The student body was welcomed with a host of new changes on the campus as they began their 2009-2010 school year.
In President George C. Wright’s open letter to PVAMU students he stated that a committee of representatives from campus housing, student conduct, student affairs, public relations, health and counseling, student activities, and leadership and auxiliary services meet weekly to address concerns with campus safety, appearance, student conduct, etc.
“The culture and appearance of Prairie View has changed dramatically,” said Robert Powell, SGA president. “We are not only seeing steps to make Prairie View a safer and better university but also one that is taking steps to invest in its students.”
Powell and Wright both try to address accountability this year.
“Dr. Wright challenged us to do our jobs,” said Timothy Albert, student conduct officer. “We’ve had all these rules set in place but just not enforced.”
Students, faculty, and staff all wanted to see Prairie View become a safer learning environment where an individual can come and focus on their primary reason for entering college.
“We want this experience to be an educational process just not punitive,” said Albert. “We noticed that making the rights and regulations visible to students and informing them helped reduce the number of violations given.”
There has been a zero tolerance for ignorance on the campus.
“Students have received the changes we’ve made and welcomed them,” Lieutenant David Webb of the Department of Public Safety said. “We have assigned officers to the housing areas and collaborated room checks along with housing.”
Students received their student conduct code and handbook within this year’s planners given at the beginning of the semester.
“We wanted to make sure students were properly informed this year of what is expected of not only them but the staff of Prairie View A&M University,” Dr. Miron P. Billingsley, associate vice president for Student Affairs said. “We welcome good students and those who do not want to abide by the rules and regulations will have to find another university to attend.”
Most of the students like the enforced security around campus, but object to the housing rules, regulations, and curfews.
“I feel safer with the security, but I feel like they’re taking away our rights and freedom with some of their forms of rules and regulations,” Alexandria Williams, a sophomore marketing major said. “But, I feel it will get better with time. A lot of this is not only new to the students but also to those enforcing these rules.”
“I can see the progression that’s making the campus look more presentable and I can see the changes but I don’t agree with the housing rules,” Sean Ealum, a senior communication major said. “I feel we should have freedom and not be treated like children, and that’s what they are doing by enforcing a lot of these restrictions on visitation.”
A lot of individuals have taken heed to the physical changes on campus such as the new additions to the library, MSC dining hall, building signs, banners on the light poles, painted crosswalks, etc.
“The new signs introducing the buildings make the campus look more nice and sophisticated,” David Clark, a senior biology major said. “The library is up to par with the others in the A&M system and makes for a better learning experience sitting at a machine that actually works.”
Although all issues have has not yet been addressed, administrators are working to make improvements to the university.