Opinions differ on new SGA committee

By Jonathan Sampson
Staff Reporter

Student Government Association is planning a new communications committee to find a solution for campus apathy, but students have differing opinions on what the committee should do and whether it will be successful.

Amanda Mahan served as chairwoman on a similar committee that existed from fall 1999 until spring 2000.

Mahan said the committee collapsed after SGA restructured last spring. Since it was not a part of the House of Student Representatives or Programming Council, it drew criticism from members on both sides who thought the committee received special treatment, Mahan said.

Jason Cordova, a prospect as the new committee’s chairman, said SGA hopes to avoid similar problems in the new committee because it will be composed of both House and PC members.

“My job would be to advise SGA as a whole on ways to communicate, whether that be writing press releases or putting together programs to draw in students,” Cordova said.

Mahan said the most important thing the new committee should do is listen to students.

“If they were to listen first about what students want, then they wouldn’t have to tell students what they’re doing,” she said.

Mahan said one of the problems with SGA in the past has been that the committee leaders decide to do what they want instead of bringing in ideas from the entire student body.

“The idea behind the (old) committee was to increase communication so the students felt involved in the use of their money and felt like they had a voice,” she said.

Cordova said the focus of the new committee is to inform rather than hear concerns.

He said while the old committee sought to bring ideas in from a more diverse group of students, the new committee’s goal is to reach out to students.

SGA President Brian Wood said the new committee would either be chaired by Cordova or by the current SGA Secretary, Kaylan Minor.