Jon David Cole
Junior
Brandon, Miss.
HistoryJon David Cole, candidate for Student Association attorney general, says he wants to establish a freshman year experience program within one year in office.
“Mississippi State loses freshmen every year because freshmen aren’t plugged in to something on campus,” Cole said. “It is my best service that I can do to make those people not only appreciate their campus more and get oriented more, but to get plugged in and to help those kids meet other people.”
Cole serves on the academic vision committee, which has been establishing the groundwork for a freshman experience program over the past year.
He and three other committee members attended a conference in Dallas, Texas, and used the knowledge they gained to compile a report. The three will help advise administration in forming the program.
Cole also directs the newly formed campus outreach committee, which links the SA with the student body. In November his committee began “Campus Explosion,” in which committee members asked students for their concerns and interests and tried to reach a “broad cross-section of students.”
“Our goals were to find out from those meetings, … is what we are doing, what you want us to be doing, and if not, what do you want us to be doing,” Cole said.
The data gathered from the study will help the SA better reach students’ needs, Cole said.
“Working in student government, I’ve realized how much the members of [the executive branch] can make a big difference as far as what the Student Association accomplishes … Each person on [the branch] plays a key role in forging an agenda for the year.”
Cole said his love for MSU, his experience and his vision for the coming year will make him a successful leader as attorney general.