Within 10 minutes of his dream university accepting him as an Auburn Tiger, Brooks Jones jumped to his computer, big-eyed and thrilled for what would come.
“I was excited to be here,” Jones said.
A junior in building science, Jones said he’s always loved being outside, working with his hands and seeing the progress that comes from pure drive. It’s this drive — to build and improve — that Jones wants to carry over if elected SGA president.
Raised in Auburn, Jones tells of having a deep care for the city and the students he saw around town while growing up. After deciding he would run, Jones realized his connection to The Loveliest Village was beneficial.
“I knew I loved Auburn, and I knew I could bring a perspective that was unique, being I was from here,” Jones said.
Immediately, he sought opportunities that could enrich Auburn. A few of his friends were helping with an SGA campaign, so he decided to assist them.
“I loved it, and I knew I wanted to plug into SGA any way I could,” Jones said.
Jones was elected as an SGA senator at-large his freshman year. There, he got to see how change is enacted at Auburn and how one can push the needle further and further toward betterment and improvement.
“It was tough and challenging at times, it always is,” Jones said.
But the work and dedication pay off, he added. Jones has subsequently served as the assistant vice president of campus life and was on a parking committee this year — all roles he said has taught him the importance of communication with administrators and students alike.
This skill, of proactively communicating the needs of students to administrators, is fundamental to enacting change, he said, and he has this experience.
When he decided in September to run, Jones reflected on the big picture before pinpointing specific policy plans. Looking at the big picture, he explained, would enable students to “tackle problems as a whole.”
“I knew being here, we had to find a way to unite the student voice in Auburn,” Jones said. “So I came to this platform idea, ‘One with Jones.’ And that was my vision of coming together, with everything that we have, and making that one Auburn Family.”
The best place to start is by recognizing the differences, he added.
“Diversity is talked about across the board, but if we can understand what separates me from another student, then we can be able to utilize those differences and be able to accomplish those bigger goals.”
One of his major goals is more transparency in SGA. He wants to accomplish this through round-table discussions with leaders of student organizations in order to better understand the issues and ideas on Auburn’s campus.
One of Jones’ other goals is rooted in his experience with switching majors early on at Auburn. To better inform students and assist them with the process of picking a major, Jones hopes to create a central website that would show students major/minor options, average GPA’s in each major, average salaries, possible job fields, notable alumni and ways to connect with a mentor currently working in that field.
Being proactive with parking is another goal for Jones. The Jules Collins Smith museum, for example, could be utilized as student parking, with a Tiger Transit stopping at the area to transport passengers to campus, Jones said.
“If there is an issue that needs to be handled on campus, I know that I can find a way to work with other students and faculty members to help address those,” Jones said.
He said he’s not running for the title. He’s running for the opportunity to serve.
“I want people to know that we’re all one; we’re equal,” Jones said. “Being able to instill that mindset can make change.”
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