Post on 19-Jul-2020
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 1
barked on its own mission to provide its students with a
fulfilling, yet safe, college experience.
First known as the Campus Community Coalition
for Change (CCCC), the department has since revamped its
mission under the name Louisiana Center Addressing Sub-
stance Use or simply, LaCASU. LaCASU aims to foster
healthy collegiate communities by reducing problems asso-
ciated with students‘ substance use. This is done with the
help of various institutions and key community and state
stakeholders. One of LaCASU‘s main functions is adminis-
tering the Core Alcohol and Other Drug Survey to more
than 12,000 undergraduates across all of the Louisiana
higher education institutions. Survey results are then re-
ported directly to college and university administrators for
the purpose of addressing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug
problems among their student populations.
Every year, LaCASU also hosts the Louisiana
Higher Education Coalition (LaHEC) Professional Devel-
opment Summit, as well as regional training sessions for
Louisiana‘s university administrators and student leaders.
During these training sessions, Core Survey data is used to
assess areas of problematic substance use, and guest speak-
ers and seminars center on implementing new initiatives at
the different institutions.
Spring Issue · March/April 2012
In this Issue:
Black History in BR 2
Brother to Brother 2
Brandon’s Bottom Line 2
LSU Engagement Efforts 3
CUP of Facebook 3
LSU Preview Day 4
Top Forty Under 40 6
Given Louisiana‘s festive culture on its campuses,
universities and colleges across the state have a growing
concern for the health and safety of its students. According
to the results from the 2011 administration of the Core Al-
cohol and Drug survey, over 60% of underage college stu-
dents are current alcohol drinkers, 36% of students report-
ed binge drinking in the past two weeks, and 27% used
marijuana at least once in the past year. Following the
1998 drinking death of sophomore Ben Wynne, LSU em-
The MLK and Black History
Month committees recently hosted au-
thor, poet, writer, activist and educator
Nikki Giovanni the keynote speaker at
the MLK Commemorative Celebration. Giovanni is currently the Gloria D.
Smith Professor of Black Studies and a
University Distinguished Professor in
the English department at Virginia Tech
University. The author of 30 books, she
has been awarded 25 honorary degrees,
and her books have been awarded hon-
ors including three NAACP Image
Awards and been in the Top 10 on the
New York Times best-seller list. Named
the ―Woman of the Year‖ by several
publications over the course of her career,
she was also recently named one of Oprah
Winfrey‘s 25 ―living legends.‖ Following
the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy in
2007, she was selected to close out the me-
morial convocation and did so with a pow-
erful chant-poem. Giovanni‘s address was
held at 6 pm at the Manship Theatre and
was free and open to the public.
Giovanni shared poetry and her
personal memories of King. ―He knew that
he wouldn‘t live to see his children grow
up because someone would eventually
shoot him, but that did not stop him from
doing the job that was necessary,‖ she pro-
claimed. She also stated that if King were
LaCASU meets monthly with the Baton Rouge Collegiate Alli-
ance (BRCA), one of their major community alliances.
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 2
When the sounds of laughter fill a room at a local
church, one might not assume they are discussing blood
pressure. But that‘s exactly what happened. Recently, male
students of LSU and men from the community gathered at
Wesley United Methodist Church to discuss health topics
as part of a ―Brother to Brother‖ session. The program,
hosted by the LSU Community University Partnership
(CUP), served as a follow up educational outreach for its
―Fresh Cuts Clean Health‖ barbershop initiative.
―Fresh Cuts Clean Health,‖ or FCCH, provides
free blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol health
screenings for men in local barbershops. To complement
the health screenings, FCCH coordinates ―health nights‖ to
provide information and raise awareness. The initiative is
funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foun-
dation (BCBSLA).
Instead of just presenting information, the ―Brother
to Brother‖ Men‘s Health Night brought men, doctors, and
professionals together for a discussion on health. ―What
made this event different is that the men were able to par-
ticipate in a dialogue to receive information and be the ex-
perts at the same time.‖ said Brandon Smith, community
affairs liaison at LSU. ―They asked the doctors questions
and the conversations would progress from there.‖
The health night was facilitated by Dr. Rani Whit-
field, a local health advocate also known as the ―Hip Hop
a swimming pool and recreational facility for African
American children after several children drowned while
swimming in lakes and ditches. This effort became a sym-
bol of the struggle for equality in the community.
The month‘s festivities included an essay competi-
tion and an art celebration with the theme, ―Swimming to
Freedom: The Story of Brooks Park and Equality in Baton
Rouge.‖ The artwork and winners of the essay competition
were showcased and honored in early March.
