Southern University students gathered to discuss numerous issues concerning the student body Wednesday in the Cotillion Ballroom.
According to Ruben Griffin, a former SGA member, the event was held by The Dynasty, which is the student advocacy organization to voice the concerns and to help resolve the issues of the student body.
Students Kyle Green, Keith Doleman, Aleice Allen, Jamal Taylor, Koieles Lomas, Stasha Rhodes and Ruben Griffin formed the panel that discussed six main issues that the student body.
None of the panelists are official SGA candidates. Filing week is Mar. 25-28. The potential candidates must successfully pass the constitutional exam on Apr. 1 and have a 2.5 GPA. Official candidates will be posted near the Student Program’s office on Apr. 3.
Financial aid, a hot topic, was the first issue discussed by the panel and it seemed as if all the blame was placed on administration.
Allen, a Retention Oversight Committee member, stressed that financial aid employees don’t respond to student leaders either. He feels that leaders have been lacking in their communication with students in presenting ways to deal with the stresses of financial aid.
“When you come to Southern it’s about who you know, who your aunt is, and who you parents may be; but we as student leaders, it’s our responsibility to get the information that we receive from financial aid to you (the student body) and that’s something we should improve in doing,” said Allen.
In concurrence with Allen, Taylor also addressed the concern of the technical equipment that is constantly insufficient in dealing with student records and finances, specifically the distribution of refund checks.
“We complain all the time, but we’re not heard. We need to have knowledge of our money and how it’s being distributed, and we need to ensure that JAGNET is a 24 hour system,” said Taylor.
Lomas said the problem is not that there are computer glitches; she believes that the real problem is the lack of patience in students who tend to give up when receiving bad customer service.
“We need to find out who that person is…and write a complaint about them. Figure out who you’re talking to; find out who to talk to and that’s how you get things done,” said Lomas.
Students are concerned with the continual issue of classes being canceled and want a solution to improve our registration system.
Green, who waited three months to receive his scholarship money that was granted to him last semester, stated that if anything is going to “work well,” a “better job of communicating” is necessary.
The panel also discussed their views on the type of chancellor that is needed for Southern and how they are greatly disappointed with the current Interim Chancellor Margaret Ambrose of which very few in attendance, including the panelists, actually knew by name or by face.
Doleman disagreed with the notion that the chancellor should be required to have a doctorate, believing that the overall character of the person leading the university should be taken into account. Although a doctorate means a lot, it doesn’t mean that the person is capable.
“We need someone that is concerned about the students’ wellbeing, not someone that just sits on the third floor of the administration building, sleeps in a suite for Bayou Classic, or sits in the press box for game day. We need someone that is willing to work,” said Doleman.
Rhodes, president pro tempore of the student senate, also agreed with Doleman in that the future chancellor does not need to possess a doctorate.
When asked if Ambrose was fit for the position, all said no.
Of all these issues presented by the Dynasty, student leaders and the student body, the main resolution stressed was the great need of communication that is severely lacking among the student body and administration.
Although everyone was invited to hear to these issues, very few students and no administrators were in attendance.
The 2008 SGA elections will be held Monday, Apr. 15.