Bridging the gap between students, SG

Sarah Gonzalez is a senior majoring in political science. Not just a student of politics, she also has a civic interest in campus affairs. She fits the description of a student you might think is well acquainted with Student Government (SG) and how it works. “I know SG helps address student issues, but I’m unaware of how exactly they do that,” she said. “I think that most students might have a similar response if you asked them.”The most difficult challenge any SG leader faces is that the organization remains in great part disconnected from most of the student body it represents. It’s an unfortunate situation: SG has grown considerably more adept at handling student issues over the past few years, and without a greater amount of input from the student population, its growth and development is hindered. It’s an unhealthy relationship for both parties.That’s not to say efforts haven’t been taken. This year, SG made an unprecedented attempt to recruit freshmen at their orientation and accommodate them through a volunteer Dusty Corps. It was a step in the right direction and serves as a place to start a discussion. Becoming involved in the experiences of new students as they join our campus has merit, but maybe an even more proactive approach could be considered.While in Stockholm, my host school’s Students’ Union had the interesting trait of claiming just about all of the student body within its membership. Maybe we should consider offering the option of membership into SG as part of every student’s enrollment and registration process? Even if just a fraction accepted, this would swell the SG’s manpower several times over, as well as make it more connected with our student population. Over time, it could serve as a bridge by which all of the student body can be united in a sense of common cause.In a more practical sense, offering official membership to thousands would be very useful for the SG when it finds itself in need of volunteers for its projects or to fill its seats on university committees. This is because with a feeling of belonging also comes a sense of duty to your community. Eventually, what may bring a few hundred new members might someday encompass most of our student body. The SG could undertake several programs simultaneously, have a large pool of helpers ready to assist the university in the event of emergencies, and be able to improve student attendance at campus functions. Best of all, many more students may participate in SG elections, as they would have a more direct interest, being official members themselves.We have on our campus both a very civic-minded student assembly and a population teeming with individuals wanting to be involved in something constructive and important. By reaching out even further, we may finally be able to close the gap between them.