This letter is in response to Phillip Mixon’s letter to the editor titled “SA is worthless.” The Student Association of Mississippi State University welcomes your criticism of our organization and its work for this great university, its students, the community of Starkville and the state of Mississippi. While we appreciate your comments, we do, however, want to correct some of the erroneous material printed in this letter.First, you mentioned that a blind Christian musician performed at Bulldog Bash. We would like to note that the Student Association did not sponsor that entertainment nor did that act perform at Bulldog Bash. Secondly, you made references to the Student Association not having a say in the academic forgiveness policy or the addition of a fall break. Again, we would like to note that the Student Association had been working on an academic forgiveness policy since the Parker/Wiseman administration – 2002-2003 school year – and the students of Mississippi State overwhelmingly passed a referendum vote on the addition of a fall break before it was even presented to the administration.
Mr. Mixon, we would like to take this opportunity to point out some of our successes over the past few years that you failed to mention. First, the Student Association led the efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Southeast Asia tsunami by facilitating a huge clothing and supplies drive. Second, the Student Association has had an enormous success in Bulldog Bash getting bigger and better as well as making the Night Route a smash hit. Last, I would like to point out that the Student Association worked diligently with several state legislators in Jackson to add a student representative to the College Board so that students’ concerns will be heard. And even yet, the Student Association continues its work trying to get a student representative on the Starkville Board of Aldermen.
The Student Association, under the new leadership of Jeremy Johnson, encourages Mr. Mixon and all other students to become active in our student government. Soon there will be cabinet director application/interview process. Also, there will be Senate elections and cabinet committee selections in the fall. There are a host of ways to get involved in your Student Association. The Student Association of Mississippi State University strives to be the voice of all the students – those that vote in elections and those who choose not to. And finally, Mr. Mixon, you must become the change that you want to see in the world.