As a political science major, I am always looking to learn different government functions. This year, I uncovered a profound aspiration to grasp a better understanding of our student government; how they operate and what their role is on campus. After a conversation with my editor and advisor, I decided I could tie this into writing for The Shield to bring SGA news to the USI community. My end-goal was clear: to inform the USI community about SGA’s operations– especially for students who can’t attend meetings for themselves.
I never expected that, with just a few meetings under my belt, I’d have the immense passion to run for the position of liberal arts representative.
The first meeting I covered was on January 30. It was a brief meeting with student event supervisor Simran Singh being a guest speaker. At first I was surprised to see a guest speaker at the meeting. Then it clicked: the speakers are centered around student success, but the message was lacking communication from meetings to the student body. I soon realized that The Shield could help amplify the message through journalism. Who better to do it than student journalists?
As the semester progressed and I continued my coverage journey, I began building relationships with members of SGA. I had the urge to learn the why. Why do they do this?
In early March, I met with then-president Tamia Smith to better understand what SGA does. I later published our conversation towards the end of the semester in a short feature. Our meeting was a pivotal point in the few months I had to cover SGA– an inspirational one. The conversation helped me realize that these representatives are everyday college students, like you and I, who have the drive to advocate for the student body. From planning events to accurately represent the diverse community that is USI to writing public statements as a call to action to hold the administration accountable or acknowledge student concerns.
On February 20, amid worries regarding the protection of DEI on campus amongst a wide variety of other concerns, SGA held a public forum to address concerns across campus. If you have read any of my coverage articles, you might have noticed that this is something I referenced a lot. This forum wasn’t just symbolic; it prompted immediate action.
Following the forum, the organization immediately got to work, ultimately creating groups to talk to different departments. From that point and on, SGA gave an update regarding their progress in addressing these concerns. As a then-outsider and now a liberal arts representative for the organization, I truly hope these student-oriented forum events continue year after year. It’s crucial to understand student concerns and needs, and I took pride in reporting on an organization that listens and takes action.
SGA isn’t just about heavy policy and advocacy, though. There were more laid-back meetings, too. Planning events like Rice Day and game shows, for example, were also on the agenda. Sitting in on meetings often felt like getting an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at campus life. In reality, though, it is all public information that every student has the right to know.
Throughout the year, representatives, administrative vice presidents (AVPs) and executive board members alike are tasked with planning events that pertain to their role. For example, the executive board took the lead in planning Rice Day while the AVP of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) planned the second annual drag show.
These student leaders are volunteering countless hours to enrich life on campus. With that, comes the task of ensuring equal and accurate representation of each student on campus. In my eyes, SGA executed this goal perfectly because of the way that the organization is set up. With over 35 elected positions, SGA strives to ensure each aspect of student life is carefully considered. They also welcome community members to fill out an “item for consideration” form, which will allot time for a discussion or presentation regarding the chosen topic.
Covering SGA for The Shield opened my eyes to a world of student-led governance. I accomplished my goal of bringing transparency to the campus and I am ready to pass that torch. I am grateful to have made so many connections with student leaders and proud of every single person in the organization. I am also beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of government functions– not just in theory, but in practice.
Next year as a liberal arts representative, I will take the same approach in reporting for SGA, specifically focusing on students in the College of Liberal Arts. To avoid any conflicts of interests, I will shift my SGA articles to transparent editorials on my work as a representative and I encourage my fellow members to do the same.
I want to make it clear that writing a column for The Shield is something that any student on campus can do. Take the liberty of writing a short editorial expressing your concerns or, if you are in a position like being an SGA representative, consider reporting on your progress and what you are doing to enrich campus life. If you have any interest in writing an opinion article or an editorial, I encourage you to reach out to our editor-in-chief, Alex Mendoza.
The point of this editorial is for YOU to understand the why. After reading this, I anticipate that more students will find their way into those meetings, whether as reporters, representatives, or even just curious minds ready to engage. I encourage each person reading this to take action. Become a stepping stone in the future of student-centered action, all while considering the importance of transparency, advocacy and connections along the way.