Student Government Association Implements Changes
By Leslie Hassel
The former UA Fort Smith Student Senate is undergoing a major overhaul this spring. Now known as the Student Government Association (SGA), the group is working hard to implement changes within the organization.
Faculty advisor Stephanie London says the SGA has “undergone a complete change this year…we had a consultant come onto campus last spring to examine our current Student Senate, and we have been using his recommendations to revamp the organization.”
A SGA committee is developing a new constitution and a new election process. UA Fort Smith students Gimo Berry, Jory Christenson, Veronica Kimbro, Cynthia Popa, Kimberley Sayavongsa, and Jesse Watson are working on the committee to develop a new marketing plan. The plan aims to spread the word about the organization’s changes and increase student participation. Jory Christensen, the current SGA President, is excited about the reorganization of SGA, and said, “We have started this from the ground up and it is much more viable for our campus.”
Elections for the 2011-2012 school year will be held April 11-15. Election week will begin April 11 on the campus green, where students will hear candidate debates. After the debates, students may cast their votes in available voting polls. The first 100 students to vote will receive a free t-shirt and lunch will be provided to those who attend. Winning candidates will be notified by 1 p.m. on April 15 and will leave for a planning retreat the same day.
Recent concerns regarding the organization’s lack of accessibility prompted SGA to update their profile on UA Fort Smith’s website. Contact information for SGA representatives was added to the site and SGA’s mission statement was updated. The organization’s response is a positive reaction to student concerns and evidence that the SGA is taking steps to ensure the organization is available to support the UA Fort Smith student body.
The Student Government Association can be contacted by phone at (479)-788-7698 or by email at sga@uafortsmith.edu.
