Editor-in-Chief
“I want the University of Houston-Downtown to be seen as one of the best schools in Houston, as a minority-serving institution with little name recognition, we still stand out among much larger, tier one universities. I want our school to get the attention that it deserves because of the challenges we are able to overcome”
New Student Government Association President John Locke spoke with Dateline Downtown about his hopes and plans for the University of Houston-Downtown and what his priorities will be for the upcoming year. As president, Locke was elected to be the collective voice of the 14,000 students enrolled at UHD and to interact with officials to implement positive reforms for all students, and from all outside appearances he is on track to transform the culture of student involvement and leadership at the institutional level and beyond. John said his goal in representing students is to foster individual student growth through high-impact learning, to highlight UHD’s unique attributes as a minority serving institution and, despite limitations in public funding, to prove how UHD is able to stand out among better-funded and more reputation-oriented institutions.
Locke, a junior studying psychology, discovered a passion for leadership and service through volunteerism, and became involved with SGA to fulfill the commitment that all higher-learning institutions have to the community in which they are located. He began by starting an ad hoc committee called community outreach, which helped provide students with volunteer opportunities. Once this initiative proved successful he realized that this engagement with the surrounding community satisfied his own desires for education through public-service and experience. Locke believes these high-impact learning experiences are what helps UHD and its students stand out among other local universities.
“I have experienced a transformation that occurs when you volunteer and get these real life experiences to mark on with the education that you get at the university, volunteerism has really changed my life and changed my path. I have been able to see firsthand the struggles that people are going through and hear the genuineness of people when you are able to help them. If you’re able to make a living off of something that you really care about then I feel like that should be one’s goal in life”.