October 2014

Tiger’s RoarThe Independent Student Voice of Savannah State University Savannah, Ga

Changes in public safetypage 7

Honors college raises standardspage 2

The Champ is Here: Getting to know Michael Cohenpage 6

H o m e c o m i n g 2k14

Savannah State University is creating an Honors College to advance the curriculum and have another avenue of acknowledgment for students.

Dr. Felicia Bell, assistant professor of history at SSU, is the newly elected head of the Honors College. “I’m looking forward to what we can do with our high achieving students,” said Bell. “I think it’s a program that is long overdue.”

There have been previous attempts of starting and developing the program, but Dr. Bell plans to execute this attempt for the good of the university.

Students must meet certain requirements to be selected into the program and if chosen, they are then enrolled into honors courses.

Requirements to be a part of the Honors College at SSU:• Maintain a 3.4 GPA or higher• SAT combined scores of 1000 and

ACT composite score of 21• Application• Essay

“An honors course doesn’t necessarily mean more work,” said Bell, “But that you’d be more rigorous in the lessons and challenged more.”

She said that the Honors College courses would be “putting a twist on the regular courses offered.” Meaning, there will be courses offered that utilize all aspects of the learning experience which can be inside and outside the classroom.

There are a few students that are currently enrolled in the honors program at SSU, however as of this semester there are no courses offered. Bell is gearing the first honors courses towards the required classes students have to take and possibly moving towards the major curriculum as time progresses.

Her main objective is to get some courses started for the spring 2015 semester along with an increase in enrollment.

“We’ll build up a little at a time,” says Bell, “The foundation for all of this is student participation.”

Targeted students are not only incoming freshmen, but returning upperclassmen as well. Bell is also interested in those students who may not be qualified to enter the program, but have potential to become

honor students.

“I think there is a culture on this campus where students are discouraged to enter an Honors program because they don’t want to be called a nerd or an outcast.” Dr. Bell understands that there are more factors involved than just a student’s GPA to qualify them for such a program, such as their potential.

Miriam Robinson, a 20-year-old junior marketing major, does not see any good coming from this program. “I believe it will cause problems among the students because some students may feel like they aren’t good enough.”

Dr. Bell plans to reach out to the students on campus by attending student events and meeting with them to gather their

perspectives of this program and how it can really take off on campus. She also plans to connect with the students via Twitter and Facebook to promote the honors college in a way that students can relate and possibly attract them to join.

Darryl Thompson, professor of performing arts at SSU, is looking forward to the recognition of star students.

“Every day in class, I look at the faces of our country’s future, and I know we are in good hands,” said Thompson. “I am thrilled that we are going to have an Honors College because SSU has been and always will be about the students.”

“We have to look at this honors program as being a program unique to SSU and not try to model it after another university,” said Bell. “If we do what makes sense for our students I think we’ll succeed.”

Students that are interested in the program can contact Dr. Bell via email at bellf@savannahstate.edu or office phone 912-358-3255.

Karis GibsonContributing Writer

Honors College hopes to raise academic standards

Photo by: Timothy Polite

The honors program hopes to raise the academic standard by recognizing those excel in academics.

News2 October 2014 Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com

3 Editorial October 2014

The Tiger’s Roar Staff

Diorlena NateraEditor-in-Chief

Ronald T. Shields IISports Editor

Shauna Pierre-LouisNews Editor

Brent LivingstonFeatures Editor

Shalaya CrummieCopy Editor/Blogger

Taylor RobertsLayout Designer

PhotographersBrendan MartinTimothy Polite

Contributing WritersShaRonda Battle

Karis GibsonJacquelyn PressleyRonald Shields II

Christopher Singleton

AdvisersJessica Sparks

Kareem McMichael

About Us:The Tiger’s Roar is the

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We welcome and encourage letters to the editor and staff. All letters must

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Phone: (912) 358-3379Fax: (912) 351-6588

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SSU Alumni and CBS Sports analysts Shannon Sharpe was the subject of a tasteless SNL skit. We have personally never met the man, but I took offense.

Here is a man that graduated from our school, being made fun of on national television. While Sharpe does have a speech impediment, the skit portrayed Sharpe as being uneducated and unable to form an opinion in regards to Ray Rice’s domestic violence indicident.

