Alexis Anderson
Blue & White Flash/Staff Writer
Charles Cathey’s goal of representing the students at Jackson State University as the 2013-2014 Student Government Association President was realized on April 4, 2013. To find out more about Cathey and his plans as the next SGA President, The Flash interviewed the new leader.
The Flash: What made you want to run for SGA president?
Cathey: I wanted to run for SGA President because I truly care about the development and welfare of Jackson State University and the betterment of my fellow Jacksonsians. I want to leave Jackson State University in a better state then when I found it my freshmen year. I want to inspire the next young leader to step up to the plate and lead with confidence and open doors for others because it was done for me, and I wouldn’t be here without those people to help me along the way. So I want to serve as Jackson State’s leader and leave a legacy that impacts students far beyond my days as SGA President with the help of my team.
The Flash: What prior experience do you have with the SGA?
Cathey: This past year ,I served as SGA’s junior class president, and I had a number of great experiences that have helped me grow as not just a student but as a young man. I learned how to lead in different ways and environments that helped influence me to want to do more, and now I am the SGA President. I’m truly humbled by being elected and thankful for those experiences that have lead to this point.
The Flash: What is your platform?
Cathey: My platform is “Building Together as ONE” because in reality we are supposed to one family, one community, one JSU. We are one family that is supposed to rise together and build one another up as we matriculate through Jackson State. Working together is the most important aspect of my platform and getting the student body involved next year is one of my key focuses.
I definitely want to be extremely engaged with the freshmen class that will be coming in this fall and have programs such as the “Gentlemen’s Academy” and “Essence of a Lady Tiger” at the fore front of our campus initiatives. We all as students can change and avoid some of the pitfalls that we fall into when we come into college if we are guided along the way as soon as we step foot onto this university. I want to change the perception of our young males and women so that we will in turn change the perception of our university. I will set up an executive board with qualified men and women to start the mentorship process for these programs. We can’t change JSU until we change ourselves and way of thinking.
The Flash: What are some of the issues you think are the most important for students?
Cathey: Some of the most important issues that we as students have are social issues that we face that distract us as students and ultimately become the down fall of some of us. These are problems that can be fixed through campus mentoring initiatives that I will have in place. Other issues that students want to be addressed are parking, campus safety at night, and tuition costs. Every issue won’t be fixed but it is important to me that we address all of them.
The Flash: What do you want the SGA to do differently next year?
Cathey: I think this year’s administration under Brian Wilks was phenomenal and outstanding. We accomplished so much, but something that I want us to do next year is really increase campus morale around the entire school. Having the student body active in more things so they can feel more connected with the SGA and administration and truly feel like this is their university. Increasing morale will be tough but I’m willing to work hard with my team and SGA members to get it done. I will be committed to this the entire year.
The Flash: How do you feel about students and their attitude towards the rules?
Cathey: I feel that a majority of our students respect the rules of our campus and follow them. We do have a select few that don’t care about the welfare and up keeping of our university but that’s our jobs as leaders to take a stand and be at the forefront of correcting these problems. If we all work together then change can be made, including with the help of administration. We all have to do our part, and I don’t feel that most of us want to tear our school down; we just need to get everybody on board with uplifting it.
The Flash: What is something that people don’t know about Chuck?
Cathey: Other than people in my immediate friend group, most people might not know that I at first didn’t have the vision of becoming Jackson State University’s SGA President my freshmen year. It was because I had influential people such as Christopher Cathey, Brian Wilks, Andross Milteer, Darius Kennebrew, and T’Erica Hudson among others, to see the potential in me that I didn’t see in myself at first.
I had people around me encouraging and challenging me in positive ways to strive to become my best and have helped me develop into the young man I am now. I have had so many blessings given to me by God, and I began to gain a spirit of servitude and want to give back to the next person that needs a role model or just someone positive to look up to. I want to inspire that freshman who will be here in the fall that don’t yet know his or her true potential to become great. I just want to pour into someone’s life and inspire them like I had growing at JSU.
The Flash: What are some of your hobbies?
Cathey: Some of my hobbies include playing sports like baseball, basketball, and football. I’m an extremely competitive person and hate losing, no matter what it is. I enjoy really just hanging out with my friends, networking, and smiling.
I enjoy life so much because we often take it for granted and it’s truly too short not to smile at everybody no matter what our circumstances are. I enjoy motivating others and watching documentaries of other people’s lives that have impacted their peers and thousands like Dr. King, and it motivates me to strive to become great.
