Students, faculty views vary on SUBR’s image

Southern University has taken its fair share of black eyes in the media.
From financial aid to student and faculty issues, Southern has always been involved in some type of controversy. The most recent news making headlines was the university declaring financial exigency at the Baton Rouge campus.
Many students and faculty members all have their different views and takes on the current situations of Southern and how people outside of the Jaguar Nation talk down about the university.
“I feel that I’m being represented by Southern University very well through the advancements and upbringing of the ranks of my major”, said junior mass communications major, Alvin J. Mouton. “All the amenities that I need to get the job done, I have. Southern is highly resourceful for me, to conquer the outside world with the knowledge I’ve obtained through my representation.”
Some students and faculty of which may not feel real affected by the exigency of the school and that they continue to contribute and move on through the trials and tribulations of Southern.
Krystal Bryant, a junior accounting major said that she is being treated by Southern in a “a fairly good way.” She speaks about how the school is treating her as far as her skills in the classroom, but also as well as the representation of the whole student body and faculty. 
“As far as the college of business, there are many opportunities and plenty of preparation for my area of study.  As far as the university as a whole, there is some work that needs to be done in order to represent me as a student in a better light”, Bryant said.
Gregory Spann from the business department says that the faculty senate president has been keeping the staff updated with what’s going on with the financial emergency.
With the major construction happening around campus some students credits the university for their efforts in improving the campus, however, others don’t see any progress being made.
 ”I feel like Southern is not representing me in a positive,” said Peace Scott, senior architecture major. “I had to deal so much such as getting into school, dealing with the financial aid process. Instead of me enjoying my college years, I have to stress about what else will happen that will affect me since SU is going through these hardships.”
Lee Henry, senior business management major, has a similar perspective towards the situations that have come about with the university.
“I feel as though Southern University is not representing me to its full potential,” Henry said.
“I think that we get very little of no representation from administration to faculty”, said chemistry professor Conrad Jones. “I feel that the Faculty-senate is very representative of the faculty. As faculty members, we should have much more say and input into what goes on academically”.
Eva Baham, assistant professor in the history department believe that there shouldn’t have been a financial emergency placed on the backs of the faculty and the academia.
“The president of the system and the board of supervisors should be fundraisers and they should have the access to $1.7 million that they have raised and they don’t because they did not raise the money for the school,” said Baham.
Even with the negativity some still believe that there is still hope for Southern to grow out of their current situation.
“If the financial exigency leads to the reconstruction and betterment of Southern University, then it is a positive step for the institution”, said English professor, Vonsha Henderson.
With all of the opinions around the campus, it is clear that many have mixed views on the rebuilding of Southern. It’s going to take some time in order for the school to really get back to the way things were.
“They are not doing their best right now,” said George Herman, junior finance major. “But they have the potential to do much better.”