Making the grade

With the last day of classes quickly approaching, the Student Government Association has reached the half way mark of its tenure giving students the time to weigh in and evaluate their elected student leaders on campus issues and what they are looking forward to in the upcoming semesters.
Brittani Ware, a junior psychology major from Baton Rouge, said the current SGA administration is doing a good job-so far.
“They’re doing a decent job,” Ware said. “I believe that they (SGA) needs to be a little more student-friendly.”
Her sentiments are shared by senior biology major Christopher Bester, also of Baton Rouge.
“Everyone has room for improvements,” Bester said. “I just wish that SGA was more visible with the things that they say there are going to do. The march was good, but after that, where were they?”
Tomeka Jones, a senior management major of Baton Rouge, gives SGA positive midterm feedback.
“So far, I believe that SGA has been doing a good job,” she said. “I’m glad that there were other things, besides homecoming, such as the march, that they are focusing on.”
This semester, the SGA has hosted town hall meetings for the community on campus issues and tuition increases.
The student governing body also passed several statutes making records open to the public, pushed student participation, amended the student constitution and organized a nonviolence awareness rally and march, in addition to coordinating the university’s annual Homecoming festivities.
SGA has also attempted to alleviate parking problems for on-campus students as well as commuter drivers, on-going investigations and police/student affairs.
“The fall really didn’t leave much time to do some of the things I’m really passionate about,” said Niiobli Armah, SGA president. “The fall semester doesn’t allow time to do all that I wanted to do; time doesn’t permit it.”
Armah said he has several projects he wants to see implemented next semester.
“What I really want to do is bridge the gap between the community and Southern University students,” he said. “There are several agencies in Baton Rouge such as the NAACP and Habitat for Humanities that we can centralize with, and get students involved.”
“I want us to make some positive changes that are reflections of SU,” he said.
Students would like to bridge the gap between their leaders and themselves as well, according to Marquita Brooks, a senior management major for Houston.
“There needs to be better lines of communication between the SGA and the student body,” Brooks said.
Jerome Jackson, a junior electrical engineering major from Zachary, said he feels this administration has performed well thus far.
“These elected officials, and administration, have been an illustration of what SGA should be,” he said. “They have also shown how a student government should act, which was shown with the march.”
“The Senators are doing their jobs with investigating the misallocation of funds with Men’s Fed and AWS, instead of worrying about the concert-which was very good,” he said. “I’m anxious to see what programs they’ll come up with in the spring.”
Students aren’t the only ones who are satisfied with this semester’s performance. Student officials within the SGA share the same feelings of propitiation.
“Honestly, this has been one of the best SGA administrations we’ve had. As a student, I’m very happy,” said Senate President Pro-Tempore and Chairman of Finance, Carey Ash. “We had a few setbacks with AWS, but it was nice to see an administration that wasn’t focusing on Homecoming or Spring Fest.”
“We’re seeing positive change (and) we’re taking leadership in the community,” Ash said.
Chief Justice Jonathan Hill, a senior management major from Baton Rouge said, “SGA did very well thus far this year. There is always room for improvement, and personally, I’d like to see more career enhancement seminars on campus, as well as the gap closed between student wants and the administration itself.”