We immediately searched for his interviews on Youtube and what we found was one of the most compelling monologues on Richie Incognito and his use of a racial “apitath” (a word Sharpe used correctly by the way) in the Miami Dolphins locker room. He did not

sound or act anything like the impersonator on SNL.

CBS is one of the coveted jobs those of us in the multimedia world yearn for, so if Sharpe was under qualified we doubt he would have ever gotten his position.

Seeing alumni from Savannah State be successful makes me proud and excited to be a tiger. Are we wrong for taking offense? Is all publicity, good publicity?

Join the conversation on Tigersroar.com

www.TigersRoar.com

NewsDental care plan available for students ShaRonda BattleContributing WriterEmergency Dental Service is offering a dental program for students who do not have a dental health care plan or are not able to find a reasonably priced plan.

“The emergency mobile dental service will be available to SSU students [on campus] twice a month.” said Dr. James Williams of EDS. “It will allow them to have access to dental care, and stay focused on their education.”

Williams said he and his team of dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants at Emergency Dental Service believe in the importance of offering services such as preventative oral hygiene care and helping students save.

“A lot of students walk around with dental hygiene neglect, and we are able to bring the service to SSU students.” said Williams.

Leshon Jones, senior mass communications major, said the Emergency Mobile Dental Service “is an excellent and very smart, affordable idea.”

EDS’s plan membership costs $60.00 a year, and it includes an exam, x-rays, and cleaning for $95.00 per service. Any other dental procedure

will be discounted at 50% for SSU students.

Patients will be billed directly on their dental care plan. This plan also offers no deductible, no claim forms, and free oral screening for students.

Morris Smith, senior marine biology major, said that the EDS is a good idea and helpful for some people , but it won’t be of use to himself.

“I have dental insurance already, so I will not be purchasing the plan that SSU offers. Hopefully some students actually use it.”

Students who are not available when EDS is on campus can catch the Chatham Transit Bus #31 to their office located at 310 Eisenhower Dr. W

Application forms for the Emergency Dental Service plan are available in the Harris-McDew Student Health Center, www.emergencydentalservice.com, or for more information call 912-355-1222.

Photo by: health.abc4.com

Emergency dental plan service offers a $60 a year plan for SSU students.

4 October 2014 Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com

Sports October 2014 5 Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

SSU seeking win and validity against Norfolk State

Norfolk State University North Carolina A&TBethune-Cookman Howard Univsersity@ 2 P.M. @ 2 P.M.@ 6 P.M. @ 6 P.M.

OCTOBER 4 OCTOBER 8 NOVEMBER 8 NOVEMBER 15

Ronald T. Shields IISports Editor

MEAC Standings OVERALL

1-0

Howard

Savannah State

Hampton

Florida A&M

North Carolina CentralBethune-Cookman

Norfolk StateMorgan State

Delware State

South Carolina State

North Carolina A&TMEACTEAM

1-01-01-01-0

0-0

0-00-0

0-10-1

0-2

1-43-24-1

1-42-33-1

0-4

0-4

1-4

1-3

1-4

SSUVS.

NORFOLK

It’s homecoming at Savannah State and the 0-4 Tigers are set to face to the 1-4 Norfolk State Spartans in each of the teams’ second conference game of the season.On the road in week 5 the Tigers fell 35-10 to Delaware State in a game where SSU committed three early turnovers and gave up 28 quick points in the first quarter. Although the defense stood firm, only giving up seven points in the final three quarters, the Tigers weren’t able to mount a comeback. “They [Delaware State] did a great job in being prepared for us,” said Coach Earnest Wilson. “Unfortunately we had three turnovers early, thing we need to do is have better productivity and start the games better.”Last week, Norfolk won a close game against MEAC rival Morgan State on a rushing touchdown scored by junior Tyler Clark with 29 seconds left in the game. “I felt like both teams played a great game and either team could have won,” said Norfolk State Head Coach Pete Adrian. “We are just happy we won one and got ourselves into the right call for a change. It shows we are developing a never say die attitude.”