The essay competition featured original pieces
written by students of McKinley High School. The win-
ners were Janiesha O‘Connor-Harris in first place,
De‘Vante Bethley in second place, and Abigail Winget in
third place. O‘Connor-Harris‘ essay was entitled
―Breaking Through Shallow Water.‖
Students of McKinley Middle School participated
by using their talents to celebrate Brooks Park through
artwork. These students also watched the documentary but
expressed its impact and their understanding through visu-
al art. Over twenty students submitted artwork, which will
be displayed at the BREC Baton Rouge Arts Center later
this year.
During February, LSU Community University
Partnership coordinated opportunities for youth to learn
and reflect on black history within Baton Rouge. In collab-
oration with Capitol One Bank, CUP sponsored the Black
History Month Essay Competition and Art Celebration.
Participating students were encouraged to watch a docu-
mentary that portrayed
Baton Rouge from the
1940s, to present victo-
ries of equality.
The documentary enti-
tled ―Baton Rouge’s
Troubled Water,‖ illus-
trates the struggles of
African Americans in
South Baton Rouge liv-
ing in the times of Jim
Crow. In 1947, Reverend
Willie K. Brooks orga-
nized the United Negro
Recreational Association
to raise funds to provide
English Teacher Pam Middlebrook,
Principal Armond Brown and stu-
dent winners (left to right) Abigail
Winget, De’Vante Bethley, and
Janiesha O’Connor-Harris.
Greetings! Thank you for your unwaver-
ing support of LSU‘s community outreach
and engagement efforts. Your openness
continues to create new engagement op-
portunities for our faculty, staff, and stu-
dents. Moreover, your expertise continues
to improve our initiatives and keep us accountable to our
mission.
As you may have heard, LSU formed the Consor-
tium on Civic Engagement nearly one year ago to more
effectively serve our community. One example of the
Consortium‘s efforts is the upcoming launch of ―LSU
Serves,‖ a new website that will organize all university-
community efforts to a single location. This site is being
developed based on feedback we often receive from peo-
ple outside of the campus. If you‘re looking for us, we
want you to be able to find us; if are interested in a com-
munity program, ―LSU Serves‖ will help get you the ad-
ditional information you need. But this is only the begin-
ning. LSU understands the need to expand partnerships
that make our communities stronger. This takes a com-
mitment of time, people, and resources.
Finally, CUP would like to thank Campus Federal
Credit Union for their consistent support of our programs,
namely The Bengal Bottom Line. Their contributions
make printing this newsletter possible and we owe them a
debt of gratitude for helping us serve you! GEAUX TI-
GERS!
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 3
For more information regarding LaCASU, visit
www.lsu.edu/lacasu or contact the office at
lacasu@lsu.edu or 225-578-5958.
Current projects of the office include using social
media to promote substance abuse prevention and advo-
cate on alcohol outlet density (AOD) research. Recent
studies have shown a direct correlation between the num-
ber of alcohol outlets (liquor stores, bars, etc.) in a neigh-
borhood and the rate of alcohol-related crime, more pre-
ventative efforts were put in to motion. In recent years, the
Baton Rouge Metro Council, an affiliate of LaCASU, suc-
cessfully established a moratorium to ban the issuance of
liquor licenses in six high-crime neighborhoods, including
Old South Baton Rouge.
LaCASU is housed at LSU as a part of the office
of Equity, Diversity, and Community Outreach (EDCO)
and is the only department of its kind in the state. It serves
as the administrative office for the Baton Rouge Commu-
nity Alliance (BRCA) and LaHEC and is funded by the
state.
This winter, over 80 community partners and cam-
pus leaders gathered for the 8th Annual Chancellor‘s Com-
munity Updates Meeting and Breakfast hosted by LSU
Chancellor Michael Martin. CUP coordinates this event
to review LSU‘s partnerships with its neighboring com-
munities. This year‘s meeting focused on the newly
formed LSU Consortium on Civic Engagement.
The LSU Consortium on Civic Engagement aims
to make LSU a national pacesetter by championing inclu-
sive excellence. ―While we see a boundary between the
neighborhood and the University, in reality, there is
none,‖ Martin said. ―As we grow as an institution, I be-
lieve it is clearly in the best interest of the student popula-
tion, faculty, and staff that [LSU] is part of a community
that serves them and that we serve well.‖ The plan is to
accomplish this goal through institutional efficacy, exter-
nal coalitions and memberships, and public relations.
Specifically, LSU hopes to develop transformative policy
to broaden support with outside groups such as govern-
ment, business, and community leadership.
