Platform Part Three: Engagement--Social Justice and Increasing Student Communication

Hope everyone is having a good day, even though it's wet and dreary and hump day. I have to finish this post quickly before running off in my personalized Jets Jersey (Name: Bob. Number: 08) to an interview with the Maroon, and a series of meetings that I'm speaking at all day. Look for the guy with poofy hair in a green jersey today, and say hi if I don't to you.

Here's the last part of my platform: engagement. I see SGA doing a better job of engaging both the city and all students.

First, on New Orleans, I want SGA to help the city by encouraging more community outreach. As President, I will support existing service projects more strongly, run more campus-wide efforts like Wolves on the Prowl, and create incentives for student organizations to help rebuild New Orleans. I also will make sure that social justice remains a component of every department of the University, from Residential Life to the Fine Arts department to Admissions. The University needs to do a better job at supporting New Orleans, and I know I can push Loyola more in that direction.

Secondly, I want SGA to do a better job of listening to students through three major initiatives. I will make SGA design more effective surveys on the important issues on campus.

Moreover, I will make SGA have a closer relationship with the Maroon. The Maroon has done a very good job this year in covering issues on campus, but there are still many things—from Board of Trustees meetings to the evolving campus-wide facilities plan to the University Budget Committee meetings—that students need to know about. I will make SGA more proactive in its relationship with the Maroon in order to get the information out to students.

Finally, as SGA President I want to meet with small groups of student leaders--from Greek life to LUCAP to on a bi-weekly basis in order to get better feedback and advice on specific issues facing campus. If elected President, my ideas will help SGA become more engaged with the student body.

Thanks for reading--I'll post with an update later!

Bob Payne
Candidate, SGA President