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Restructuring Senate: The Answer for SGA?

“The last thing Senate needs is to worry more about Senate.”

This sentiment was recently expressed to a Star staff member, telling a student’s frustration with the latest amendment effort springing from the Student Government Association.

This amendment, alluded to by the said student, is a push by SGA toward “re-structuring Senate” in hopes of more accurately representing the Houghton student body within SGA itself. It would appear that a side hope of SGA regarding the possible structural overhaul would be an increase in student body interest in their representative body.

Currently, there are three senators per class, and eight senators-at-large. There are no other pre-requisites besides being a member of their class, and/or interest in being a senator. As a result, the general population of the Student Senate may be dominated by students from a certain demographic, such as a political science major.

The proposed changes would transform this Senate into an assembly composed of three senators for each class, a senator from each residence hall or area, one senator from varsity athletics, and a senator representing each academic category (of which categories there are seven). As of yet, SGA has not reached a consensus on how many senators would comprise the final group—the only word so far, is between 6-8. This brings the final potential total of senators between 24-26, since each senator may only represent one category.

That the Senate currently struggles with representing the student body at large is not a question the Star staff debates. Restructuring the student’s representative body in a way that better reflects the student body is a noble, worthy aim. Accurate representation is always something to be appreciated, and one that has obvious merits. Rather, our question has to do with the apparent hopes SGA has cast upon this proposed change: hopes that by increasing the accuracy of their representation, they will increase their relevance to the student body.

During a recent Senate meeting, a question was asked that sums up the heart of what is at stake. The student’s question asked what exactly has brought on the need for this proposed amendment. The answer given by SGA Vice President Ben Hardy was that “there is a massive disconnect between other students and the students in this room about what the Student Government does. Sometimes it’s just a joke, but sometimes it seems serious when people ask what we do besides Donut Day. Hopefully a [forum] will give us a better sampling.”

As noble as a more accurate representation is, increased relevance to the student body does not necessarily follow from this proposed change. The last thing Senate needs to become more relevant to the current student body of Houghton College is to look inside, and change itself. Too much introspection on the part of Senate, and too much inward, SGA-focused work is exactly why Houghton students seem tired of giving attention to SGA, as indicated by comments such as the one given by the student above.

The Student Government would do well to expand outside itself, if it wishes to be known for more than its donuts. It well-enacts this outward focus in notable, appreciated areas such as the regular blood drives, and the various service days and projects it undertakes. Through these efforts of uniting the student body with community members, SGA performs valuable, visible work. It is through these visible, external projects that the Student Government forms a face and identity by which it may be known to students, and known for its impact.

Student Government’s current quest for greater relevance and a more visible face is better pursued by a continuation of their external activities and community projects on a larger scale than by another focus on inward dynamics.

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News

New Semester, New Opportunities

Here we are; a new semester is upon us! I present you with a question: What are you going to make of your time at Houghton for spring 2013? Our new Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Rob Pool, recently challenged the Senate to reach our “Big Hairy Audacious Goals” (BHAGs), and he explained that the Office of Student Life exists to facilitate students’ working toward their goals. In the words of Dr. Pool, I encourage you as students to attain your “BHAGs” this semester! (You don’t have to call them BHAGs though.)

Courtesy of www.houghton.edu
Courtesy of www.houghton.edu

How can SGA help you attain your goals as a student? Already this semester, the Senate has approved requests from clubs and student groups for over $1500 in student funds. If you are part of a Christian life club or a general student club on campus, we still have funds available. While I’m discussing clubs, I should point out that our student clubs have been very successful this semester—with a variety of activities hosted by Black Heritage Club, MercySeat, Global Christian Fellowship and Runnymede Pre-Law Society—just to name a few.

This spring offers you a great opportunity for community service, just as Make a Difference Day did last fall. Each year the college sponsors MLK Service Day in the spring, and this year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 13. Keep this event in mind, and look for ways to get involved in service to our surrounding communities.

On the topic of service, the SGA is working to expand opportunities to reach out to international students at Houghton Academy. One way you can start right now is by taking time to sit with Academy students who come to our dining hall on the weekends. And have you heard of the Highlander Commission? This is a student group working to promote school spirit by instating traditions including the Scottish Highlander mascot and our school colors of Purple and Gold. SGA Vice President Benjamin Hardy is heading up this effort, so ask him how the SGA is working to bolster our common identity as Highlanders in the next few months.
Speaking of purple and gold, be sure to thank the Campus Activities Board for their hard work on Purple and Gold Week!

As a fellow Highlander and member of the Student Government, I pose another set of questions for you. What do you think of SGA? How can SGA better represent the whole student body? How can SGA be a group in which you want to participate? The Senate wants to know what you think about these questions, as we are looking at our current structure to find what would be the best way to encourage student involvement and representation through SGA.

Also concerning participation, SGA election plans for next year are already underway, and Wynn Horton will be spearheading these efforts as Election Commissioner. Contact Wynn if you want to run for an SGA position for next year.

Moving through this semester, be assured that SGA wants to represent your concerns well. The Senate is working with the Office of Student Life to improve communication regarding changes on campus. Thanks to the work of Senator Wynn Horton and others, there will soon be a page on the Current Students section of the college website for you to submit your feedback on any student issues to be reviewed by individuals from SGA and from Student Life.

What are you going to make of your time at Houghton for spring 2013? Let us know how we can help by contacting your senators or contacting sga@houghton.edu. Happy Purple and Gold Week, Highlanders!