As one of my professors put it, “the honeymoon is over.” Gone are the days of frantic orientation activities and cheery reunions with old friends. Now, almost two weeks into the academic year, we find ourselves back in full swing. With the start of the academic year also comes the beginning of a new year for the Student Government Association (SGA). Recently, I sat down with president Sal Bigay ’16 and Vice-President Juliette Verengia ’16, to discuss some of SGA’s plans for the coming year.
Walking into the Office of the Student Government Association, I immediately noticed how bare it is. I was told that for the first time in ten years the office has been thoroughly cleaned. Old posters and dated notes have all been stripped from the walls. The walls are bare, the desks and tables spotless; a clean slate. Like the office, SGA itself is scheduled to receive some overdue TLC.
“This year, we’re really, really trying to switch it up,” said Verengia. Bigay agreed, adding, “Our whole theme for this year is rethinking how things are done, why they’re being thought that way, and just asking those institutional questions.”
This push to question the status quo is evident in SGA’s first set of resolutions, which was released last week. One of the measures aims to clarify the dress code for SGA meetings. While no specific dress code has previously been enforced, it has become an unwritten rule of sorts that business casual be worn to all SGA meetings. The measure states that members of SGA and those in attendance are welcome to wear whatever they feel is comfortable and appropriate. In the past, according to Juliette, there have been a number of students who have felt either unwelcome at SGA meetings or hesitant to approach SGA members as a result of the clothes they were wearing.
I asked Verengia if she was concerned that members of SGA might not be taken seriously if they passed resolutions in pajamas. Verengia replied, “I think what [SGA] will accomplish and already has accomplished will speak louder than what we wear to the meetings.” Both Bigay and Verengia hope this resolution will pass.
When I asked what SGA was looking to do going forward, Bigay told me that SGA had an event planned for October 2, designed to help students take a step back. In light of last semester’s incidents, SGA is holding a gala to celebrate Conn’s commitment to shared governance and the signing of the covenant. The event is open to all and is designed to bring students, faculty, staff and administrators closer together.
Additionally, Verengia told me that she plans on working with students to talk about what it means to be a campus organization. The Student Activities Council (SAC), is funded by SGA.
All in all, the next few weeks should be very busy for SGA. Students are encouraged to get involved by attending SGA meetings, voting on resolutions and attending SGA-sponsored events, such as the upcoming gala. •
