With one of the most diverse student bodies in the country, it can sometimes be hard to find a solitary voice that represents the interests of Temple students. People of every race, creed, religion, and sexual orientation call Temple home — making solidarity a near impossibility.
But Student Body President Raysean Hogan plans to make it his main goal to inform the students of the university’s decision-making processes and give them a strong voice in its day-to-day operations.
Hogan’s slate, Owl Evolution, carried the spring elections by a more than 2-1 margin. With a strong mandate from students, Hogan said he is ready to invigorate the student council with the same energy that he brought during his tenure as President of the Main Campus Program Board.
“Once I started noticing that I could make changes happen,” Hogan told the Temple News after his victory, “I just kept on going and never stopped.”
Hogan and his officers are planning on taking great steps to change the way the student body and government interact with their administrators. They’ve promised an annual meeting with the Board of Trustees, strengthened academic advising and an increased commitment to providing students with secure housing – on campus or off.
During last year’s election – one of the most lopsided in recent years – Hogan and Owl Evolution handed down their platform – a manifesto made up of 36 points that they felt are vital to improving the experience of going to Temple.
The platform encompasses all aspects of student life – strengthening student organizations, demanding more accountability from the administration, protecting Temple students wherever they live, and giving the Temple Student Government more transparency and collaboration with other groups.
Along with Vice President of Academic Affairs Priya Patel, and Vice President of Student Affairs Juan Galeano, Hogan has said that his main goal is to strive to decrease apathy and increase student involvement on campus.
“As students, we pay tuition,” Hogan said. “We should be concerned with what the university does.”
During his tenure as MCPB President, Hogan helped to organize a number of functions aimed at getting students involved, not only on campus, but in the city as well.
In 2004, the controversial “Vote or Die” campaign made a stop at McGonigle Hall, encouraging civic activism in the 2004 presidential election.
“I don’t think people realize the power that they have as students,” Hogan said.
Chris Reber can be reached at chris.reber@temple.edu.
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