Campaign week under way

Monday morning saw students and parents alike covering Southern’s campus with placards urging students to vote for them for the upcoming spring elections.
“She has the most wonderful personality…a really good heart. She really has a passion for this university and it shows from all the activities she’s been in,” said Terah Gibson, a freshman business management major from New Orleans.
As the sister of Miss Southern candidate Charisse Gibson, Terah said her sister had been Ms. Freshman, a GoldnBluez dancer and apart of Best Buddy International, an organization that seeks to help those with intellectual disabilities.
Jamal Taylor, current Student Government Association president, and his campaign team were in full swing for his re-election bid.
When asked why he was running for re-election, Taylor said he wanted
to finish what he had started and did not think “no other candidate would be successful in fulfilling the initiatives that I have started.”
President and Miss Southern candidates were not the only students out at midnight getting a head start on their campaigns.
Brian Collins, men’s federation president candidate, was out getting the word out on his campaign.
“I’m all about serving the men on campus,” focusing on the male community within Southern and around city, Collins said he wants to host programs and events that are able to take black men to the next level.
“My first initiative is called Real Men Read,” Collins said. Collins said he has seen students, especially athletes, graduate from high school and still are not prepared for colleges. “I want to get seniors ready for college, college men ready for the real world,” ended Collins.
But not all the candidates began their campaigns in the dormitories. Most began with setting up their tents between Augustus Blanks and Pinkie Thrift Halls.
Phillip Robinson, who is current a junior class senator, said students should vote for him for president because he brings something new to SGA.
“I’m all about bringing tangible ideas to SGA. I want to bring student government out of the second floor of the union and onto the campus.” Robinson said he wants to focus on campus beautification, such as cleaning Lake Kernan and fixing the infrastructure around campus.
As the current Executive Assistant to the President and the former business manager for the Association for Women Students, Ronisha Johnson thinks she is the best candidate for president.
If elected, Johnson said she wants AWS to be a launching pad for the female students to their professional careers.
“During our events, I want professional women to come in and talk about their paths to success. I want the ladies to know that they can achieve any goal they have.”
The two remaining presidential candidates, Phillip Wallace and Stanley White both wanted the students know that their main focus will be on the students and their problems.
“Other than one other candidate [Taylor], I’m the only student running for president who actually knows what it’s like to live on campus. I know and live the problems with housing and food. I’m focusing on making student life livable on campus,” said Wallace.
As for White, who is relativity new to SGA, just wants to represent the students.
“I stand for the students. I’m in it to build my résumé.”
Although there are two students running for vice president, the DIGEST was unable to contact Langston Williams, a sophomore class senator.
Craig Burrell, current junior class president said he is running with Wallace to show students the president and vice president can be in unity.
“Even though there’s no official ticket, Wallace and I are running together because we have the same common goals and want the students to know we’re going to work together.”
DeAnna Blue, Miranda Nixon and Sabrina Whitney are the other three vying for the title of Miss Southern 2009-10.
“I’m a real candidate with real ideas. I want to have events at the campus bowling alley…I’m excited about Southern University and love talking to people about this university,” said Blue, who also said being Miss Southern encompasses being an ambassador for the school.
Wanting to change the stereotypes of Miss Southern from being known as just smiling and waving, Nixon wants to bridge the gap between students, alumni and the community.
“I want to have a community day where members of the surrounding community visit the campus. I think it’s important for the younger generations get to know the campus so when they graduate from high school, they’ll want to come to Southern.”
Whitney said being a political science student gives her a leg up on the other candidates because she is articulate and well versed in current issues.
“The students of Southern University are ready for change. They’re tired of a Miss Southern who only has a name and face.”
If elected, Whitney said she is going to focus on volunteerism — especially St. Jude’s Children Hospital — and mentoring young people.
“We are all at our best when we are serving others.”
 

Gallery • 1 Photos

Wil Norwood

Former SGA Vice President Stasha Rhodes gazes at an election poster for current SGA president Jamal Taylor, which features her photo.