Greetings, NLC Broncos? Stallions?

Greetings to you, North Lake College’s 2004 – 2005 student body! As your new Student Government Association (SGA) President, I look forward to working closely with the other SGA officers, faculty, administration, and all 8,785 students of this wonderful campus over the academic year.

Sam Houston, the first President of the Republic of Texas, once said, “Knowledge is the food of genius, and […] let no opportunity escape to treasure up knowledge. ”The SGA and officers are here to help you, the student, in your pursuit of knowledge and in furthering your academic career.

My desire is to represent you at NLC and in the Dallas County Community College District, and to serve you well. I do not come to you as a beginner, but one who has served and worked closely with the North Lake student body, faculty, and administration for the last two years as your 2002-2003 Student Leader of the Year, a former SGA officer, vice president of our campus’ International Honor Society, and as the Student Leadership Institute facilitator. Many of you have read my column that has appeared regularly in the News-Register since January of this year. I truly hope that I have encouraged you to persevere and “keep on keeping on.”

There are several items that we are following up on as a continuation of last spring semester’s agenda, the most prevalent being that of our North Lake College mascot. The 2003-2004 SGA officers had been given a charge to create a different mascot (different from our current “bear”) in conjunction with the North Lake Blazer’s name. Approximately 459 students, varying with morning, afternoon, and evening enrollments, were surveyed. The majority asked for some type of equestrian mascot. The SGA officers submitted a recommendation over the summer to Dr. Linda Glasscock and her cabinet that our new mascot be either a bronco or stallion.

Another strong suggestion that resulted from the survey was to have a “Spirit Day” regularly on campus. How many of us know that our school colors are green and dark blue? I encourage us all to help show our support to our basketball, baseball, and soccer team players, cheerleaders, and fellow students by wearing our school colors with pride and attending as many of the games as possible. You will see them advertised around campus more this semester. They are also listed in the SPAR calendar for the entire academic year. (If you do not yet have a calendar, you may go by room A-223 to pick one up free of charge.)

If you know someone who is a player or see one of them in the hallway or classroom, encourage and support them in their endeavor. Let us show them we truly do care about their successes, as their successes reflect upon us all, the student body of North Lake College.

My column will still appear regularly in our award-winning campus newspaper. I care about you, the student, and our beautiful campus. I want to hear from you. Please feel free to e-mail me at ezraanna@hotmail.com and put “SGA” in the subject.