Brooke Kelly
Managing Editor
Like many students, I am unaware all the Student Government Association does to benefits students. Not trying to sound critical, but I simply don’t know.
I understand that SGA members are students first, and furthermore, I understand that there are some things they don’t have the power to change, but if there is anything they can do to improve campus life, I believe first and foremost, they can better publicize what they do accomplish.
Some students give the SGA a bad name because they think they do nothing but wear the SGA outfits and show up at events. I have been to at least one SGA meeting, so I know this is not true, but for many students, the role of the SGA is really ambiguous.
At one point, the SGA used to have a column in the Blue and White Flash, where they kept students abreast on their various agendas, but this wasn’t maintained, therefore it no longer is featured.
Food, parking, dormitory issues, and financial aid are common student complaints geared at the school and the SGA. I understand that the SGA does not have the power to change all issues, but I think it would benefit their image if they better publicized the responses they get from administration and other officials when they persistently present student complaints.
On another note, I will commend the members of the Student Government Association for stepping up and deciding to be student leaders. Anyone can complain about something, but not everyone will take on the job and responsibility to plan events for the student body and go to the administration with student concerns.
I spoke to a friend with the SGA before writing this commentary, so I could give credit where credit is due, and just to let those who don’t know, the SGA is responsible for planning and providing certain campus events like Stand Up for Student Life, Street Jam, Tiger Fest, and guest speakers such as Cornell West and Nikki Giovanni.
While I believe it is hard to communicate with SGA members if you don’t know them and if you don’t know when the meetings are, I do believe there are ways around that. The names of SGA members are online under the Student Life’s Website (although their positions and classifications aren’t listed- and I think they should be), and you can Facebook message or tweet them your concerns. The SGA offices are housed on the second floor of the Student Center and you can go there or call to voice their concerns.
Finally, with elections coming up, students can attend the SGA debates, read more on elections in the Flash to find out more about the people who will be next year’s student leaders, and vote!
Commentary expresses the views of the writer, not that of The Flash or Jackson State University. If you have comments, contact Brooke Kelly at theflash@jsums.edu.
