Student government presidents have yet to hear from East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden concerning his plans to involve them in his administration.
In his annual State of the City address last Wednesday, Holden announced that his office will begin to include student government presidents “in working with us to assure young leaders’ viewpoints are incorporated in our forward planning.”
After talking with the chancellors of local universities, Holden said in his address that he plans to stage listening sessions with the presidents. Holden said that the leaders will discuss issues such as local crime and efforts to secure internships for university students.
University Student Government president John Woodard, however, has yet to hear from the mayor concerning this initiative.
“I haven’t heard anything from Mayor Holden,” Woodard said, “but I do think it’s a great step in moving forward between the University and the city.”
Woodard stated that several southeastern universities have established cooperative relationships between local politicians and student government, and said that it was important for Baton Rouge to refocus on its relationship with the University.
Woodard is not the only student government leader uninformed about Holden’s plans.
“I have not been contacted at all,” said Baton Rouge Community College student government president Jimmy Douglas.
Simone Bray, student government president at Southern University, has also not spoken with the mayor concerning his plan.
Asked when he plans to speak with the student government presidents, Holden said that he will meet with them after he returns from his trip to Washington, D.C. next week, where he will attend the United States Conference of Mayors.
“I haven’t heard anything from Mayor Holden, but I do think it’s a great step in moving forward between the university and the city.”