentage would be cut out and students currently enrolled in them would have at least a year to seek out other degree programs or different institutional careers. To Lomotey the one degree program that sticks out the most is architecture.

"If I had to make a decision today Architecture would have to go. It is one of the least productive programs with a graduation rate of only 10 percent in three years," Lomotey explained.

There are a number of things taken into consideration when a program has to be eliminated such as graduation rate, retention, number of students that take the classes, and program cost. Last year a self-assessment of all programs, called a program review, was conducted and a committee consisting of staff, administrators, and students looked over these self-assessments to rank each program.

"Architecture didn't fair too well," said Lomotey. "We were going to recommend to the board that architecture be terminated. Ultimately I withdrew that recommendation because I don't want to have close any program down and if the board would have approved that we still would have spent this year trying to find a way to save architecture."

Typically the university would keep the program open only for those students currently enrolled in it, however, the university needs to cut $11 million next year and not over the course of three years.

In all his years as a professional Lomotey claimed that he has never seen such a "financial mess." He feels that this is due to the state not valuing higher education.

"Every time there is a financial challenge they come to higher education and healthcare," said Lomotey.

Mason making transition to SUS

Not-so-smooth sailing for new Southern University System President Ronald Mason, as it has been a hectic transition from Jackson State University to Baton Rouge, apparently more than he thought as he jokingly expressed his disappointed in not getting a small vacation after the abrupt move into the university.

"It was a little more complicated extracting myself from Jackson State than I had anticipated both professionally and personally," Mason said. " Then coming here was a little more urgent than I had anticipated so I didn't have a lot of breathing room in between."

Mason said that he had studied Southern University before coming and made himself knowledgeable of the financial difficulties but really hadn't focused on the Baton Rouge campus' even greater financial situation until arriving. He plans to support each campus chancellors in their endeavors to better the university while implementing certain changes to the system that he hopes will enable them to run more efficiently.

One immediate change were the layoffs of 13 system employees due to sudden job eliminations as well as the replacing of Tolor White, Vice President for Finance of 53 years, with Kevin Appleton, Alcorn State University's current vice president for finance. Appleton will come in making $170 thousand, which is $13 thousand more than what White was being paid and $10 thousand more than what Appleton is making at Alcorn.

"With the job eliminations we were able to save approximately one million dollars so that we could pay him [Appleton] and others more for basically doing more. When he gets here he will be in charge of redesigning the financial structure of the system," Mason said.

This was not the only personnel issue that stuck out, the appointment of former coordinator for student affairs, Brandon Dumas, to deputy chief of staff stood out mainly due to past issues of supplementary funds given to Dumas and others in the system last year.

"Dumas is a good a man and people like him will be needed to help improve the system," Mason said in defense of Dumas, who is the son of board member Walter Dumas.

In conjunction with that Mason said this is a new job and not a promotion of any sort so he [Dumas] will not be getting paid extra to do the same tasks that he was previously doing. Dumas's salary was increased to $60 thousand from $44 thousand.

Mason also wanted to stress the role of the system's office, it doesn't function the same way a chancellor's office would even though it is located on the Baton Rouge campus. His role is to support each individual chancellor and find ways to further the system and not any campus alone.

When asked why the dialogue seemed to convey a sense of disconnect between the system and campuses Mason explained his Five Finger theory to support his function.

"Each campus is a separate finger, my job is make those fingers a hand and then turn that hand into a fist to bring the SU family together to fight through any and every problem," he said.

One very prominent issue are the increased budget cuts that may be ahead for next year. There are plans to cut an estimated 38 percent out of the budget system-wide which according to Mason is "pure insanity." System-wide the budget is approximately $72 million and these cuts would take around $27 million out of that.

"This is a threat to our campuses and we can only hope to react the best way that we can," said Mason. "Now more than ever is the time for SU family to stand up in defense of our fair institution."

Even though there are concerns about Mason not having any ties to Southern University or any Historically Black College he is confident that he is good at what he does and will do whatever it takes for Southern University to improve upon itself.