Heading into this week’s game, SSU trails the series 1-8 and lost last season’s matchup by a score of 26-24. However, SSU hopes for a better outcome in this year’s homecoming game. “We are going to be really focused to beat these guys. They have great coaches and we are going to have to be on top of our game,” said Wilson. For the third time this season, SSU will be taking the field with a different starting quarterback under center as Leon Prunty will be taking over for freshman Tino Smith who started three games for the Tigers this season. After serving a suspension, Prunty came off the bench to play against Delaware State. He completed 70 percent of his passes for a game high 116 yards as well as adding another 37 yards on the ground. “Leon is going to be competitive, even when he wasn’t in,” said Wilson. “I think he is going to be prepared and play well.”In addition to having the team prepared, Wilson is hungry for a win. He hopes a win this week will provide validity to the program.

“For us to beat Norfolk it would give us some validity to our coaching staff and some validity to our players and really make the alumni feel good. I really want to do this for my coaches and the players,” said Wilson. The game will start at 2 PM at Savannah State’s T.A. Wright Stadium.

8 ppg

13 ppg

230 ypg21 oppg

235 ypg55 oppg

480 opp ypg

344 opp ypg

all stats provided by MEAC

NSU

SSU

Feature Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com 6 October 2014

Arriving bright and early every day on Savannah State’s campus is a man recognized for his assistance and leadership within the athletics department. Beyond his responsibilities on campus, he is recognized as a “guru” on weightlifting and strength conditioning. He is none other than the fit and hip 56-year-old Savannah native, Michael Cohen.

Cohen, referred to by many as Coach Cohen, got his start in weight lifting around age 13 when he discovered that training as a future boxer like his father was not the ideal sport for him. When competing in a boxing match with one of his friends, the aftermath of just one blow to his friend’s head changed his perspective on pursuing the sport completely.

“It scared the hell out of me,” said Cohen, “It traumatized me that that could happen. So I said I don’t want to be the cause of that ever again.”

With a new sense of direction, Cohen began to train for the Olympics in 1980.

The journey wasn’t easy. At the age of 21 Cohen had his Olympic dreams crushed as President Jimmy Carter declared that he would not support sending the an Olympic team to Moscow.

Years later, given another chance to represent the United States, Cohen was once again struck by bad luck as he hurt his back backstage during the Olympic trials. Instead of giving up on his dreams completely Cohen decided to coach.

Years later, Cohen found himself at the Olympic opening ceremonies as coach of the U.S. women’s weightlifting team, where two of his lifters walked away with medals.

“There is no describing the Olympics,” said Cohen, “Once you’ve represented the Olympic team you are a part of the team for life.”

With a bachelor’s of science and master’s in education obtained from Armstrong Atlantic State University, the hometown champ eventually made his way to Savannah State University working as a professor in health education after retiring from the Olympics.

“I love Savannah State,” says Cohen, “I would be here until I die if they let me stay here.”

Sherrie Loomis, coordinator of health education said having Coach Cohen as a colleague is “definitely different”.

“He has a very intense attitude, but in the best way possible,” she said. “He is the type of person that gives a 110% in anything he takes on.”

Loomis said although Cohen has an authoritarian personality, he has a very humorous side as well.

“The best way to describe working with him is almost like working with your own personal motivator. It has been a pleasure working with him these past 4 years,” she said.

To students, he is known as the fun-loving, easy-going professor who is passionate about the importance of health.

“Mr. Cohen is a really good professor; very informative. He gave some really good health advice that I still use to this day. I recommend all students to take his health class,” said Chelsea Young, a senior accounting major.

Cohen is also the main reason why Savannah State his one of the only HBCU’s to have a swim team.

The Aqua PAWS program helps students competitively train in the sport of swimming and become official certified lifeguards.

“It started with one class and the response was dramatic,” said Cohen. “The program has become an aquatics Mecca in this area; a resource of unbelievable potential.”

When not attributing to the success of SSU, Cohen assists the Olympic USA Wheelchair

Basketball Association of both men and women. He plans on attending the 2016 Olympics in Rio to work with the coaching staff.

“There is no spare time, says Cohen, “I’ve made athletics my life.” He also conducts weight lifting seminars not just within the nation, but around the globe.

Through it all, Cohen remains a family man. His wife, Sheryl, and his four children ranging from ages 9-16 support his work and lifestyle. He refers to himself as “the luckiest man in the world.”

Beyond the recognition and trophies, past and present, Cohen wants people to take away one aspect from it all: “I just want people to remember the fact that I am passionate about what I do.”

