Presidential Thoughts 2012-2013
POST 2, OCTOBER 2012
Students, Growth and Action Plan
SGA Executive Board Initiative
2012 – 2013
Since its foundation, the Student Government Association (SGA) has stood to support and advocate for the student experience. Every year, we attempt to assess the current social and academic attitudes on campus to determine the needs of the student body. The SGA Executive Board for the 2013 Academic Year has observed various needs throughout the student body and has identified an array of areas in which feasible and effective action can be made. Through extensive deliberation, we have honed in on a thread of common themes and ideas which prompt direct attention.
Within our proposed plan, we’ve focused our efforts to address these themes through strengthening current programs and initiatives, and collaborating with faculty, administration and clubs to create new plans that address the needs of our current student body. This is broken down into three concise tenets for categorization and intents and purposes: Students, Growth, and Action.
The formulated acronym of SGA² stands for the Student Government Association’s initiative of Students, Growth, and Action.
Students:
This focuses on the immediate needs of the matriculated student body. “Students” covers two key issues: the first is the enhancement of constants in terms of services provided for the students of Wheaton. This constitutes, but is not limited to, select students spaces (such as the Loft, Clark Athletic Center, and the Dance Studio), the online interweb and cyberspace that students use or can use on a daily basis, and the transportation options provided. The second part includes campus-generated projects that will introduce creative options and ideas that will heighten the individual experience.
Transforming Student Spaces, Visibility of Transportation Options, CyberSpace (The SGA Website, The Link, Career Connections), Zip Trips! and 5 Ideas for $5000.
Growth:
“Growth” looks to promote the development and academic/social progress of the student once they’ve joined our community. Primarily, this tenet seeks to help students achieve academic excellence through educational directioning and a vision for post-Wheaton life and success. This includes connecting solidly with Wheaton alumni and trustees, prompting stronger academic guidance and composition of the curriculum, as well as emboldening the integrity of our students through a reaffirmation of the Honor Code.
Honor Code Campaign, Majors/Minors Fair, Alums in Residence, Student/Alum/Trustee Receptions and Connections Program Re-evaluation.
Action:
The final component of the Students, Growth, and Action Plan revolves around the engagement and involvement of the Wheaton students in taking the betterment of the community into their own hands. Within this initiative, we have included re-examining programming to address the effectiveness and frequency of student event coordination. Programming has been fastened with the inclusion of academic and strategic student-need based events (such as Flash Seminars and Career Service promotion) as well as the standard late-night event planning of student-run clubs and organizations. Additionally, civic engagement and awareness has been included in the form of supporting standing offices on campus such as Disability Services, to continue our commitment to creating a campus that recognizes all student needs.
Flash Seminars, Class Council Involvement, Intercultural Board/Programming Council/Education Council Collaboration, Collaboration Weekend, and Disability Services.
Check out the SGA2 page for more information!
Previous Posts
POST 1, SEPTEMBER 2012
Hello Wheaton College!
Welcome back everyone! I hope your semesters are off to a great start, that you’re getting into the swing of things and you’re enjoying what’s left of the summer sun!
This year looks to be a promising one! The Student Government Association (SGA) has been working tirelessly to prepare for your arrival and has begun structuring our plan of action for the year, so that we can hit the ground running. From our assessment of SGA initiatives last year and the opinions and ideas we’ve received from the student body, we are well on our way to unveil our new campaign! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for our “State of Wheaton” address later this month.
Something unknown to most people about me is that I am a huge Star Wars fan. Sunday mornings, my brother and I would pop a tape into the VHS and watch until our mother dragged us away for dinner. Star Wars is not just a super cool sci-film with aliens, robots, made up galaxies and the unfortunate creation of Jar Jar Binks, it’s also a love story, a story of hope and also a story about community and democracy.
In Attack of the Clones, Her Royal Highness Queen Jamilla of Naboo speaks to Padme (the representative to the Galactic Senate) about the faltering support for a democratic galaxy; she says “We have to keep our faith in the Republic. The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it.” I’ve always loved this quote and have thought of it a lot in my role as SGA President. It easy to think that tangible change is too far from us; that things will always remain the way they’ve been at Wheaton College and that there’s nothing we can do to change it. SGA’s mission statement has always been twofold: to represent the student body and to alter policy, implement programming and work to change the campus culture. If we begin to believe we can’t do this or that it’s beyond our power, then we have no reason to believe in SGA.
Like the galaxy of Star Wars, Wheaton is comprised of various peoples with different backgrounds and interests. In order to make these successful changes we need in the input of all students! Don’t hesitate to come to us with your questions, comments, ideas and suggestions! We’re here to serve you. If you’d like to be directly involved with SGA come to one of the Info Sessions on Thursday September 6th and Monday September 10th in the SGA Room in the Atrium to find out more about running for a position. All students are welcome!
I look forward to getting to know you and working with you all!
May be the force be with,
Lindsay Powell ‘13
Student Government Association President
Hello Wheaton! My name is Lindsay and I’m the SGA President. I like sun showers, green M & Ms, the thought that unicorns existed and encouraging student expression on campus! Here’s a glimpse into what’s on my mind!
