On Monday, Human and Environmental Sciences senators from the Student Government Association took advantage of the 97-degree heat grabbing students’ attention with popsicles as all senators met with students in front of the colleges they represent for Meet Your Senator Day.
Nicole Bohannon, executive vice president of the SGA, said the success of the day included passing out hundreds of flyers to students about information on where to go to contact your senator.
“These senators were elected by their colleges to represent the students, and it is very important for students to know that they have access to their senators,” she said.
She said the point of the day was for senators to talk to students about their concerns and for students to learn that the senators are available.
This year was the first time there was a day specifically designated for the senators to be out engaging with the students on campus, she said.
Jenna Zoghby, a senator in the College of Human and Environmental Sciences, alongside other senators, talked with students about where to go if they have concerns.
“I feel as though today was very successful,” she said. “Students were very happy to know that there was a senator, who they were and how to contact them if they have any problems.”
She said one way they plan to continue interacting with the students is to go to some of the HES 100 classes.
“I think the success of the day was great, because students were able to learn where to go if they have any concerns,” she said.
David Simpson, a senator from the College of Arts and Sciences, said the day was a success.
“We encountered more traffic in the morning as opposed to the afternoon,” said David Simpson, an Arts and Sciences senator.
He said they passed out flyers to students with information on it such as whom to contact about different issues.
“I think it was a very productive day because we were engaged with the students to hear their needs and concerns,” he said.
Simpson said he encountered one student that wanted more information about how to get involved.
“I told the student that, starting next week, the SGA will be taking applications for senate assistants and other positions,” he said.
“We, as members of the Senate, need to make sure we are more inclusive leaders and continue to hear the needs of students.”
Senators from all other colleges also were out speaking to students in front of their respective colleges.
“It is a little hard to catch a student in between classes, but we gave them a flyer with important information about where to go if they have questions,” Zoghby said. “We should definitely continue this in the future.”
To find out who your senator is for your college, visit sga.ua.edu/senate.