No matter what people say

So I'm watching CNN and the topic that really got under my skin is the one about the young high school girl who committed suicide because she was being, as they called it, "bullied to death." My initial reaction was that of sadness but then that phrase hit me like a rock...."bullied to death?" I don't want to sound insensitive to the situation but I don't really see how that's possible. In my lifetime spanning just 21 years I've been bullied, teased, ridiculed, and all the other bad things that happens from growing up around other kids but I have never once wanted to kill myself because of it. Now mind you I don’t condone the level at which these kids took it but I certainly don't feel as if these kids should be sentenced to life because of it. What they did was beyond stupid but nowhere near criminal. Kids are cruel, point blank, they hurt each other for no reason other than just to get a laugh out of it, but I doubt that these kids were out to kill her. Persecution for being dumbasses is going overboard; living with the fact that their actions directly caused the death of another human being should be more than enough of a punishment for the remainder of their natural lives. I feel as though people just need a villain to put their own minds at ease. If you want to place the blame somewhere place it on the parents, perpetrators and victim alike.
What kind of parent doesn't notice that their child is an asshole?
If you pay more attention to your kids they won't do stuff like throw an energy drink on poor girl walking home obviously still trying to regroup from your bastard antics earlier that day. Maybe if you spend time getting to know your child you can avoid this jackass in the making. Or maybe you should actually teach your child to respect others differences...better yet have a little talk about overkill and maybe the dumbass will know when they cross the line.

Now the parents of the victim aren't in the clear in my book, paying attention goes for you too. If you see that your child is depressed, talk to them, figure out what it is that is bothering them and help fix it. When I was talked about growing up my grandmother gave me the best piece of advice that I carry with me all my life, she said "Son, when people talk about you let them feel as if they are talking to the wall. Because after talking to a wall that aint gonna answer you back, they gonna walk away feeling really stupid," and she was absolutely right. But what I found out from that is not only will that wall not answer you back, your words will never make a wall give. My family taught me how to be strong enough to love myself no matter what people have to say about me. My parents gave me something that no one can even touch, they instilled in me self pride and if I didn't want to make it for myself they made me create it. Whenever I become a parent I will give my children that same kind of pride, that same kind of strength. I know I'm not the best looking or the smartest or have the nicest body but I do love what I have and who I am. Maybe if you teach your child that people don't have to like you and that at the end of the day the only opinion about you that matters is your own maybe unfortunate situations like this won't happen. Maybe if you let your child know at an early age that you’re their support beams they can be able to handle things like this.

I don't want anyone to think that I don't feel sorry for this family, because I do. No parent should ever have to bury their own child, especially over foolishness. All I want is for parents to learn from this event, that could be your child bullying someone or your child considering hurting themselves. Look out for the warning signs, and be there for your child. Teach them how to love who they are no matter what people say.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/09/massachusetts.bullying.suicide/index.html?hpt=C1

The Winter of SU's discontent

Dear Southern University,

Southern University and A&M College is an HBCU and one of the top universities in the country, but unfortunately we do not seem to be holding to this as of late. From a slow and communication challenged administration -to- people who are hired to look out for our best interest abusing their authority -to- this kamikaze style of money management in this ass backwards state wide budget-cut -to- a seemingly ghostly student government presence all the way down to this lazy, blinded (which I think is by personal choice) generation of students that I attend school with. Now I'm not going to lie I cut class occasionally but I mean damn I at least try and get what I missed from someone and I don't get mad when I'm called out about it. I understand the stresses of being a student in today's world, you go through stuff that previous generations don't understand. Some of you work, some are out-of-state students (like myself) and have to do so in order to pay these out-of-state fees that increase just about every year (where I'm from we call that a hustle)but because 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 your apart of campus life like organizations, sports, the band, Greek life, the office of student media, or whatever else there is on this campus not to mention the personal stuff like families and relationships and all those other things that life has to offer anyone our age....so yea U 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 cut the BS and have some RNS (Real Nigga Shit) discussion here:
1: Your here to get educated to carry your community and the world to higher heights so stop acting like this high school and carry yo ass to class!!
2: If you see piss coming....MOVE!! That means take some personal responsibility and make moves to stop you from falling deep(er) into a whole....which brings me to--
3: Stay informed!! Read sometimes....its 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 doesn't 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 and if you have done so, say something, I know the media and politics are always at odds with each other but here at SU we all need to work together 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 same to those in charge of everything else. To the Administration and System leaders.....WTF?!?!? Why don't we ever hear from you all until after the shit 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 asses. 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 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. Like can someone tell me why the presidential search board hasn't decided on a candidate yet or 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? and 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 YO SCHOOL!!! I know, I know, we all have had a bad experience or two with Southern, from those ridiculously long financial aid lines to the grumpy and sometimes rude school employees and the occasional butt-hole of a professor but I know there were good times too. Don't forget how much good came from your college experience and don't so mad that a few memories of the bad times allows 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 gonna 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 gonna lose and fall to the waist side of history.

Sincerely yours,
Norman J. Dotson Jr., Southern Digest Editor in Chief