By: Alexis Anderson
Staff Writer
It’s that time of the year again, classes are back in session at Jackson State University. Students are preparing for their classes, looking for internships, but also looking forward to a great time in the process. It’s the lack of student involvement in other important social events that concerns me.
Since my freshman year, I have noticed that the campus is filled with many social events, including performances by the JSU Dance Ensemble, Maddrama, pagents, probate, and the hotspots on the plaza.
But why aren’t the students attending the intellectual activities on campus? Whenever an HBCU only has around 2 percent of the student body showing up to the SGA meetings as well as the NAACP meetings, but more than half of the student body are at probate every semester; there is a problem.
The majority of the student body has embraced the social aspect of JSU and the college experience that comes with attending an historically black university. There are a variety of events on campus, but how many of them are learning experiences for the students. In my opinion, some organizations get overlooked because students feel either they’re not relevant or need better marketing. Whatever the case might be, there is always a need for more intelligent forums and clubs for the students at JSU.
There are some students who feel there is nothing wrong with the amount of entertainment on campus.
Ray Gustavis, a senior music education major from Hazlehurst, Miss said, “No, I think one of the finer points of our university, is that the activities are so diverse. It gives students from other states/countries the chance to experience southern culture and entertainment without having to venture off campus.”
T.J. Johnson, a senior mathematics major from New Orleans, La. said, “It’s not enough entertainment during the weekends; there’s barely anything to do aside from the norm that we do during the week. Swimming, Walter Payton, and the library are the main things and when those activities are unavailable, the campus is dead.”
But there are some people who feel like there should be other types of entertainment introduced to the campus. Recent JSU graduate Alexander Robinson thinks there should be more informative events held on campus.
“I don’t believe there’s too much entertainment on campus, but there’s not enough intellectual enriching activities. They need balance,” said Robinson.
I am not trying to sound biased or uptight, but I also believe there should be more events that teach morals and ethics inside the classrooms, as well as having professionalism beyond academics. Students should balance there time between fun activities and forums that teach about how to prepare for issues, such as looking for a job, health, the importance of community service, and economic empowerment. The amount of entertainment on campus doesn’t concern me. If the school chooses to have a hotspot everyday of the week, its fine with me.
My concern is that the SGA and the JSU NAACP chapter have both experienced a lack of student participation.
Some people outside of the university believe that JSU is a party school. Personally, I never believed that JSU was a party school and never has been since 1877. It has more to offer than hot spots and Greek life every year. However, having the exact same events every year gets old after awhile.
As a junior and the assistant secretary of JSU NAACP chapter, I would love to see better and broader ideals presented to the student body and to high school students who are thinking about attending JSU in the future.
I completely understand that generations have changed over the years, but I think the students show a lack of pride for their university by not participating in civic minded organizations.
Let’s prove to all of the skeptics and those who may think of JSU as a party school that students are filled with pride, integrity, and knowledge. It’s going to be a challenge to change this mindset, but it’s worth saving the intellectual reputation of our dear old, college home.
