insight
THEIR OPINION
By Dennis Berguist
SGA works with administration to provide student voice
This year's Student Government Assembly (SGA) has already rolled up its collective sleeves, dug right in and gotten to work.
You may be wondering what type of work SGA does, so let me tell you. We have been working vigorously to get our own shop in order by developing a comprehensive policy manual that will place the newly instituted SGA Constitution on solid ground. Completion of this task will ensure the SGA's ability to better represent students.
SGA members have also been attending numerous committee meetings on campus in an attempt to represent students' concerns. Some of these committees include: the Board of Trustees, President's Cabinet, Academic Counsel, Base Appeals Committee, Grade Appeals Committee, Information Technology Advisory Committees, MetroConnect Committee, Co-curricular Funding Committee, Provost Search Committee, Vice President of Student Services Search Committee, Dean of the School of Business and Dean of the School of Professional Studies Committees, Student affairs Board, Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board, Trustees' Finance Committee, Student Fee Review Panel, Alumni Board, and the Disability Services Student Advisory Committee.
This is just a partial list of some of the committees and agenda-specific task forces that students are invited to participate in. I wish I had the time and opportunity to explain how the decisions made by these committees affect students and the importance of student involvement.
It is encouraging that students are afforded the opportunity to voice opinions. Unfortunately, there are far too many committees on campus for the 12 present Student Government members to attend all of them; in addition to our classes and jobs we need to go to in order to provide for our families and ourselves. We need your help.
The manner in which the new Constitution is set up allows for students-at-large to participate in Student Government in several ways. The new Constitution has seven committees designed to interface with the college administration.
Theses committees are the Student Welfare and Diversity Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, Information Technology Committee, Student Outreach Committee, Student Fee and Finance Committee, Shared Governance Committee, and the Rules and Ethics Committee.
Again, we need your help. You do not need to be an elected officer of SGA to help staff any of the aforementioned committees. If any of these committees piques your interest, you are invited by the SGA to participate as a student representative. If you believe you have ideas that could help make SGA more effective-lobbying, for instance-I personally invite you to engage with SGA and share your ideas, talents, expertise and enthusiasm with us.
No one will be turned away. I cannot begin to tell you how discouraging it is to hear people refer to their Student Government as do-nothings, because NOTHING could be further from the truth.
On a final note, I would like to remind all students of the upcoming SGA election this October. The positions of president, SACAB representative, and 11 senate seats are up for grabs. With that said, the Election Commission is in desperate need of students to assist with the election. I urge you to consider joining the team. If you have any questions or comments, please call, e-mail or come by the SGA office. If I am not available, please leave your contact information and I will get back to you.
