SGA listens for changes
By Jessica Sanders
Staff Reporter

New response cards that Student Government Association is distributing to student organizations will make it easier for students to submit their suggestions to SGA, says Todd Clower, Communication Committee chairman.

The response cards, called Sharing Opinions and Solutions cards (SOS cards), were added to SGA’s speaking tours to get a higher rate of response than received from surveys, said Clower, a junior advertising/public relations major.

“A speaking tour is basically two or three students, who want to represent House, who go to specific organizations,” Clower said. “Its a brief run-through about what House is about and what we are doing this semester.”

Clower said the SOS cards will be quicker and easier for students to fill out and will provide SGA with more student feedback.

“It’s a lot catchier than a survey,” Clower said. “And they can hand it back whenever they want to.”

Clower said the Communication Committee has done about 15 speaking tours this semester and is pleased with the results it has received from both the SOS cards and the tours.

“I guess our big thing is our (public relations) campaign and just getting people to know about House,” Clower said. “Every year it’s a new group of people, and they have no idea what House does, and we don’t want that.”

Marna Jane Williams, a member of the Student Foundation, said it did not seem like many people were filling out the cards when SGA came to her organization.

“They would have been more effective if SGA would wait and pick up the cards, instead of leaving them on a table for the organization, who will forget about them,” said Williams, a junior biology major.

Matt Shonka, president of Residence Hall Association, said that the SOS cards could use a few improvements but that the cards will be effective in time.

“They should keep it up; I think in time it will be a very good strategy,” said Shonka, a junior political science major. “Maybe they should develop the questions a little more, some were kind of general.”

Communication Committee member Alison Spannaus said students seem to be enthusiastic about the cards and eager to share their opinions.

“The people I talked to didn’t really seem to know about student government,” said Spannaus, a sophomore political science major. “They actually had things to write down on the cards and they seemed genuinely interested that (SGA members) really want to help.”

Lindsey Reuter, director of service for Panhellenic Council, said the speaking tours helped keep the Greek community up-to-date on SGA’s activities.

“I think that it’s always a good idea for there to be co-programming between SGA and Panhellenic and (Interfraternity Council) to avoid over-programming and coordinate leadership,” said Reuter, a junior marketing major.

Clower said the cards are constantly being reviewed, and the committee is looking for suggestions instead of complaints.

An example of a good suggestion is more eating places on campus, instead of just saying that food is bad, Clower said.

“We’re looking for something besides parking and food, which everybody puts,” Clower said.

Jessica Sanders