We have to do better: IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

I've given you my opinion this school year on things we needed to do better on. Now it's time for me to say goodbye.

Let's take a trip down memory lane. My first topic was the not so "One Stop Shop" in Anderson Center, where students handled things like financial aid, parking and housing. Hopefully, by fall some of the problems with the "One Stop Shop" will improve and students won't have to make 20 stops before they are helped. 

We needed to do better selecting our homecoming artists. This year's artists were not the most popular among the student body. We had a very low turnout for the concert. The artists reflected the vice president of external affairs' musical interest and not the interest of the majority of the students. Winston-Salem State, let's hope that the new VP of external affairs does better for homecoming 2013. I talked about how late students received their financial aid. Some students did not get their fall 2012 financial aid award until November.  Students being in school for three months before they even receive aid is not acceptable. WSSU, financial aid REALLY has to do better for fall 2013. 

I talked about college students not staying abreast with what is going on in the media. We know all the latest songs, but when asked about what's going on in the news some students are silent. WSSU, we have to do better. We, as African-American students, should be media literate. 

The topic that I enjoyed writing about the most was professors who don't teach. I expressed my feelings and those of fellow students on a critical topic that affects many of us. We have teachers at this University who don't teach their students, come to work late and don't set a proper example. I am very passionate about this matter because I have seen it many times. This topic created a lot of buzz on campus and had a lot of professors on their toes. Maybe if everybody was doing their job, they wouldn't have to be worried. WSSU, professors you have to do better. 

I wasn't just one sided with the topic of teachers who don't teach. All the blame is not on the professors. Students are accountable for their education just as much as teachers are responsible for teaching course material. Students need to make sure we do better by focusing, doing our work, stop making excuses and graduating on time. WSSU, we have to do better. 

I talked about Hill Hall being transformed into the Student Success Center, like we need another one of those on campus. What we need are more classroom spaces. WSSU I hope we do better with this issue for the future. Because Hill Hall will include everything that is in the Hauser Building, that building should be turned into classroom spaces. WSSU, we have to do better. 

I talked about supporting academic programs as well as Rams sports. We need to make sure we are supporting volleyball, tennis, baseball, bowling and track not just football and basketball. And if you are going to support the teams don't just be there, cheer them on, encourage them and scream GO RAMS! WSSU, we have to do better. 

My previous column was on the two late announcements, tickets for graduation and the speaker. I understand administration was trying to weigh all the options before they told students where graduation was going to be held and if they were going to use tickets. I don't think they took long distance family members and friends into consideration.  

Since writing this column my solution is to have fall graduation in K.R. Williams. Spring graduation can still be in Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Because the fall class is smaller than the spring, I think that would be a cheaper solution than having it in LJVMC. 

There you have it SU. Just a few things that we need to improve on to be better Rams and be prepared to compete in this cruel world. You can catch me at graduation 9:45 a.m. May 18, walking across the stage with a huge smile on my face. Just remember WSSU, keep trying to do better.