Student involvement at an all time low

William H. Kelly III
Associate Editor

In high school, every one informs you and encourages you to make wise decisions, go to class, and get involved as much as possible. Unfortunately, they forget to tell you about the work and stress that follows behind involvement.

I am now wrapping up my second year here at Jackson State University and I have been overly involved from the second I stepped on campus. While there are a multitude of benefits with being active, it also comes with a price.

For those involved in the Student Government Association, have executive board positions in your perspective organizations, or have been crowned as king or queen for one of the National Pan Hellenic Council organizations, you tend realize that it is almost impossible to get anything completed.

When elected, or put into these positions, some of us have the mindset to have events on campus or make a difference some how, some way.

Students need to realize that sometimes there are other circumstances preventing progress, its not always the students.

You are told that your event has not been approved yet or the day of your event it gets canceled due to lack of communication and other excuses. I have witnessed this school year, hands on with being a photographer for the SGA, that it is not always the students’ fault when there is a delay.

Too often I hear the students of our university blame those students we put into office for the lack of events and services you desire. We must stop blaming those who are not responsible UNLESS you are positive that they are not trying to accomplish anything.

Admit it, this has to be by far the most boring, deserted campaign season I have experienced and honestly I am not sure who is to blame.

Based on the comments I have heard among the students, it seems that there is a lack of trust because students become discouraged when things don’t go as they were originally planned.

There is only so much that one can take before finally giving up and moving on to the next objective. I encourage all of the students to get involved not only to gain professional skills and network,  but so that you can also understand what happens behind the closed doors of Jackson State.

I am simply stating my personal experiences along with those of my fellow peers. Running an organization, a student body, and so forth is a very strenuous task and it naturally comes with obstacles.

Along with the lack of trust amongst the student body, there is also just simply a lack of interest. Every one who shows exemplary leadership skill does not have to get involved with SGA but they should get involved in what appeals to them. Student life is dying and it is time for us to resuscitate it back to life, one step at a time.