SGA Town Hall Meeting addresses housing, infrastructure and campus safety

Tatyana Ross

Editor-in-Chief

Upcoming projects and the status of campus improvement efforts were discussed during a Jackson State University SGA Town Hall meeting held on Jan. 18, 2023.

University representatives addressed student concerns with top three priorities like housing, campus sustainability, and campus safety during the meeting.

Madison Cathey, SGA President served as the moderator of the event.

The top priority discussed was Jackson State’s plans to build a new residence hall after requesting $50 million from the state legislator.

If approved, the new residence hall is expected to be a 600-bed design with a suite/apartment style of living which would increase JSU’s ability to attract and house more potential students.

Da’Maje Russell, a freshman chemistry major from Memphis, Tenn., thinks that building a new residence hall is long overdue but the University should be more concerned with the upkeep of the present facilities.

“I do think it is necessary for Jackson State to build new dorms because some people don’t have housing every year,” Russell said. “My main concern (however) is that we are sleeping in rooms with no heat while it is 50 degrees outside.”

Russell also said he is outraged that housing does not permit students to have heaters but fans are allowed.

“A fan can help us when it’s hot but what are we supposed to do when it’s cold, risk getting a fine or just lay under three different covers? It’s unhealthy,” Russell said.

Priority number two dealt with Jackson State’s sustainability and infrastructure issues as it relates to power and the most recent water issues. The project proposal to help with these issues would incorporate alternative power and water sources to improve campus facilities.

The upgrades would also include solving issues with plumbing, mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, and utility service modifications with drain improvements. Students have raised several concerns about these upgrades but many of these issues must be corrected by the City of Jackson with infrastructure upgrades and are beyond to scope of the university.

Aria Chinn, a junior elementary childhood education from Milwaukee, Wis., is disheartened by the constant water issues and feels that students should receive some type accommodation.

“It sucks that I’m paying out of pocket to stay in a school that doesn’t have clean water. We haven’t been given any financial accommodations for our housing either,” Chinn said “I don’t expect to live here for free, but I don’t think it’s far-fetched to expect a small credit towards housing for the inconvenience.”

The third priority raised was the Campus Safety Project which is supposed to focus on the development of implementing life safety improvements to protect students, faculty, and staff.

Several students on-campus have raised concerns about feeling safe on campus due to a lack of consistency with campus safety protocols. Russell thinks campus police should be more attentive.

“I think JSU should have better safety protocols, such as making sure students are actually students and not letting just anybody come on campus and if they had security who is more attentive to students, we would feel much safer,” Russell said.

Chinn agreed with Russell but said she feels campus police needs to be more proactive rather than reactive in situations regarding campus safety.

“The school seems so ill prepared for any and every situation. Though some things you cannot predict, the things they can predict aren’t being handled well either,” Chinn said.

Jackson State requested over $12.2 million from the state legislature to aid in their efforts to improve campus safety.

A total over $79.2 million has been requested from the state legislature.