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Ex-Student President Banned From Rapping at Homecoming

Photo credit: david-banner.com

By Nicole Dorn
Black College Wire

Lavell Crump might have been student body president at Southern University back in 1996-97, but as rapper David Banner -- the reigning king of rap to many music listeners and hip-hop lovers-- his act isn't welcome at the school.

"Originally there was interest in bringing David Banner" for Southern's Homecoming concert, said Raymond A. Downs, vice chancellor of student affairs.

"There was an incident at one of the high schools, where a radio station passed out CDs with explicit language believed to be David Banner's music.

"I did not think it would be in our best interest to bring him to our campus. Our community would not understand. I was not in favor of bringing him to our concert," said Downs.

Many students at Southern feel they are adults, not high school students, so what does that incident have to do with them?

"Our freshmen are just a few months removed from high school. Freshmen and sophomores are those who attend most of our events," Downs said.

Some students disagree.

"It is unfair and it's not right that an alumnus and former student government president can not come back and showcase his talent," said Ottis E. Brown Jr., a junior majoring in computer science from Marrero, La.

Does this mean that the Jackson, Miss., native will never be able to perform at Southern?

"I think in the future, when we get past that situation, he'll be able to come. We're always fighting a battle with rappers and comedians that come here. This is a college campus, we have to exert some supervision. We're responsible for the kind of things that happen on this campus," Downs said.

David Banner Web site

Nicole Dorn is a student at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., who writes for The Southern Digest.

Posted Oct. 15, 2003