SGA To Hold Outreach Event Ahead of Elections
The Student Government Association (SGA) will be hosting a meet and greet in the lead-up to the governing body’s annual elections. The event is to be held on April 1 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in Burnell Hall room 132A. Students will have the opportunity to meet some of the candidates on the ballot and ask them questions about their positions and university issues. BBQ food and door prizes will be provided.
Senate Chair Collin Dias stated that dining and parking are the main concerns he has heard students raise during this academic year. Dias, who is running for president of the Executive Board, also mentioned that SGA has recently struggled with outreach to the student body. “I think it’s very important that we reestablish our voice with the community,” he said in an interview. “I don’t think everyone in the community knows who we are. Our great concern is that we can advocate for you.”
Elections for both Senate seats and Executive Board positions will be held from April 3-5. The senate body is composed of four commuter-at-large senators, four resident at-large senators, two senators to represent each of the four colleges housed within the university, and eight senators-at-large. The Executive Board positions up for election include the president, vice president, parliamentarian, and student trustee. Students will be able to vote via an online form, and SGA representatives will be tabling at various locations throughout the campus during that period. Interested students can still apply to be a candidate through March 29.
Senator Jay Mallen, a member of the Elections Board, told The Comment that SGA was inspired to hold this event by regular state and local elections, in which candidates frequently host campaign events that are opportunities for their constituents to interact with them and provide feedback. “I hope students walk away knowing what SGA is, but also walk away understanding that there are other students that care and want to make this university a better place for them,” he said. Elections are one of the biggest opportunities for students to make their voices heard and influence the composition and priorities of SGA. “If you are unsatisfied with how BSU runs, then participation in SGA elections is essential in seeing the change you want here,” Mallen added.
SGA meetings are public and take place every Tuesday at 7:30 in the Rondileau Student Union (RSU) council chambers. Meetings alternate between Senate sessions and Executive Board meetings. The SGA office is located in RSU 009.
