The Student Government Association is supposed to represent the student body and enhance involvement and activities around the campus. Some students, however, have no idea who or what the SGA is.
Megan Hart, a junior psychology major, said, “I’ve been at Shepherd for four years and have no idea who or what the SGA is about on campus.”
With the upcoming elections, some of the student body wonder who those running for a position are, what they stand for and if they are planning to implement new ideas or activities around campus.
The Shepherd University SGA preamble states that “We, the Student Government Association, in order to establish a more effective and representative student government, to encourage interest and participation in responsible student government, to protect the rights of students, and to initiate, direct, and promote students’ activities designed to enhance the welfare of the entire student body, do establish and ordain this Constitution.”
Hart said, “Is there a Web site or place on campus that offers students to give suggestions for activities that they would like to see on campus? Because I think that may bring the gap between the student body and the SGA closer.”
Elections are usually held the week after spring break, and voting is done in the library. If you didn’t run into the library that day, you probably would never even know elections were being held.
Daniel Tait, a Shepherd alumnus, said, “The only time I ever heard about the SGA at Shepherd was when it was homecoming and it was time to elect a king and queen. I
can’t remember any other events, campaign posters or a debate with candidates that involved the student body.”
According to Section III of the Shepherd University SGA handbook, the qualifications to be an officer are as follows:
A.) Candidates for president or vice president must have completed at least two regular semesters at Shepherd University.
B.) All officers must carry a full course load of at least twelve credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
During the elections, those running for positions are allowed to hang up fliers to campaign. Still, some members of the student body do not even know that there is the possibility of being an officer.
The handbook also states the requirements for those running for specific positions. A student must be full time and have a 2.5 GPA to be on the SGA executive board, be on the Student Life Council or to be a class officer. Homecoming court must be nominated by student organizations. All candidates must sign a grade release form and the election agreement form.
Brittney Butler, a junior sociology major, said, “I don’t really know anything about the SGA at Shepherd. If I could, I would take a position on the board and try to do more student events and activities. Our school needs more fun events around campus. I think
there could be more student involvement if the activities were fun and interesting.”
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