To promote the new Consortium and engagement
efforts, LSU went on the road to three cities – Lake
Charles, New Orleans and Shreveport – for the "LSU in
Your Backyard" tour. The tour featured presentations and
remarks from administrators, faculty members working in
different areas of the state, and students from the region.
A second ―backyard tour‖ is scheduled for late spring of
2012.
Through the current community engagement ef-
forts and the big ideas expected from the consortium, LSU
hopes to improve its commitment to economic, social, and
cultural revitalization.
CUP is now on Facebook!
Get up to date news on what CUP is doing for
the community by ‗liking‘ us on Facebook.
Here‘s how to do it:
Log in at www.facebook.com
Search ―LSU Community University Partner-
ship‖
Click on our page
Click the ‗Like‘ button at the top
Once you‘ve become a fan of our page, you will
begin receiving updates, announcements and pic-
tures in your news feed regarding our events.
Join CUP on Facebook to stay connected!
www.facebook.com/LSUCUP
CUP has a new website!
Visit our new and improved site to learn more
about the history of CUP, its programs and ini-
tiatives, and its partners.
www.lsu.edu/cup
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 4
alive today, he would still be fighting for those who cannot
defend themselves.
―The answer should always be yes,‖ Giovanni
said. ―If you succeed and finish what you started, great;
but if not, then you can say you‘re sorry.‖
Speaking before a packed house, Giovanni enter-
tained the audience with her humor, inspired them with
her stories, and challenged them to make a difference.
―It was
really refresh-
ing to see that
she was so
frank and gen-
uine—she‘s a
regular person.
You can really
see yourself in
her,‖ said Jar-
ed Avery,
graduate stu-
dent in the De-
partment of
Educational
Theory, Poli-
cy, and Practice. ―Seeing someone of her stature in such a
relatable role makes her level of success seem more attain-
able.‖
Each year, the LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs hosts
the MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration to highlight and
memorialize the work, accomplishments, and legacy of
one of the Civil Rights movement leaders. It strives to ed-
ucate the LSU and Greater Baton Rouge communities
about the significant undertakings of Dr. King and enlight-
en the public about the opportunities all have gained be-
cause of his deeds and accomplishments.
The LSU Black Male Leadership Initiative, or
BMLI, hosted its inaugural LSU Preview Day during the
2011 Homecoming Week.
The program, designed to provide young black
males with an insight into college life, invited over 90
black male students from local schools to learn more about
LSU and its admissions requirements.
The attending schools included McKinley Middle
Magnet School, East Baton Rouge Lab Academy, Mentor-
ship Academy, Scotlandville Magnet High School, Pointe
Coupee Central High School and Glen Oaks Institute of
Science.
―Having students experience LSU through the
BMLI Preview Day gives middle and high school students
a first-hand look at what it takes to attend a flagship insti-
tution,‖ Multicultural Affairs Director Chaunda Allen said.
―In particular, having young black men spend the day at
LSU demonstrates the university's commitment to seeing
black men succeed at every point of the educational pipe-
line.‖
The Preview Day included a campus tour, infor-
mation from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, a
"hype" session with Mike the Tiger, and a lunch discus-
sion with former LSU student-athlete and current NBA
player Tyrus Thomas, a native of South Baton Rouge.
Thomas, who operates a non-profit foundation fo-
cused on youth development, is a strong supporter of the
BMLI Fellows Program and ethnic minority recruitment
and retention at LSU.
―I am honored to be able to come back to Baton
Rouge and be embraced by my LSU family,‖ Thomas
said. ―Yet, I know that there is much to do when it con-
Author, poet, writer, activist, educator Nikki
Giovanni spoke to audience at Manship Thea-
ter.
Student leaders spent time with Giovanni at a “meet and greet”
following the lecture. Photo by Georgetown Photography.
Author, poet, writer, activist, educator Nikki
Giovanni spoke to audience at Manship The-
ater. Photo by Georgetown Photography.
Visiting teens were welcomed by Mike the Tiger, the LSU mascot,
during their visit on campus. Photo by LSU Communications &
University Relations.
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 5
Doc,‖ and Dr. Robert Newton, assistant professor of inac-
tivity physiology at Pennington Biomedical Research
Center. ―The doctors were really down to earth and put
hard medical jargon into simple everyday terms,‖ said
Phillip Nelson, information systems decision sciences
junior. ―It was also nice to hear what the other men said
and the questions they had about their health.‖
In keeping with the football season, the night was
themed ―Get in The Game!‖ with sessions titled ―Playing
Offense‖ (Prevention and Awareness) and ―Playing De-
fense‖ (Detection and Maintenance). The sessions fo-
cused on what to do before and after you acquire a health
condition. ―Awareness and prevention of chronic diseases
in African American men is critical to their health,‖ said
Newton. ―Chronic diseases are the leading killers of Afri-
can American men and providing them with knowledge at
events like ‗Brother to Brother‘ will motivate them to im-
prove their health.‖
Free health screenings were given by a phleboto-
my team from LSU Health, as well as free hearing tests
by Dr. Chester Charles, adjunct professor of communica-
tion disorders at Southern University and a member of
Wesley; and tobacco information was presented by
Frankie Poland from Southern University‘s AgCenter
Communities of Color Network. Finally, healthy food
options were provided to the attendees of the program.
