Student Government Association is the voice of the student body from a governing standpoint, and Student Activities Council plans events that try to keep the whole student body entertained and happy. They are full of students working together to make this campus a better place. That’s what they’re supposed to be doing, anyway. This year has been filled with inefficiency, gridlock, pettiness, drama, and a lack of organization.
SGA and SAC have a lot of power and money behind them, $153,000 to be exact. They can use this money around campus to improve the lives of students and the overall functionality of campus. But the money that SGA and SAC oversee doesn’t seem to be going to good use.
The recycling program that was implemented last year is now in the garbage—no pun intended. SGA President Jordan Tarter said the recycling bins SGA purchased and gave to the Young Democrats last year ended up in storage. Nothing is being done and, for the time being, the Blue Goes Green initiative is inactive.
Tarter promised to make Cokesbury Court Apartments safer by implementing locking gates. Student Publications found that new gates were installed, but are either non-functional or physically broken. SGA spent the money to make the gates safer, but to no avail.
In regard to SAC, just last week there was an issue on Facebook of all places. Sen. David Hall (music) filed for the impeachment of Madelynn Buckman, vice president of SAC. This happened after a member of SAC incorrectly explained the use of funds for Free Movie Night. SAC Executive Kenzie VanZee posted that SAC had no plans for the future of Free Movie Night, but this was untrue, and it led to an attempt at impeachment and unnecessary conflict between senators.
There also was a shortage of tickets for Stars on the Plaza. Students arrived at the event and were unable to participate because tickets ran out, or because they weren’t informed of the need for tickets. This is where a lack of communication really hurts students.
SGA’s budget also is inefficient and flawed. The budget for this academic year failed on the Senate floor originally. SGA missed its deadline. They were forced to use an earlier version of the budget from the executive and steering committees. President Tarter has an annual salary of $1,500, and Vice President Austin Gipson-Black has a salary of $1,830. Why is the VP making more than the president? Because the budget cannot be amended on the Senate floor. It is inappropriate that our VP is making more than our president.
While I appreciate the passion, time and dedication that students give to SGA and SAC, things feel as though they aren’t going in the right direction. In no way am I an expert on finances or involved in SGA or SAC. I’m just a student who thinks a lot of money is being used inefficiently. We want to recycle. We want Free Movie Night. We want to participate in Stars on the Plaza. And we all want to be better informed.
Well, actually, the VP is making more money than the President because President Tarter has a turition remission this year and said she thinks that since the VP does not it is appropriate for him to have a slightly bigger saslary.