From the SGA President’s Desk

Greetings Fellow Jaguars,
Isaiah Thomas once said, “It’s hard to get people to overcome the thought that they have to take care of themselves first. It’s hard to get players to give in to the group and become selfless as opposed to selfish.” This quote seems to capture much of the message that I wish to communicate.
I sit back and think of the major accomplishments that “we the students” have fought for in the previous months, but it is more disheartening to see the major setbacks that we are facing at this institution. I would first make mention of this policy of holding refund checks for months at a time at the academic disadvantage of our student. Whoever concocted this policy gave complete and utter disregard to the many students that this policy would adversely affect. They further did not take into consideration the various problems and concerns that this policy of NS and SH would have on our already overworked faculty. OUR TEAM NEEDS TO CONSIST OF MORE THAN JUST ADMINISTRATORS. We need to think with common sense when we make these decisions that may discourage our students. These issues might be a reason that enrollment is down.
This issue of class deletion without consultation with the deans and chairs further exacerbate the already frustrating relationship between the Faculty, Staff, and Students. The faculties have no answers because the chairs have not gotten word from the deans, and the deans don’t know because they didn’t get the late night email decisions by the people in academic affairs. The decisions were made because we have people that have come here to save us, but they don’t know the system and don’t care to take any advice. I hope that we can think of this letter as a wakeup call. THE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE PUSHOVERS IN THE PROCESS. I say this because our advice is rarely sought and more frequently discarded as foolishness. I say to you students that this is a new semester and we have to stand up against this adversity and these foolish decisions that put at risk the very essence of our institution of higher education. I would add that I am not scared to stand up for what I believe in. I look forward to working for the better of this school only if teamwork will be in the BEST INTEREST OF ALL INVOLVED.
THE STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER,
JAMAL A. TAYLOR
PRESIDENT, STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
TRUSTEE, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS