As an out-of-state student from Memphis, Student Association presidential candidate Michael Hogan said he understands the financial problems non-state residents face paying for summer tuition.
Although he has out-of-state tuition waived for him during the normal school year, he was unable to afford taking classes in the summer of 2012 while working at Mississippi State University for the SA and as an orientation leader.
If elected SA president, Hogan said he hopes to begin working toward getting students with a fall and spring out-of-state tuition waiver a summer waiver, as well. He said, at the moment, 11 percent of students in summer school are out-of-state and pay full tuition.
“I heard word that policy was getting pushed through just to see if it would be even possible, or if it would be even financially OK for the administration to sign-off on allowing that spring and fall (scholarship) to be checked on in the summer,” Hogan said.
He said the administration is looking for someone to prove that financially the administration would be able to afford giving those students the waiver.
“They’re looking for someone to prove that point, spearhead that, survey those experiments to bring that percentage to about 20,” he said. “And that should even the playing field of what should financially stabilize for tuition.”
As president, Hogan wants to be the point man on this project and personally survey students.
He said once he receives numbers from students, he would hope to build relationships with the administration and lobby for this issue.
In addition to working toward summer tuition waivers, Hogan wants to provide a 24-hour library wing.
He said he would hope to have trial runs in a small section of the library to test if students would put it to use.
“I just think it’s important to put those academics first, and if that helps in the least I would love to push for it,” he said.
This year, Hogan served as chief programming officer in the SA, which gave him programming experience after Campus Activities Board was absorbed into SA, and he oversaw that part of the cabinet.
He said in some aspects, his previous experience in SA and on campus, has influenced his platform points to revive the use of Amphitheater.
In conjunction with athletics, Hogan said he wants to revamp the pep rallies during football season.
“There’s no involvement from the football team, there’s no band. They have the cheerleaders, they have the pom squad, which was great. They have a special guest speaker, which is always a good thing but the locations would switch around,” he said.
He said he would like to have the pep rallies at the Amphitheater not only to provide consistency but also to utilize a beautiful but underused part of campus.
In addition to pep rallies, Hogan said he wants to give student talent a chance to use the Amphitheater as a venue and an opportunity to play before large crowds.
Hogan, a junior business management major, said he wants to market the Business Bin in McCool, which has professional clothing from Joseph A. Banks and Belk for students to borrow for free for a day’s use.
The Health Center, which Hogan said is underused but a wonderful part of campus, could combine initiatives with the SA in health-related programs.
He also hopes to restructure The Big Event, a student-run community service project, in order to add on campus projects.
In order to promote away football game travel, Hogan wants to work with a company to see if shuttle services could be provided to offer students travel options.
Hogan also said he hopes to implement an open-door policy where SA officials would provide students advice on implementing programs. He would also request senators, cabinet members and executives to have office hours weekly and post those, along with a biography of themselves on the SA website.
He said he wants to create a freshmen mentoring program, in which freshmen can contact members of the SA to ask for advice on how to become involved on campus and in the SA.
In addition to revamping and creating new programs, Hogan said he hopes to have cellphone charging areas available on campus for students in high-traffic buildings whose doors are open late.
“Different SEC schools do this. It’s an emergency situation initiative as well as a convenience for dead batteries,” he said.
He said he is looking for sponsorships through Samsung, and if those do not work out, he would be interested in starting a program to see if MSU’s engineering programs would be interested in constructing something.
Hogan, who said he is a student first, looks forward to serving his peers if elected.
“I work hard to serve and to lead other students, and that’s been a blessing in my life to be able to serve in so many different entities,” he said.