The Champ is Here: Getting to know Michael Cohen

Used with permission, copyright Savannah Morning News.

Karis GibsonContributing Writer

7News October 2014

The riots that occurred during the last two homecomings at Savannah State have caused police to increase security measures for 2014.

“It’s ok to have fun, party, and enjoy your time here,” said officer Brandon Baxter. “But, when you start breaking windows, jumping on police vehicles, and standing on food trucks, it makes it necessary for us to take preliminary action to keep the composure of our students.”

Past negative reactions to homecoming from students have caused other public safety adjustments to the homecoming agenda such as switching the kickoff party to a finale and moving the date up to the first week in October.

They are hoping these changes will help by catching the student body off guard and not giving homecoming events the chance to build up momentum.

SSUPD’s main concern is to patrol the school perimeters in order to prepare for the unexpected.

“We will be alert throughout the entire week,” said officer Michelle Aikens, “Precautions for homecoming have been made before the semester started in order for us to keep students safe and out of trouble the best way we can.”

During the 2012 homecoming week, riots broke out on campus involving the student body almost every night during homecoming week.

The following year the rioting continued and got out of control, causing public safety to hand the reigns to the Chatham County Police Department.

SSUPD is expecting students to enjoy themselves, but not by destroying school property and disrespecting each other.

“This is the most exciting time in the semester for college students,” said officer Kenneth Brewer, “Our job is to contain the chaotic madness as much as possible for the sake of everyone’s safety including faculty and staff.”

Homecoming calls for changes in public safety Chris SingletonContributing Writer

Photo by: Diorlena Natera

Campus police hopes that the lack of momentum for this year’s events will allow them to avoid the reckless behavior of previous homecomings.

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8 NewsOctober 2014

This past summer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Reynold Verret, defended 7 endangered majors to the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents.

If particular majors are not producing graduates they are at risk of being considered for elimination. At risk majors, as classified by the Board of Regents, are undergraduate majors with less than 10 graduates and graduate majors with less than 5 graduates over a 3 year average.

There are 6 undergraduate majors with low graduation rates: Africana studies, homeland security, visual and performing arts, civil engineering, environmental science, and marine science. Urban studies and planning is a graduate major with low graduation rates as well.

“I do not like the word endangered, because that means that the majors are on the chopping block,” said Verret.

None of these majors will actually disappear. In their defense, Verret told the Board of Regents SSU plans to take initiatives to boost graduation rates.

He said in some instances SSU needs broader marketing for these majors to appeal to prospective students. In other cases, the low numbers are an issue of retaining students and keeping them from transferring.

La’Shant’e Grant, senior biology major, said he understands why the university has problems retaining students.

“Some people feel the learning environment here is apathetic. I personally know people who have

fallen behind because they felt like no one was there to help them or reach out to them.”

As a whole, the university has a 35% graduation rate and a 71% retention rate.

Verret said SSU wants to investigate why students are leaving and if there is anything they can do to prevent students from transferring.

Chaecoya Camsel, a senior business major, said she has thought about transferring several times.

“Sometimes the classes [students] need are only offered one semester a year,” she said. “The university also has a lot of rules and gives out way too many fines that make students feel like they are little children instead of young adults. A lot of this is uncalled for.”

Verret said the university is aware many students struggle in their first semester of freshman year and he wants to reach them before a pattern develops. When students struggle they have a difficult time matriculating through college which is what he believes prevents them from graduating in four years.

“We want to graduate students in 5 years or less with 6 years being the max. Ideally, we want students out of here in four years. We can do much better,” said Verret.

If certain majors are not producing enough graduates, then funding for those majors may not be necessary and more funding could go to other majors that are producing high numbers of graduates.

Jeremy Perry, a junior homeland security major, is surprised about the low graduation rates within his major.

“I feel like homeland security is a very beneficial major. We need people in the world that know how to protect the homeland.”

Verret said college should be looked at as the beginning of students’ career and he is dedicated to seeing them succeed. This includes mastering time management.

“Remember if you need to go to that party on Saturday, which I understand we all need to go out from time to time, just remember on Sunday you have to hit the books.”

Majors with low graduation rates defended to Board of RegentsJacquelyn PressleyContributing Writer

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Photo by: Brendan Martin

Freshmen Jane Sosa and Julia Lopez visit the marine biology department over the summer.