The celebration of my inauguration and this University has transcended in a flurry of activities in recent days. The Valley is deeply appreciative of Mississippi House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Percy Watson of Hattiesburg.

Mississippi House of Representative member Ferr Smith, one of Valley's outstanding alumni, was among legislators on campus to hear more about The Valley's need for a new health and wellness center.

Truly, he is a man of his word. Rep. Watson promised us during his commencement speech at The Valley on May 9 that he would return with colleagues to see what are Valley’s facility needs, specifically a health and wellness center. This building would also include a new gymnasium for our men’s and women’s basketball teams and serve as an auditorium that would accommodate the large crowds that gather for commencement and other activities.

Rep. Watson was joined by six representatives on Friday and they toured the campus and listened ardently to our specific needs. Joining Rep. Watson (District 103) were Valley alumnus Ferr Smith of Carthage (District 27); Leflore County’s own Willie Perkins of Greenwood (District 32), Rep. Bobby Howell of Kilmichael (District 46), Rep. Kelvin Buck of Jackson (District 72); and Rep. Willie Bailey of Greenville (District 49).

We appreciate the members of the Mississippi House of Representatives who joined members of the MVSU Executive Cabinet for a meeting on campus. They include, from bottom right hand corner moving left, Dr. Anna Hammond, Rep. Kelvin Burk, Rep. Ferr Smith, Mr. Andre Curry, Rep. Bobby Howell, Archie Tucker, Dr. Moses Newsome, Derrick Bell, Johnny Jones, Donald Ray Sims, Rep. Percy Watson, Rep. Willie Perkins, and not shown, Rep. Willie Bailey, and Dr. Zachary Fasion.

It is important that this new facility come to fruition on our campus. As you can see by the photographs, our gymnasium is overflowing during commencement. Our graduates work hard to attain their degrees and oftentimes families make great sacrifices in order for their loved ones to attend college. Our students and their families deserve to witness the historic milestone and sadly, we have to turn people away from the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. While we have satellite viewing at the Social Science Building and at Carpenter, these buildings also are often maxed out in occupancy.

If you have attended a basketball game when we play our rival SWAC school, Jackson State, among others, you have seen the elbow to elbow capacity and students and fans standing alongside the walls at the entrances. We must provide quality academic programs and facilities, quality student housing, and yes, quality venues for our athletic teams.

The new facility will double the number of academic classrooms we now have in the Harrison Heath Physical Education and Recreation Complex. So the building is also needed for much deserved classroom space.

I want to personally thank each of the representatives for spending Sept. 18 with us. We look forward to working with you as we move The Valley forward.