The General Student Assembly held at the William “Billy” J. Nicks Auditorium Aug. 29 focused on assuring students of quality services and education.
The assembly began with a welcome and invocation by Johnnie Jones, vice president of SGA, and Mark Williams II, Mr. Prairie View 2007-2008. By the end of their speeches, the confident expressions from the crowd of more than 1.000 students and faculty members made it apparent that a better future for the university was not an optimistic approach, but a realistic goal for everyone.
Freshman business major Tanesha Wells said, “I am very hopeful about this year and it’s encouraging to hear and see your classmates all share a common ground to succeed,” as she sat with others to hear positive words from the speakers of this semester’s assembly.
“I thought this was going to be a totally different environment when I first got here and was surprised by how a lot of students were really trying to make a difference by either helping or just trying their best to get an education no matter what,” Wells continued.
The assembly proceeded with SGA President Andre Evans delivering an empowering speech on expectations between student leaders and students. He focused on the pledge from student leaders to help make students’ college experience as pleasurable as it is progressive.
“I plan to create a tradition of preeminence, and hopefully change the mind frames of the incoming students to start a more progressive pendulum among all the students,” Evans stated. “A more positive era will begin and students will continue to have the conviction to succeed.”
President George C. Wright then commented on three distinct elements that he wanted students to focus on: the value of an education, the importance of saying “no, not right now,” and the significance of reading. “Your education, Prairie View students, is an investment for your future. These students know that hard work now will pay off later,” stated Wright as he touched on the subject of working students in the community.
Wright wanted students to critically analyze how they spoke of themselves, the appropriateness of what they said and how it can affect everyone around them.
“I definitely feel that students should be more careful about how we talk to each other because it’s not just a reflection of yourself, but your education as well,” said senior communications major Kevin Edwards.
Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost and senior vice president, remarked on the recent accomplishments by the university, including the SWAC Commissioners Cup won by the Lady Panthers basketball team.
Afterward, Noah Rattler, an alumnus and activist, spoke on his completion of an 1,800-mile walk for homelessness and how graduating from Prairie View changed his perspective.
As the assembly ended students did not appear to be sapped of energy, but confident that the year would yield to more student participation, success and opportunity for achievement.