In response to concerns regarding Southeastern and impending budget cuts, the Student Government Association (SGA) is working to launch an information network to address any questions the campus community may have about the university’s state.
The network, titled Students United in Pursuit of Educational Respect (SUPER), is intended to better provide students with information regarding the current budget situation and SGA’s plan of action, providing factual and straightforward answers to questions.
“I see the benefit as two-fold,” said Erin M. Cowser, executive director of public and governmental affairs. “First, having that information will hopefully discourage rumors, which can cause irreparable damage in and of themselves. Second, when students know the facts surrounding the budget situation, they can be responsible and effective advocates for their university.”
Cowser has been involved with setting the network in motion, working closely with SGA President David Cavell and Southeastern President John L. Crain.
Primary goals of the network include educating the student body about current and upcoming budget issues and encouraging students to take a more active role in university issues, at both the university and state levels.
“It’s all about staying informed,” said Cowser. “With all the uncertainty swirling around right now involving the budget crisis, it’s important to make sure you have current and correct information.”
According to Cavell, concern over false rumors surrounding the budget situation was a major influence in the conceptualization of the SUPER network. In addition to providing up-to-date information and encouraging student involvement, the network is hoped to lay these rumors to rest.
“I want to make sure we’re getting the facts to the students,” said Cavell. “Not everyone knows the facts. It’s hard for one president of the university to give those facts to an entire student body.”
The staff of The Lion’s Roar were among students who were asked to submit questions as a means of jumpstarting the network’s process. The questions have been submitted and are currently still under review, pending sorting to avoid redundancies and completion of answers.
According to Cowser, the network is expected to launch within the next couple of weeks, likely through a primary Facebook pilot to later be followed by a site link separate from that of Southeastern’s Home page. The site would have to be separate from Southeastern’s main site because it may contain “calls to action,” such as encouraging students to participate in rallies or to contact legislators.
“The network is an opportunity for us to send a message to Baton Rouge – to our state legislators, to our governor – to let them know that students will hold them accountable for their actions and their decisions about the future of higher education,” said Cavell.
More information about the SUPER network can be found by contacting the SGA at 985-549-2296 or by e-mailing Cavell at [email protected].
“I think it’s going to be something very beneficial,” said Cavell. “It’s time that we come together as one united student body, not divided, and this is the network that’s going to do that for us.”