AT ISSUE: Students seem apathetic about cause, but there is a lot at stake
Some people say student government doesn’t matter. Some say that these students don’t actually accomplish anything.
As a news organization, we wouldn’t devote as much time and space in our newspaper for something that doesn’t matter. While the Student Government Association may seem like students just trying to get a shred of experience for future political careers, we see it as an effective advocate for all students.
This past year, the SGA executive slate was given $91,000 from the university to make a difference on this campus. That’s right, $91,000. This year, they expect to get about the same amount. That is a heavy number that should not be taken lightly.
These students use that money for a variety of things. They use it to complete platform points, which are a deciding factor for students each Spring Semester when they vote for slates. These points reflect what they have seen as problems or areas for improvement around campus.
SGA uses that money to help co-sponsor student organizations to help in ways the Senate itself may not be able to. They also send students to certain conferences and opportunities that will change their lives and careers.
The SGA Senate is the student body’s link to the administration. SGA has pushed initiatives toward the administration, such as the renovation of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the elimination of Fruesday in 2011, a confusing day of Friday classes on a Tuesday to even out the amount of classes taken in Fall Semester. Both of these issues were first brought to the organization by students.
Students hear about the executive board at the time or the prospective slates during elections. These students have partial to full tuition paid for by the university to serve the student body. But those four students that lead the executive portion of student government are not all there is to SGA.
There are typically more than 50 senators. These senators are from different organizations and represent different parts of campus in four caucuses — on-campus, off-campus, at-large and organizational. These students work throughout the year to actively hear students’ opinions.
This group of students works year-round to serve its constituents — the students. Only 24 percent of campus voted for the executive slate in the spring election, which is more than double the amount of the prior election. That small amount of students showing their care was a record number. This relationship is clearly one sided, and it is time for students to take notice and contribute to the cause SGA tries to complete on an annual basis.