―The food went along with what the doctors were saying
about eating healthier and choosing better food selec-
tions,‖ said William White, local resident and program
participant. ―Overall, I really enjoyed the program and
can‘t wait until the next one!‖
For more information regarding Fresh Cuts Clean Health,
contact the LSU Community University Partnership at
lsucup@lsu.edu or visit www.lsu.edu/cup.
cerns ensuring our youth have brighter futures and an op-
portunity to attend college.‖
Since 2007, the percentage of black males enrol-
ling at LSU as students has risen steadily. In 2007, 158 of
the 4,596 incoming freshmen were black males, or 3.44%.
In 2010, 4.43% of the incoming freshmen class was black
males. In fall 2011, the trend continued as black males
made up 4.63% of the incoming freshmen class.
The BMLI Fellows Program was established by
the LSU Office of Equity, Diversity & Community Out-
reach and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to assist LSU
in reconceptualizing practices, programs and engagement
with students in general, and black males in particular.
For more information on BMLI, contact Dr. Marco
Barker at 225-578-5736, Ms. Chaunda Allen at 225-578-
4339, email at bmli@lsu.edu, or visit the website at
www.lsu.edu/bmli.
Men en-
joyed
healthy
food op-
tions that
went along
with the
information
they receive
from the
doctors.
Baton Rouge teens were able to meet and hear from LSU faculty
and staff, and also had a candid conversation with former LSU
student-athlete and current NBA player Tyrus Thomas. Photo
by LSU Communications & University Relations.
Dr. Rani Whitfield (right), also known as the
“Hip Hop Doc,” and Dr. Robert Newton (left)
provided heath information to local men.
FCCH
Fact
Did you
know that
African
Americans
are twice
more likely
to develop
diabetes
than their
counter-
parts?
FCCH
Fact
Did you
know that
40% of Afri-
can Ameri-
cans are af-
fected by
hypertension
or high blood
pressure?
The Bengal Bottom Line Spring 2012 6
educator in the East Baton Rouge Parish School Sys-
tem. As an LSU student, Smith was involved in Leader-
ship LSU, Student Government, Black Student Union
and the former Union Program Council. In 2004, he
became the first African-American elected speaker of
the Senate.
Smith‘s community affiliations include work
with interfaith groups, Teach For America® South
Louisiana and the A.P. Tureaud Sr. Black Alumni
Chapter of the LSU Alumni Association, where he
serves as president. He is also an ordained minister in
the Church of God in Christ Inc., and he has an idea
about his ability to do much for so many.
―I'm convinced that God adds a few extra hours
to my day,‖ Smith said. ―Either he knows I need more
time or he feels sorry for me.‖
He is married to Rachanda Wilson Smith, and
the couple has one daughter, Katelyn, and one son,
Wilson.
To read the full profile of Smith, visit the link
on CUP‘s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
LSUCUP .
Brandon M.
Smith, an LSU alum-
nus who currently
serves as the universi-
ty‘s community af-
fairs liaison, was re-
cently named to the
2011 class of the Ba-
ton Rouge Business
Report‘s ―Top Forty
under 40.‖ A Baton
Rouge native, Smith
joined the university
in August 2007.
In the role of commu-
nity affairs liaison, he serves as the primary contact be-
tween LSU and its neighboring communities, with a par-
ticular focus on Old South Baton Rouge. Smith also as-
sists the Chancellor and Provost to build and maintain
partnerships with local leaders and external non-profit
organizations.
Before assuming this position, Smith served as an
OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community University Partnership
950 East Washington Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Special thanks to
CAMPUS FEDERAL
for assisting with
newsletter printing costs
Editor: Aleidra Allen Contributing Writers: Rayna Anderson, Leslie Brockhoeft, Melissa Foley, Carl Gerhardt,
Brandon Smith, Kristen Smith, Carlissa Wells Photographs: Georgetown Photography, LSU Communications &
University Relations Advisor: Brandon Smith
LSU Chancellor Michael Martin and
Smith showcase Smith’s award and
celebrate his success.