President George C. Wright has urged students to uphold the values of diligence, honesty, and integrity and always to remember the purpose of enrolling in the university.The president made those comments at the General Student Assembly held in the Baby Dome last Thursday.
Wright stated that many problems on campus, such as fighting and students on probation, are created by a minority of students, but reflect negatively on the campus as a whole.
The president’s speech focused not only on stopping violence on campus, but also on trying to help students find a rewarding route for their lives. “We want to talk to you, to keep you in the right way. Because together, we can make this a better place for everyone.”
Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, stated that the assembly was about celebrating and sustaining the excellence of Prairie View A&M University and encouraged students to study hard.
Prairie View alumnus Kevin Jones told students that pride, determination, and character are things that he learned while he was a student.
Don Byers, associate provost for enrollment management, said that being successful in college takes thought, planning, and execution. He told students to take advantage of available opportunities and to not only work up to, but beyond their potential.
“The administration really wanted to get the students involved in the general assembly,” said Brijette Robinson, a junior agricultural economics major, who is also a member of the Campus Activities Board.
“Because, in the past, it was usually all about the administration and the president speaking and no students. But this time, they wanted the student leaders to express their feelings on how students on-campus behave, or comment on some of the things that they see. They really wanted us to try to inspire the students who go to school here.”
During the assembly, Brijette gave a short but inspiring speech about “choices” and the positive or negative effects that they can have on the lives of students. And she hopes that the students who attended the assembly took careful note of what she had to say. “I think it is a really important topic. I actually wish more students were there to hear it. It’s important that we all realize that every single choice we make is going to affect something that’s going to happen in the future. Every choice we make is important, because you never know how it’s going to affect you later on in life.”
“I agreed with Dr. Wright about how the statistics impact all Prairie View students,” said freshman Leon Journet. “Overall, I believe that the program was nicely organized and informative.