Prairie View A&M University
10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 12:30
New SGA President to PVAMU: What will you do today to change the future
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Oct. 7, 2024) - Prairie View A&M University's new president of the Student Government Association, senior Jasmine Jeffries, ran for office to "foster a culture of student advocacy for PVAMU students."
Jeffries, in the Honors Program and on track to graduate next year with a BA in communications and a minor in African American studies, says it took courage for her to put herself out there to run for the public position, but she did because she believes in one truth: the student voice is paramount.
Her courage has paid off, and now she looks forward to a year of hard work and strategic planning ahead. "My top priorities for this academic year are ensuring the student voice is considered in every decision PVAMU makes, especially those directly impacting students, and equipping SGA with the tools and systems we need to work effectively on behalf of the student body."
Specifically, SGA plans to focus on five key points: learning experience, campus accessibility, campus resource access, civic engagement, and moving the University toward becoming a Health Promoting Institution.
From Missouri City, Texas, Jeffries said her community first planted the seed. "My friends and mentors saw my strengths before I understood them myself," she said. "Ultimately, I decided to run for SGA President because I wanted to foster a culture of student advocacy for PVAMU students."
She continued: "I read the SGA governing documents and immediately identified the responsibility SGA has to ensure the student voice is considered in every single decision our University makes. I wanted to be a leader who uplifted and strengthened our organization of around 90 people to act to our full potential as a Student Government Association."
For the year ahead, SGA is planning several outreach activities in addition to monthly town hall meetings to engage the student body. Jeffries wants to make sure the association reflects the student body's wants and needs.
In particular, a voting coalition will be organized to mobilize voter education efforts on campus.
Jeffries urges the student body to exercise their right and their power to vote. "The student vote is crucial in all elections. If we reflect on most social movements where people are advocating for equitable practices across all issue lines, these movements are initiated by students."
Your voting today changes our tomorrow: "We should vote because we can, and we were not always able to. Politics impacts every single facet of our life. The roads we drive on, our access to medicine, our clothes, our food, our experience here at PVAMU, and so much more. We have the opportunity to create the life we want to see through our vote. We can get to know candidates and vote people into office who align with our beliefs, values, and wants for our world."
She quoted the words of former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee members Courtland Cox and Judy Richardson from a recent panel discussion: "What will you say in the future about what you did today?" Jeffries added, "Maybe we cannot all change the whole world. But we all have the opportunity to contribute to the coming world how we want it to be."
Undoubtedly, Jeffries is passionate about the power of student voices - especially when those singular voices come together. "None of the work we do, especially not in SGA, should happen in isolation. We need to support one another by showing up, being honest, being transparent, being consistent, and being loud for the changes we want to see. We are much stronger and more effective when we work together."
By Christine Won
-PVAMU-