SGA aims to improve ties
by Lindsay Sandham
The Metropolitan
(Photo courtesy of Candace Gill)
All 13 members of the Fall 2004 Metro Student Government Assembly spent three days in the mountains outside Nederland, Colo., to participate in a retreat featuring guest host Butch Oxendine, the Executive Director of the American Student Government Association.
All 13 members of Metro’s Student Government Assembly retreated to the mountains outside Nederland Aug. 6—8 to discuss and work on issues such as the best way to represent a diverse student body, and the relationship between student government and the administration.
The SGA hosted guest Butch Oxendine, Executive Director of the American Student Government Association, who offered his expertise based on the study of student governments nationwide.
It cost $5,000 of the SGA budget to bring Oxendine out for the weekend. The SGA budget comes from student affairs fees.
“We knew it was kind of steep but we were looking for someone to cater to our personal needs,” said Candace Gill, SGA president.
ASGA is the only student government association in the country, according to Gill, and it is still a fairly new organization that has been growing constantly since its launch last year.
Metro was the first college in Colorado to participate in the ASGA. There are about 190 colleges throughout the U.S. currently involved, Gill said.
“It really gives us the opportunity to be the best student government possible,” she said regarding Metro’s membership with ASGA.
With the membership, Metro’s student government has access to the ASGA database, which helps them find the best solutions to problems that commonly plague student government officials.
“Essentially, what he (Oxendine) does is he is an expert in the area of student government and he was helping make us more effective advocates for the student body,” said Beth Ott, SGA Vice President for Communications.
Oxendine also offered the group constructive criticism regarding their image on campus, the history of Metro’s SGA and how past student governments affect the image of the current SGA, said Ott.
“This was a great opportunity for us,” said William Safford, Attorney General for the SGA.
“Butch has more experience and knowledge in the area of student government operations than possibly anyone else in the country.”
The retreat was held at a private residence and was organized by SGA president Candace Gill and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jessica Greiner.
Ott said the retreat was held at a private residence in order to save student fee money so there is more available for general student outreach.
Oxendine also analyzed the relationship between student government and the student body, as well as the relationship between student government and the administration, according to Ott.
All thirteen members of SGA took a “Test Your Administrators” test during the retreat, which is an evaluation by student government members of the administration’s ability and willingness to work with the SGA.
According to Gill, Metro’s current interim administration received an overall low score, with questions such as “does the administration seek SGA input on important issues,” or “does the administration consult with SGA regarding delegation of student fees.”
Gill said the SGA is working to improve the relationship with the administration. They have also been working with Metro interim president Ray Kieft regarding SGA’s autonomy.
“It’s vital that the SGA work with administration but still be autonomous,” Ott said. “Autonomy is the be-all and end-all to representation of students.”
One of the goals of the members of the current SGA, who were all voted into office last spring, is to get Metro students more involved.
“This SGA really wants student involvement on all levels,” Ott said. “But frankly right now there’s not many spots for students to be involved.”
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