As we enter the seventh week of the semester, the Student Government Association (SGA) has continued to move forward cultivating prosperous environments, which include intentional relationship building, both internally and externally among our campus community.

To name a few, as our fall 2023 elections concluded, we are happy to announce that our student outreach proved in large numbers, resulting in newly elected senators in filled positions. Additionally, as previously shared, we have heard from Chief of Police Taylor, Student Success’ Assistant Vice President Jennifer Haughie, President Charles Patterson at the Oct. 5 Caucus meeting and on Oct. 12 at our public meeting we had Dean of the Library Michelle Foreman. 

Though some topics require continued conversations, SGA commits itself to ensuring those steps so our students feel valued, honored and heard. In the coming months, you will hear from our Student Trustee Rangeline DeJesusas, who will offer perspective on her role, stabilizing relationships and their interconnectedness within one another.

A constant theme that we not only pride ourselves on, but abide by is the commitment toward

building the foundation of an inclusive, valued, equitable Student Government Community through the formation of our SGA Sub-Committees. This week our Vice President of Internal Affairs conducted a committee chair interest meeting with prospective chairpersons. Our VP concluded that these interested chairpersons are students whom will ensure the success and purpose of our committees. Along with VP Holt’s meeting, Vice President Sellers created and shared a Qualtrics form gauging students’ interest in at-large members for our committees. For the students who have yet to fill out this form, please be sure to do so. The code can be located via our Instagram page and CUB bulletin boards. This form will remain open until Sunday, Oct. 22.

Speaking more toward intentional relationship building, SGA held its annual fall semester retreat on Sunday, Oct. 8. The retreat was a foundational building piece for the students and advisers. This time allowed the students to collaboratively work together in groups dissecting those barriers of environmental exclusion and emphasizing the actionable steps toward learning and developing as competent leaders. Leaders are empathetic and socially aware when engaging with one another and their peers. 

Moreover, last Sunday’s retreat allowed us to improve upon our organization’s structure, expectations and policies. In addition, we had amazing food. Thank you to Aramark and their workers. Lastly, to conclude our retreat, the ELC presented guidance on how to be an effective senator, Committee Interests and Senator and ELC office hours. Finally, we thoroughly explained parliamentary procedure: its ethics, customs, governing rules and its relevance to our organization’s structure.

Please join us at our next public meeting on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in CUB 119. In the meantime, please be sure to keep up with us on our social medias via our Instagram page, @shipsga, where we are actively promoting important announcements along with SGA updates. 

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