Freshman elections were held yesterday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom in the Smith – Brown Memorial Union.
The positions of interest included freshman class president, miss freshman and the passing of a referendum.
Marvin L. Hollins, business management major from Jackson, was elected freshman class president with 218 votes.
The newly appointed freshman class president stated that his first order of business is “to initiate unity among the freshman class.” He also stated he will immediately, “implement a retention program that would increase the retention rate and decrease the drop-out rate.”
Hollins first order of business is similar to that of the newly elected Miss Freshman, political science major from Napoleonville, Janea Jamison with 261 votes.
“Retention and unity are issues that I feel strongly about, they are of great importance to me,” said Jamison.
According to Student Government Association President Jamal Taylor, the passing of the referendum will allow “students to redesignate some money that has been sitting for some 15 years to allow scholarships, intramurals and other student-centered activities.”
According to Taylor, there is $300, 000 in an account that was originally designated for student loans.
Taylor stated, “This money was once used for student emergencies but became hard to access due to restrictions placed by the state and local government.”
Taylor added that the passing of the referendum will allocate money to student scholarships and student centered programs.
“525 students voted,” said Twyana Cain, coordinator of the Office of Student Programs.
Out of the 525 students who voted yesterday, 423 of the students were freshman.
“I think students should be more involved in the voting process,” said Robert Bennett, dean of student life at Southern University. “I am shocked when students do not take an interest in their student government, I hope that students will take the upcoming national election more seriously and dutifully than they take the elections held here at Southern.”
Both Cain and Bennett urge Southern students to vote and remain active in the SGA.
When asked of the ideal characteristics that both freshman president and miss freshman should posses, Bennett said, “The ideal student leader should possess leadership compassion and determination; that would ultimately lead he or she to become president of the Student Government Association.
Hollins and Jamison both agree that they are ready to implement their plans and hope to make an everlasting impact during their duration on the SGA.
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