SGA looks to expand, address policies

The Student Government Association will kick off the fall semester with its first official meeting on Tuesday.

The system for appointing student senators was overhauled last semester. The new procedures, which include direct voting for all student senators, will go into effect next academic year.

Currently, only the Executive Board, consisting of the president, vice president and treasurer, has elected positions voted on by the student body. However, board members said that will change next year.

“Even though the Executive Board is a trusted thing, it would be more democratic and transparent if the senators were voted on by students, without someone just reading over their application and saying ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” said SGA President Channing Redditt.

The old process for appointing senators was more exclusive, where applicants would be appointed from within SGA through an application process. SGA said it plans to announce this year’s student senators soon.

Redditt said one of SGA’s top priorities is to make students aware of the resources that student government has to offer. That includes addressing the Office of Financial Aid and their alleged lack of support from university administration.

Jessica Thiesen is the former SGA vice president and a current senator.

“These people are working 12 hours a day, doing the best they can in financial aid,” she said, “and I don’t think they’re getting the support from the university.”

Some students have said that they are still waiting for the financial aid department to process their loans and grant them refunds.

“We can’t hold financial aid accountable until they’re receiving the help and support they need from the university,” Thiesen said. “I think our target should be the administration that needs to back them up before it’s anything else.”

SGA said its top priorities are to make students feel at home.

Redditt said he feels that a new building brings a new environment, one in which students need to make their own. He emphasized that students not only have more student-oriented space and resources with the new building, but a new home as well. He urged them to make the most out of it.

“This year, I really want to engage more students to use their voice, to use us, to make sure they’re being satisfied in their education, in their activities and everything that has to do with Roosevelt,” Redditt said. “We want to get them to understand that no change is going to happen unless they let us know or somebody know that there is a change that needs to happen.”

SGA members will have their first meeting in Spertus Lounge (AUD 244) Tuesday, Sept. 11.


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