PJC students active with Texas student government
Published or Revised May 05, 2015
Paris Junior College Student Government Association members who travelled to Dallas recently for the Texas Junior College SGA annual convention. Shown holding up three fingers signifying Region III are from left, front row: Jeramy Howell, Matthew Brooks and Jeffery Ting; back row: John David Wiley, Briana Musgrove, Meosha Cooper, and Daniel Colin. Not pictured but also attending was Matthew Nichols.
Several members of the Paris Junior College Student Government Association travelled to Dallas recently for the Texas Junior College SGA annual convention.
“The students enjoyed it,” said Kenneth Webb, PJC Director of Student Life. “They represented PJC well, and they had a wonderful time. It’s good to see our students stand up before 500 people and speak. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Webb said that in addition to attending workshops and committee meetings, the students heard from motivational speaker Stan Pearson on both leadership and stereotypes. PJC students attending included Matthew Brooks, Daniel Collin, Meosha Cooper, Jeramy Howell, Briana Musgrove, Matthew Nichols, Jeffrey Ting, and Jon David Wiley.
Though not originally elected to the position of Region III secretary, Jon David Wiley took over the role this semester for both the local PJC chapter and for Region III.
“I enjoyed it,” Wiley said. “I had been in Student government since high school. I was in the PJC Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology’s student association and served in leadership with that group. I finished the watch program and am taking academic classes so I ran for secretary with SGA and filled in at Region III.
“My job was to take detailed notes and minutes of each and every meeting that Region III held. I was also responsible for roll calls by college, delegates and administrative directors. We went to the meeting in Dallas, where we were with six other regions. We got to speak with like-minded colleagues who are interested in government and part of SGA wanting to make student life on campus better. We attended workshops and seminars and participated in resolutions, passing all seven resolutions. The TJCSGA constitution was amended by three amendments that also passed.
As an executive of Region III, Wiley could not serve on a committee. Howell sat on the resolutions committee, and was also elected SGA Region III Vice President for 2015-2016. Howell is graduating this semester, but once elected the spot is held by the college, which will select someone in the fall to fill the role.
“It was a lot more than I expected,” said Howell. “I ended up serving on the statewide resolutions committee that decides the political stances the TJCSGA will take. We addressed gun control, mental health awareness, sexual assault awareness, and common course numbering. We amend the resolutions to place on the floor for organization. The one concerning gun control got the most discussion. Everyone voted to give control to the local boards of regents.
“There were positions open for each regional office. I ran for VP for Region III and won. I didn’t know I was going to do any of this before going to the meeting. Mr. Webb said there wouldn’t be much to do and next thing I know I’m lobbying for resolutions in front of 600 people. But it was lots of good experience, drafting and amending resolutions, creating a campaign speech and presenting the resolutions to a large audience.”
The TJCSGA is the only student maintained organization in the state that works to promote the cause of community college students at the local, regional, state and national level. There are 72 member colleges divided into six regional districts. PJC is part of Region III.
Chartered in 1970, the then Texas Junior College Student Council voted in convention to change their name to the current TJCSGA. Since 2005, TJCSGA has hosted a bi-annual Community College Day in February when the Texas Legislature is in session.
