The Student Government Association held a seminar Monday, March 6, entitled the “Primary Political Process.” The program, which was conducted by SGA president Oludayo Olusanya and SGA vice president Courtney Smith, featured a panel that included Dr. Michael Nojeim and Prairie View government relations officer Frank Jackson. The aim of the seminar was to inform Prairie View students of what the panelists felt was the political power they held.”It was important to do this program so that we educate students on the amount of political power they have in this county,” said Olusanya during the opening of the program.
In a later interview, Olusanya said: “I think it started a discourse among the students and will lead to a lot of positive actions.”
After a prayer by Johnnie Jones III, Nojeim was introduced as the speaker. He quickly challenged students to get up and take action, stating that “voting is your duty” to the student filled audience. He also added that “if [they] do not constantly nurture this responsibility, then power, rights and duty slips away.”
Next, Jackson came to the podium and filled in the audience on historical lessons concerning African-American voting rights as well as political power (or lack thereof) that African-Americans have possessed. He also encouraged students not only to vote, but to get involved in the political process. Additionally, he explained why the position of president was powerful at Prairie View and ultimately who gave the president so much power.
“Only the student body can give power to the powerful position of president at Prairie View,” said Jackson.
Following the speech, the audience was allowed to participate in a question and answer session, in which they asked the panelists any question they felt to be important and the program concluded shortly thereafter.