Kian Brown

On March 4, the student body will choose an SGA president for the 2003 –2004 school year.

This year’s candidates are junior elementary education major Kian Brown and history education major Pauletta Spence.

Both Brown and Spence are critical of the performance of campus police.

“ There is no way we will tolerate being second-class citizens by being cursed at and harassed,” said Brown, referring to complaints about the behavior of some University Police officers. “They are employed by us and if it was not for us they would not have a job.”

According to Spence, campus safety needs to come first.

“They write 50 to 60 tickets per day, and we still have students getting robbed,” said Spence.

She also plans to recommend an escort service so that female students don’t have to walk on campus alone at night.

Brown, a native of Wilmington, says his platform is “student empowerment.”

“This is about taking back your school,” said Brown. “It is important that we know” vital information so we can be a success as students on campus.”

Brown is the current SGA vice president and is also senior vice president of the state SGA. He said he came to NCCU because of the university’s excellent academic program.

Pauletta Spence is a native of Raleigh. Her father, Phillip Spence, is NCCU’s head basketball coach. Spence says her focus will be on student rights and advocacy.

Pauletta Spence

The former Miss Maroon and Gray is an Eagle Ambassador and the current SGA chief of staff. Spence is an Edmonds scholar who participates in the Peer Leader and Emerging Leader programs.

Spence is a Delta Sigma Theta member and vice president of the Pan-Hellenic Council.

Both Brown and Spence agree that it was unfair to fine all Chidley Hall residents for the damage to Chidley Hall in December. According to Brown, the Chidley Hall fine was high but the damages were bad.

Spence agreed.

“It is an issue that should be looked into,” said Spence, adding that the residential life contract requires residents to pay fees for damages. “As students we have to keep up our rooms and work together to take care of what we have.”

Spence said she sees the overcrowding in Eagleson and Baynes halls as a temporary problem due to increased enrollment.

“When we get new dorms things will be much better,” she said, referring to the students currently living in study rooms in both places. Spence said she believes the university may save money by buying and renovating a hotel with the bond referendum money rather than starting from scratch.

Brown thinks the situation can be remedied on campus.

“I feel that it is ridiculous to have students living in study rooms,” said Brown, adding that there are rooms available in the New Residence halls.

The cafeteria was another issue addressed by the candidates. According to Brown, the FDY/Sodexho is a first-rate company, but he said he wanted to do a walk-through and see how the food is prepared.

“With a walk-through, students can see if the food is prepared the way they want it,” he said. “But students need to remember that it is not their parents’ cooking.”

Spence on the other hand, said that you get what you pay for.

“Students must understand that you cannot eat filet mignon when your budget is only enough for fast food,” said Spence.

SGA candidates will discuss their platforms Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Miller-Morgan Auditorium. The SGA debate be held in the Miller-Morgan Auditorium on March 3, at a time to be announced.