Guy King
News Editor
Former New Orleans mayor Marc H. Morial is the featured speaker for the Jackson State University Fall Con closing the economic gaps between white and black and rich and poor Commencement will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center. A live streaming and o
Distinguished senators and representatives were introduced to the Tiger’s roar on Jan. 8, 2014 at the Mississippi State Capitol. Information on Jackson State University’s academic colleges and departments filled the foyer among the marble floors and pillars at the annual JSU Day at the Capitol event.
“This event is to showcase Jackson State University as one of the partnering schools in the state of Mississippi and to be a part of the legislative process,” said Mary White, Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Professional Development.
Several JSU students and employees attended the event and discussed with legislators what JSU does for its students. These representatives also provided pamphlets on the legislative priorities of Jackson State in 2015.
Mea Ashley, 2011 Miss Jackson State University and current program specialist for Alumni and Constituency Relations, volunteered at the event.
“JSU Day at the Capitol is very necessary because it shows the legislators that we are here and we need legislations for JSU so we can get more things done in the near future,” said Ashley.
One of the hot topics discussed at the event was the issue of health care. JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers is proposing a School of Public Health to promote health care as an economic driver. A fully accredited school, Meyers maintains, could educate and prepare professionals to provide public health services in the state’s urban and rural communities.
Creating Mississippi’s only accredited School of Public Health at Jackson State University “would definitely help us to educate on health,” said state Sen. Sollie Norwood at JSU Day at the Capitol, pledging “whatever I can do to help.”
A 1974 alumnus of JSU, Norwood said he is a strong proponent of education and Jackson State. His daughter, Ashley Norwood, is a 2014 JSU graduate in journalism, a department in transition.
The JSU Department of Mass Communications is being transformed into a School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Media training today, Meyers says, must shift to produce “digital storytellers equipped for emerging occupations.”
Mass Communications students gained hands on media experience by conducting interviews with legislators discussing the progress and needs of the university.
“I asked legislators who they represented and what message they would like to let students know to help benefit them. I feel that students should know that there are JSU alums in congress in place to help us in any way,” said Avi’Yam Jordan, a senior mass communications from Chicago, Ill.
Jordan, who will graduate in December, said she hopes to be a news anchor in Chicago and own her own media studio.
As special entertainment for the legislators, the MADDRAMA Performance Troupe performed “creation” at the event. The piece focuses on how JSU was established.
“We wanted to put on a show for the capitol to show in detail how talented and bright our students really are,” said Mark G. Henderson, chair of the JSU Speech and Theater Department. “Our students put in hard work and I was delighted to showcase a performance to legislators.”
Contributor: JSU Newsroom
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