By: Gracie Mullen-Thompson
Posted In: Opinion
Photo credit: SRU Student Government Association
On Wednesday September 26, I took time out of my hectic college schedule and forced myself to vote online for the S.G.A contenders.
Conscientious of my own apathy, I scaled campus that day asking various students if they had voted, or even considered the matter; “No” seemed to be the prominent response that day. Veraciously, I only voted with the making of this article in mind, which is, rather, a pitiable sentiment in itself, and I could not help but wonder why a majority of our student body remained indifferent to occurring elections. It only deemed proper that an event as such would have a caring student population riveted. The only excitement I noticed Wednesday was the candidates’ signs posted to bulletin boards across campus and as Zachary Giorgis, former S.G.A. senator stated, “Nobody sees signs. Nobody is going to go to the bulletin boards and be like ‘Hey look! There’s this and that”.I know I don’t.” After speaking with Zachary, I was driven to get to the root of the problem. Two interviews and some research later I decided that the issue lay not in the apathy of the student body, or even in the lack of correlation between the organization and its constituents, but clearly in the deprivation of power from our Student Government. “S.G.A should have their hands on what goes on at school,” claims senior and former S.G.A vice-president Justin Antall, “and S.G.A at Salve doesn’t really do that. I don’t know if we should be putting the blame on S.G.A. or the lack of trust with the faculty members.” “They don’t really give us a chance to express what we want,” said My-Lan Chhu, a current S.G.A senator. “I think the S.G.A. is at a point where we try and do what we can, but nothing’s getting done because we’re not allowed to make things happen.” That is a bit unsettling to hear. A Student Government is supposed to provide democratic representation that ensures student rights and privileges. If our Student Government is fundamentally ineffective and virtually powerless, than where do we stand as its constituents? We are virtually powerless as well. Under the Salve Regina University Student Government Association Bylaws, it states of S.G.A. committees, “The committees will be used to investigate issues of concern to the students and to render recommendations to the appropriate university departments and offices.” Nowhere in the S.G.A constitution does it acknowledge the protection our fundamental rights as students. Our constitution does not promise us a voice a student body, but offers the possibility that we might have a voice, and that is only if someone is willing to listen. “The power-driven organization is a pyramid with the governing board at the top holding ultimate authority and dispensing power downwards. In such a system, the student government rests at the bottom and has virtually no responsibility,” states George Lepchenske in his publication of The Role of Student Government in the Small Community College. This is clearly the predominant issue with our school’s organization. The power of Salve Regina University’s Student Government Association lies vested not in its members, but conspicuously in the higher authorities of our school. In my interview with Justin, I asked him what changes could be made to the organization to alleviate the problem. His response: “It would have to be given more power, I mean, on other campuses you see students sit in on board meetings and other meetings like that. You don’t see that here- not involved at all.” Justin made it apparent; it is a matter of power, privilege, and rights. The student body wants a voice; the student government wants a choice.
