SGA seeks advice: Gets very little
| Back to newspaper home page | To a story about upcoming SGA events |
By Beth Kalisiak
A & E Editor
Got a complaint? Go to the Student Government Association, which is supposed to be the voice of and governing group for the student body and the liaison between students and the college adminstration.
But, according to Student Trustee Lisa Twardowski, that’s not exactly what the SGA does.
"There are no real student issues, and we don’t get feedback," Twardowski said.
"I am always open to students’ suggestions and concerns," she said. "Unfortunately, no one takes advantage of this opportunity. I believe that only two people throughout my year as student trustee have asked a question concerning the college."
Twardowski said the lack of student feedback means the SGA can’t be the liaison or the student voice, leaving the group to plan events, allocate money and approve campus organizations.
President Ben Hartenbower looked at the SGA’s role from a different point of view, explaining that SGA members serve on college committees.
"With a lot of those committees, we are respected as equals by the faculty, staff and administration," he said. "It’s an opportunity to gain more respect and to serve the student population."
On at least one issue, the college mascot, the SGA did take a stand. In Spring 2001, former SGA member Dave Msseemmaa asked college president Dr. Jean Goodnow to urge the college board to replace the Apache as a school mascot.
In Fall 2001, the SGA wrote a letter to the board supporting Msseemmaa’s point of view. SGA advisor Cory Tomasson said the members discussed the topic at length and the purpose the SGA should fulfill.
The college board, after consulting with the Student Services Administrative Team and the Administration Cabinet, did make the change..
SGA members do agree that major the group’s major responsibilities are to plan and publicize events and allocate funds from student fees to campus organizations. Events like Spirit Day and Soberfest, and cultural or music events like Blind Man’s Bluff are organized by the SGA.
"Everyone (on the SGA) helps program," Twardowski said. "It is our main job."
Arranging for those programs falls under the SGA’s goal of promoting unity and advancing the social, cultural and academic aspects of college life.
The SGA allocates a budget of about $125,000 to student activities and organizations, based on annual budget requests and an evaluation of how active the groups are.
In addition, the SGA oversees new student groups, deciding if they meet the requirements to be officially recognized, and does some fund raising for charitable organizations. This year, for example, the SGA raised money on behalf of the Sept. 11 victims and donated to the American Red Cross.
Most of the current SGA members said they ran for office because their friends were in the SGA or they wanted to be more active in the school.
"I wanted to get more involved with school," said vice president Dawn Bumgarner. "I always wanted to know how schools run and I wanted to have a say."
Describing her term as "a learning experience," Bumgarner said going to meetings of the Illinois Board of Higher Education-Student Advisory Committee were especially helpful and interesting.
Will Cuffe, sophomore programming board member said: "There are days when we get nothing done but so do Fortune 500 companies. I think we do a decent job."