“Two Sides To Tell” SGA Election Raises Questions

The election for the Student Government Association (SGA) has concluded and the new leaders for the 2024-2025 academic year have been selected, leaving impressions of determination on the student body. Campaigning, advocating, and promoting strategies and plans for the following school year appealed to the students of Southern to vote. Ideally, candidates put their best efforts forward to highlight their commitment not just to the university, but to the students of Southern University.
SGA is significant to the campus life of Southern University because the officials represent the interests of the student body and support events on campus that improve the campus’s intellectual, physical, social, and cultural environment. SGA is responsible for ensuring campus life runs smoothly and actively along with hosting events and festivities to get individuals involved in campus life—but are the students involved and engaged in the election process and voicing their concerns to the position holders?
Students have many opportunities when it comes to being involved on campus and inserting themselves into the conversation. The election process is communicated via email to get a broad range of connections between students and the campaign week.
Elections Commissioner of the Student Government Association, Senior, Colby Bonier, is responsible for overseeing and organizing a smooth and fair election, upholding the election code, and maintaining the public record of the election. Bonier, who has an inside look into student involvement in the election, quoted, “I know for a fact that students are involved in the election process…but don’t show interest in the campaigns unless it involves an issue.”Bonier has heavy concerns regarding the presence of students’ voices when it’s most crucial. In her opinion, students’ concerns aren’t voiced when it is appropriate but when it’s most convenient for them.
The recent SGA Presidential election involved Juniors, Kennedy Orr and Henry Steele III, who articulated their plans to highlight concerns of the student body such as mental health, campus safety, and organization involvement, and addressed student concerns with better communication.
During the presidential debate, the question of student involvement is traditionally a main concern. The recent presidential debate also emphasized the importance for students to voice their opinions and concerns to the officials. Bonier also quoted, “…students wait for something dynamic to happen and then voice their concerns but don’t voice them appropriately…I hope that students can gain their drive to attend and hold elected officials accountable.”Pushing for students to be more a part of the dialogue and conversation with the candidates to push their requests and questions is a hope for Bonier.
Students feel as though concerns are being addressed, but not in the fashion they would like. Camille Baines, a sophomore at Southern University, stated, “I feel like oftentimes our concerns are not addressed in the manner we would like because I know there are a lot of channels that are required, but just letting the public know who to communicate with and when would be helpful.” Even though the campaign week is positioned for students to ask questions and voice their concerns to the candidates, often concerns are misplaced and not addressed sooner than later according to Baines. In her opinion, both the political and the social aspects of the election are being conflicted by the miscommunication.
Some students don’t feel comfortable voicing their opinions in front of live audiences, but in close-knit environments where every element of the concern could be addressed. Students, such as Cassidy Moses, a sophomore in Shade Hall, felt as though they are involved in the election process, but not as much as they would like, stating, “I do feel that students are involved in the election process, but some of them weren’t.”
For more involvement, students can follow the SGA on social media “@subr_sga,” or by going to public meetings and talking to the officials of SGA about their concerns. There is a line of communication through email, where student events are mentioned for more interaction. Students can also stay up to date with The Southern Digest to get new information on the Student Government Association.