Southern University | Folks (1986)

This episode of the series “Folks” from April 13, 1986, features a visit to Southern University, a historically black college and university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Rob Hinton first presents highlights from his November 5, 1985, interview with Dr. Joffre Whisenton, the president of Southern University. Next, Sonya Masingale interviews several students about the potential impact of the state’s proposed higher education budget cuts. She interviews: Byron Gabriel, senior; Anthony Vining, junior; Tammy Stevenson, junior; Charlene Wesley, freshman; and Andrew Jackson, student government president. Hinton then presents highlights from Brigadier General Sherian Cadoria’s keynote speech at the Founders’ Day Morning Convocation. Lastly, Masingale interviews Myrtle David, the director of the piano department, who discusses the annual Tourgee DeBose National Piano Competition.