SGA debate draws big crowd

There was standing room only inside of the Cotillion Ballroom located in the Smith Brown Memorial Union Tuesday, April 8, by 500 students, faculty and staff ready to hear candidates vying for positions, such as Student Government Association president and Miss Southern, state their platforms and answer questions posed by a panel of four and the student body.
Diane Bajoie (D-New Orleans), the first black women ever elected to the Louisiana Senate, was also in attendance.
The panelist were: Amber R. Perry, senior from Independence majoring in English and political science, editor-in-chief of Southern’s EGO magazine and copy editor for the Southern DIGEST; Niiobli Armah, 2006-07 SGA president and graduate student from Houston. He currently attends the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy in social science; Deion Dorsett, the 2006-07 SGA vice president and Southern graduate from Baton Rouge. He is currently obtaining a MBA degree, while serving as the president of the Southern University MBA Student Association (SUMBA); and Edward James II, Baton Rouge native that served in the SGA from 200-02. The Southern alum served as policy advisor for former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and currently serves as the attorney for the House committee on labor.
Jason Hughes, a New Orleans native that served in SGA 2003-05 was the debate’s moderator, a former moderator for the last three years, excluding 2006-07 when Armah held that position. The Southern alum is currently the regional manager and legislative liason for Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senator for Louisiana.
Kyle Green, senior political science major form New Orleans, proclaimed that with his platform of “putting students first and politics last by” promoting customer service that we as Southern students pay for and computers in the dormitories, preventing young ladies from walking to and from T. T. Allain’s computer lab at three in the morning..
Elyse McFadden, junior marketing major from Manteca, Calif, said she has been the activities’ coordinator for SGA for the last three years, but “I’m now ready to lead the way and take hold of the wheel” as the next SGA president. She said that she has a good report with the administration and they have seen first hand her hard work and dedication.
Jamal Taylor, junior history major from Lafayette, said Southern has “mismanaged money, mishandled situations and misused our trust,” so “if you want a lion in the boardroom, vote for me,” for SGA president.
Vying for SGA vice president are Keith Doleman, junior marketing major from New Orleans and Stasha Rhodes, junior political science major from Napoleonville.
Doleman, who is new the SGA arena, asked the student body to give him a chance because he was going to deal with “real issues that need real results.” Due to his lack of experience, he informed that he has been and will continue to study the Robert Rules of Order, book the gives a set of rules for conducting a meeting.
Rhodes likened the SGA Student Senate to a basketball team. She explained that on a team there a several positions and that each position is important. But during the Senate’s tenure, they have lost a few games and at this time, “this year we need not draft a rookie.”
Several Miss Southerns were not able to answer the current event questions posed but they attempted to explain their vision for their platform.
Mhykeisha Evans, junior political nursing major from Shreveport, desires to involve the community, especially the youth, and attack the negative images of Southern.
Derra Howard, a junior mass communications major from Houma, wants to implement insurance cards that would prevent getting a referral from the health center first, due to extended wait periods, convenience and emergencies.
Courtney Jacobs, junior therapeutic recreation major from Bastrop, wants to have a mini Springfest for prospects to aid retention.
Fetia Rogers, senior criminal justice major from Sae, Calif., will work the mass communications to “create a Jaguar network channel that promotes campus wide cohesiveness.”
Jennifer Taylor, junior mass communications major from Shreveport, will begin fundraisers for the new “Saving Darfur” project.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Kenyetta M. Collins / Assistant Photo Editor

The three SGA presidential candidates and the two SGA Vice Presidential candidates sit ready for the debate.