Brooks Powell is a needed leader during an important time for SMU.
More than any other presidential candidate, Powell laid out a specific plan of action. No wishy-washy “uniting the campus” or “making everyone feel good” empty promises from Powell. He talked specifics on what he would do, how he would do it and what he has already done.
Powell discussed four topics in detail: spirit and traditions, safety, scholarships and the Memorial Health Center.
Powell was part of a task force that helped implement changes to the orientation process for first-years. The task force discussed how to better welcome and get first-years involved on campus. It decided to do away with Week of Welcome (WOW), and instead emphasize Mustang Corral and combine some parts of WOW into a new program, Encore.
Powell and the task force are working with other groups, like the Office of Leadership and Community Involvement and Emerging Leaders, to further integrate existing organizations into the new process.
This work shows that Powell does more than make campaign promises – he fulfills them by working together with groups on campus. It is a great example of why we are enthusiastically endorsing him.
Powell said there is still work to do with campus safety, and he listed areas of campus that could use better lighting and better signage to protect pedestrians. He particularly focused on Airline Road next to the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports as an area that needs improved crosswalks and lighting.
Powell had the most creative and substantive solution to increasing scholarship money for students. He discussed how some SMU financial awards are taken away before a student graduates – thus forcing that person to come up with money they had not had to before. Others are given set amounts of money per year, but their effectiveness goes down each year with each tuition increase.
Powell says scholarships issued by the university should be a percentage per year instead of a flat amount. This would make tuition increases hurt less each year. Powell said he is already talking with SMU’s parent liason office and says dialogue with the Board of Trustees would be key to making this idea work.
We hope so. This would be a significant improvement for students’ lives during their time on the Hilltop.
Powell’s final goal is to make the Health Center better. He rightly believes the center is failing in its mission of providing adequate health care for the student body. We agree and know that anything more than a cough or stuffy nose requires students to go off-campus for care. He is currently on a committee re-evaluating the performance and goals of the Health Center, and says he would work to make it better with facility upgrades or think of alternative solutions.
Brooks Powell has the ideas, the drive and the ability to be an excellent student body president. SMU and the Student Senate need such a leader, and we hope you join us in casting your ballot for Powell.
