Image via RJ Jackson: President Elect Jackson with members of his C.R.O.W.N. campaign team

By: Freddrell Green, Staff Writer

The 92 Revolutionary Administration has introduced a new group of student leaders. Now that Rollin Jackson Jr. has been elected the 93 President of the Student Government Association at Morehouse College, he intends to further SGA’s connection with the student body while improving the campus experience for students as well.

On April 11, The Maroon Tiger intertwined Jackson–– discussing the impact he hopes to have in this prestigious position.

Green: What are some changes that you want to see as SGA president?

Jackson: For the past three days, myself and two other student leaders, the RHA President and Vice President, we’ve been tasting different food options and trying to get a better experience food wise for the students. 

We worked with DHRE and we went to go tour different apartment complexes for students potentially to live in.

 I think one of the things I talked about as well was like increasing our meeting spaces for SGA meetings. And then also just hear from the students like what are things that you want to see like, if it’s more culture on campus, maybe we could do something like an event every single Friday or maybe like every once or twice a month. Or it’s like, “Hey, y’all come out to Kilgore. We’re just gonna chill and vibe at Kilgore.” We’re just trying to hear really from the students and see what the students need first.

Green: What advice have you gotten from the past SGA President, Mekhi Perrin?

Jackson: Some of the advice that he gave me was just to keep my head. And then just reach out. If I don’t ask, closed mouths don’t get fed. That’s something my mom and dad always taught me. So if I don’t ask for help, or ask for advice, I’m just gonna sit here and struggle. And there’s no point in doing that when you have resources, not even just SGA presidents but also other students on campus who might be in leadership roles. Another thing too, is understanding that when you join another administration, the biggest thing to do is build off of the good work that the last administration has done. So how are we going to take this next administration and build off the great work that they did?

Green: How do you plan to implement some of the ideas that other candidates had that you were running against?

Jackson: I think the biggest thing is continuing the friendships that we had before that. I’m still friends with Darion,I’m still friends with Amir,I’m still friends with Ivy. And I think, again, it’s important to understand that we were brothers first before we were ever running for a position. 

I definitely think that it’s important to continue hearing from my brothers like, I don’t see them as opposition. No, we were all running together whether people like to see it or not. And at the end of the day, we all still have a mission to advance in different areas. So there’s still more conversation that can be had.

Green: What was your reaction to you and Josiah Harris winning both the President and Vice President election and how do you hope to continue your friendship and brotherhood in these new roles?

Jackson: It’s funny because Josiah and I literally stay across the hall from each other in Perdue. I always laugh when people ask that question, because at the end of the day, we were brothers first. I met Josiah walking on Brown Street. Somebody introduced me to Josiah and literally Josiah and I have been friends since that day. 

I’m just really proud of all the work that he’s done. And proud of the bond that we have, because I think it’s good. I don’t like to think we’re the top two leaders, but by organizational charts, your top two leaders, they do get along. And it’s not just a facade, we literally get along. And that’s how it’s been with the past Presidents and Vice Presidents. They literally got along and it’s made working just so much easier.

Green: Throughout the campaign and election process, what has been one key lesson you’ve taken away?

Jackson: Every time somebody asks me this question, I always answer “you have to have a strong support system.” Literally, I would not be half the person I am and have done half the things I’ve done at Morehouse without a strong support system, like my best friends. They’re gonna be uncles to my kids, they’re gonna be best man in my wedding. And because I had a strong support system, nothing could be against me. 

So I think it’s just important to have that support system around you. Like I’ve got my friends, I’ve got my family, a whole host of people. like I just have a whole host of people that are willing to help me because I was willing to help them and willing to be authentic with them and they’re willing to be authentic with me and that just carries you to greater heights.

Copy Edited by: Colin Royal, Managing Editor of Print