By: Joviane Pembele
Student Government Association is the voice of all Parkland students. Advised by Evila Newman, the SGA has walked alongside many of the changes that have occurred throughout the years to make this a home-felt establishment.
The association was established in order to provide a voice for the students and “to find out what the students want and need throughout campus,” said Newman. The students needed a voice that could help change the campus into an environment that students can appreciate more. A student body was organized to help achieve these goals.
Recently, the Student Government Association has been the reason for changes such as:
- A new cafeteria service which provides affordable pricing, more food options, and prepared meals for students.
- A clean campus environment.
- Equal budgets for clubs and associations depending on their size, the larger the organization is, the more demand they receive in order to accommodate every person associated with the group.
- A tuition fee increase to provide for laptops to help students who may not own their own but need it for their education. Their current president (name) has also introduced early voting to get more students involved in political changes that could affect their lives.
But what will happen now that there aren’t many students who have applied for leadership positions in the SGA?
The COVID-19 pandemic hit right at election time when campus was last open, meaning a proper on-campus Student Government wasn’t set up. Once everything went virtual it became difficult to remain positive without the certainty of campus life ever coming back. Students quit Student Government virtually because of the difference between operating the organization virtually versus in person. The inability of students getting to see a student government system led to a lack of participants in the 2021 fall semester. They weren’t able to witness the changes they have the ability to make through an influential student body.
Every student at Parkland is automatically a member of the SGA which means that technically there can’t be a lack of Student Government members. The only difference is one body of students are voting members who can vote on passing rules. But every student can change the campus in their own way. Anybody is welcome to attend meetings to voice concerns about the campus. In order for rules to be changed or altered there needs to be elected bodies on the board that do the voting.
“There’s no voting members and senators and representatives… that’s what we’re looking for, Lydia (the current president) is still attending meetings and representing SGA… our Trustee is still attending board of trustee meetings… The only problem is anything needing a vote right now wouldn’t be completed at this time,” said Newman.
Elections have been pushed back until more people are interested. Meetings are every Thursday at 2 p.m. and are open for anyone to attend. The application deadline has been extended and all interested students are encouraged to apply.
Student Government is a student-based association. For more information on how to help build a better community or on Student Government Association, contact Evila Newman at enewman@parkland.edu or visit the Office of Student Life at U-111.
