SGA Plans for Upcoming Semester of Outreach
SGA Plans for Upcoming Semester of Outreach
“I am ready for the campus to see visually what SGA does, what we stand for, and what we are doing for them."
The Mississippi College Student Government Association (SGA) rises once again to enter a new semester full of transformation. The council is excited to help restore the MC community after taking a hard hit from Covid-19. The representative voice of the student body speaks up for change and action in order to build on the community of MC.
The new SGA executive council was voted into office last spring and welcomes Rachel Smith as president, Dylan Robertson as Vice president, Caleb Hall as Chief Justice, Jameson Cook as Chief of Staff, and Abby McCoy as Business Manager.
“I know that though I am leading this council and setting forth some overarching goals, I know that everyone in each branch of SGA is bringing something to the table. We have to work as a team,” said Smith. “I am ready for the campus to see visually what SGA does, what we stand for, and what we are doing for them. I want to work to make SGA more transparent and for people to engage in what we are doing.”
As the semester gets underway, the council starts to work on the changes they want to bring this coming year to MC’s campus.
SGA has always been very reactive to students' needs and effectively communicates those needs to campus administration. Students have always had the opportunity to reach out with any concerns. However, this year, Smith aims to guide the executive council to set their focus on these goals of outreach and reconstruction. These are additives to implement. Moving it from the approachable and receptive mode to a further outreach move in order to meet students where they are at.
“That door is always open for people to come to us, but we also what to be at their doorstep knocking and asking what they want to be done, what do they need, what do they want for the future,” said Smith.
As Smith works administration-focused, opening that door for students and administration to cave clear and concise communication in a respectful way, Vice President Dylan Robertson will focus on being student-focused, regularly meeting with MC students to gauge their ideas and opinions.
“I am looking forward to what the student senate is able to get out of this year; my position is to help them make their ideas a reality in order to better both campus and students,” said Robertson. “I am ready to meet with students on campus and do what I can to help others.”
For the purpose of reconstruction, the council will be revising the constitution and making necessary changes in order to ensure they are addressing rising campus needs.
Some of these changes will involve including Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors (SAPA) in legislation. Refocusing the various branches of SGA to further prioritize the mental health of students. The association will be working on adding SAPA to their list of representatives within the coming year. Reaching out to the SGA alumni, the council is looking for outdoor projects to implement on campus either this semester or within the coming year.
Something that SGA is working on specifically is a better communication flow between public safety and the student body. With the recent parking issues and appeals, Students are concerned about their voices being heard in the safety office.
“If you have an issue that you want to bring to the judicial council, approach it respectfully. If you give me respect, I am going to give you respect; it's a two-way street,” said Caleb Hall, SGA Chief Justice. “If you bring up appeals respectfully, it can allow us to do our job better by bringing those to public safety.”
Public safety works to move things smoothly on campus and create an easy flow of traffic so that students and faculty can be safe and enjoy their experience at MC. They not only work on campus but try to safely bridge the gap between students and the Clinton community.