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SGA looks to improve visibility on campus

By Jonathan Sampson
Staff Reporter

Bland. Inclusive. Political. Inefficient.

These were some of the words used by Student Government Association officers to describe students’ opinions of SGA during the leadership retreat last weekend, said Chelsea Hudson, chairwoman of the Permanent Improvements Committee.

As students begin classes, a new set of SGA officers is beginning to look at plans and examining how they can change negative student views.

“I think a lot of times students feel like SGA doesn’t do a lot for them, ... but the neat thing is that student government is very aware of this,” Hudson said.

Brian Wood, SGA president, said the first step toward reforming student opinion includes the formation of a communication committee.

“People think SGA is ineffectual because they don’t know what it has done,” Wood said.

He said he is considering Jason Cordova, last year’s SGA secretary, to chair the committee which will be responsible for letting students know what SGA has done and what they are doing.

Kelly Cowdery, a junior elementary education major, said she would like to see SGA be more visible on campus and see what it is doing directly for the students. She said a communication committee will only be effective if all SGA representatives participate, not just the president and vice presidents.

“It’s a good idea,” Cowdery said. “I’ll just be skeptical until I see it directly affecting me as a student.”

Hudson said the officers want to see SGA communicate with the students in new ways and utilize other groups on campus such as Student Developmental Services and the Residence Hall Association. She said officers want to speak with on-campus organizations about SGA activities at times other than during the elections.

“I think people get involved when you just tell them what’s going on,” Hudson said. “I just don’t think we’ve been telling them what’s going on.”

Amy Render, House of Student Representatives vice president, said SGA wants to establish more credibility with the students, faculty and administration.

“We’re tired of that old, SGA image,” she said. “We want to be more available, visible and exciting, which is sometimes hard with bills and legislation.”

She said she wants each group to know it can use SGA as a resource, whether it be faculty asking for information about students or students with problems they would like addressed by the administration.

Hudson said she thinks SGA will do new things but on a larger scale this year. Her committee is thinking about completely remodeling and redecorating the Student Center Lounge or getting international flags placed along University Drive.

“It’s time we stop debating about how to make our SGA work better, and actually make it work,” Hudson said. “I think that’s the attitude.”

She said all the committees want to do new things with the resources they have. There is talk about possibly having a bonfire at Homecoming, Hudson said.

Cori Troxel, a junior history and anthropology major, said SGA should do more for the students.

“I can’t say I know much about them, because I don’t see them very much,” she said.

Hudson said that, despite current student opinion, she has a positive outlook for this semester.

“Lots of times a group does well, not so much because of the group they are, but because of the people they are,” Hudson said. “And the people that are going to be leading this year are great.”

Jonathan Sampson
j.m.sampson@student.tcu.edu