After a series of problems during the last two Student Government Association elections, the UTEP student population has become skeptical about the role our student government plays on campus.
The answer to one question in the F.A.Q. section on their Web site is left unanswered, thus it is a question that is also on the minds of many students-What does SGA do for UTEP?
We hear about their swearing in ceremonies, their banquets and about the money they distribute to different organizations on campus, but many of us wonder if they have been doing enough about what concerns most students at UTEP-tuition, textbooks, parking and graduation.
Most students are generally apathetic toward SGA's actions and governance. The challenge SGA members have in front of them is to transform this apathy to involvement. They need to work hard to improve the connection and interaction between SGA officers and students.
The SGA has formed a public relations committee to provide information about what happens and is discussed at their meetings to the student body. Hopefully, this strategy will work, and we have noticed that this year's SGA members have been cooperative and reachable for interviews and questions, which was not the case in previous SGA administrations.
They say they are making themselves more available and more visible to the public in an effort to let students really get to know their president and vice presidents, and so they feel more connected to them. This is important because, even though we may forget it sometimes, they are also students like the rest of us.
SGA is now one of 16 universities who are members of the Texas Student Association; a statewide coalition of student leaders that was created in 1948 and that died in the 1990s, which has recently been revived to defend the rights of higher education students across Texas.
On July 19, the representatives of these 16 campuses congregated at the state capitol to discuss future plans and set long and short-term goals for the association.
As UT Austin is also a member of the TSA, this coalition will have more of an opportunity to advocate on behalf of different Texas universities. By joining this coalition, UTEP's SGA will have the opportunity to represent and address our needs in a more influential manner.
The biggest challenge for the SGA is to create a solid group of leaders who will commit to making an effort to bring about changes that will benefit our student population.
We have recently heard about some new SGA committees that are already working with departments that impact students, such as Food Services by Sodexho. The committee is trying to get the department to offer a larger variety of foods that promote better health and to include vegetarian and vegan options. Some of the changes Parking and Transportation Services will implement, such as the creation of the carpool program and easier methods to pay for permits with installment plans, are also the result of direct feedback from the SGA.
With the designation of Associate Vice President Gary Edens as the new dean of students and SGA adviser, the members have the opportunity to start out with a clean slate. Hopefully, Edens, who is a UTEP alumn and has a wide variety of experience with the university and its student body, will bring stability and focus to the SGA.
Students also need to take on their share of the responsibility by keeping themselves informed about the actions and initiatives the SGA undertakes. The SGA has also been working on their Web site to become more current and more user-friendly. They welcome students to stop by at their office and attend their meetings on Wednesdays. Students may also visit their Web site at http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/sga and provide feedback, and let them know about what is not working or any other problem they should be aware of on campus.
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