GUEST COLUMN: SGA is more important now than ever
(Courtesy Photo | Katie Prebelich)
It’s no secret this school year is going to be unlike any other.
With a global pandemic, new style classes, the fight for racial equality and a divisive national election, the campus we are heading back to is going to be very different than the one we left last spring break.
Because of all the changes happening in the world around us, our Student Government Association is more important now than it has ever been.
The unprecedented times we are living in means there is no blueprint on how to handle situations that arise. Our administrators and university leaders are trying to solve problems no one has had to deal with before. As students, we need to have our voices heard during the decision-making process and help our administrators create those blueprints.
SGA acts as a primary platform for students to share their struggles, frustrations and needs with university administration. Through legislation, petitions, projects and programs, SGA provides students with access to our university leaders and ensures student voices are heard.
The work that comes out of SGA this year will shape our university and help develop the blueprint for future leaders guiding campus through difficult times.
This year, we are going to focus on launching our new “CMU Supports CMU” campaign and finding ways to support students in all ways during these uncertain times. Through this campaign, SGA will be hosting townhall meetings to find more ways to advocate for students, connecting with other RSOs to host new events and investing in programs to aid in the unique transition students have to make this year.
With a shift to a virtual environment, we will be continuing to find ways to build community as a university while keeping students safe. And, as always, our number one priority will be to advocate for students and keep our university administrators accountable.
With all that being said, we have also made the decision to transition SGA to a fully online format to ensure student safety. SGA will still have house and senate which will run in its typical format, but all meetings will take place through WebEx. This obviously wasn’t an easy decision or the way we envisioned this year going. However, we are going to make the best of the situation and ensure SGA has a great year.
During my campaign for Student Body President I regularly said, “Tough times call for strong leaders.”
We are in the midst of some very difficult times and our university needs strong leaders. So, if you ever thought about joining SGA, now is the time. This is one of our most important years yet.
For more information on how to get involved or join SGA, please email SGA@cmich.edu or Student Body President Katie Prebelich, at prebe1k@cmich.edu.
