For a campus that is famous for intense SGA elections, the current campaign, like the one that preceded it, has been fairly quiet. The Elections Board has banned chalking and stickers, once essential outlets for candidates. Facebook groups, which had become useful campaign tools, are less prevalent because no one really understands how Facebook groups work anymore. Dale Peterson is coming to campus to host a debate tonight, the highlight of which will be Dale Peterson.
While there is something to be said for more engaging elections, the recent trend towards low-key campaigning is not necessarily a bad thing. It coincides with changes in our campus culture and significant recent improvements made within the SGA.
Less divisive elections help create a less divisive student government and make it easier to bring a diverse group of student leaders together to work on projects after elected officers are inaugurated. Instead of being a lightning rod that polarizes students into two distinct camps, the SGA is evolving into an organization that helps facilitate student involvement and leadership across campus.
The First Year Council, for instance, brings freshman into the SGA and allows them to play a role in shaping initiatives and policies. It has the stated purpose of training students for future SGA service; however, many former FYC members have ended up in leadership positions in a variety of student organizations not related to the SGA. FYC allows these students to network and develop their leadership skills, which they can later use in a variety of ways.
The student organization seating process established last fall was much less controversial than in years past and is a good example of the SGA using its resources to help other groups offer their membership a better college experience.
The world is moving away from hierarchical leadership systems and toward collaboration. Our campus is no different. Whereas student leaders once vied for seven positions on SGA Executive Council, there is now a large group of students involved through other venues. The SGA no longer sits atop the student involvement pyramid, but instead comprises the partial nucleus of a very large cell of student organizations, committees and projects. It has a critically important role but is not the sole outlet for student involvement. More students now have the opportunity to participate in campus affairs, but integrating their ideas and contributions presents some challenges.
While the SGA could once affect a lot of different programs on its own, going forward, it will be most effective when it works with other groups. The National Society of Black Engineers, for instance, recently cosponsored the SGA Date Auction, which gathered a record amount of money for student scholarships. Instead of hosting the Date Auction alone, the SGA reached out, included a different student organization, and thus engaged more students in its activities. Such partnerships set a great model for future endeavors.
The SGA also has a great opportunity to take advantage of this vertical collaboration and positively impact campus. Its history, prestige and resources make it the best vehicle to bring student leaders together under an overarching mission to help equalize opportunities for students and give them a more enriching collegiate experience. For instance, the current administration includes NPHC president Teddy Phillips, who serves as director of engagement, alongside other officials with a wealth of SGA experience from across the campus political spectrum.
When you vote for SGA president on Tuesday, remember, regardless of who you select and who emerges as the winner, there are multiple opportunities for you to get involved going forward. The new SGA administration is going to need your ideas and participation, and we have finally laid the foundations for a campus culture in which various student leaders work together and hold one another accountable. While I am sure there will be more divisive campaigns in the future, the current situation gives us an opportunity to continue bridging long-lasting divides and work toward building a better campus for all.
Tray Smith is the opinions editor of The Crimson White. His column runs on Mondays.
