OPINION: SGA's Inaction On Student Issues Not For Inability To Act

 

 

(Logo. Source: Student Government Association at UT-Tyler.)

Student government elected a new chief of staff this week in a special meeting at the end of the semester. Senator Jennifer Chandler won the assembly's vote in a three-way race among two other current SGA members, Allison Schwartz and Tyler Paige. Student members spent nearly an hour both investigating and discussing who should be the next officer in the association's executive board.

That members take such an interest in their organization's affairs is commendable. However, given that the assembly displayed how it has the capacity to both investigate and deliberate over a subject matter with rigor, then I ask, why it could not also demonstrate this same rigor in matters that are undeniably of popular student concern, such as unavailable parking space and advisor shortages?

The assembly's ability to both convene a special session and to debate the issues at length demonstrate that members have the ability to tackle subjects--when they want to. If there is any reason for SGA not tackling the important issues to students this semester to the point of closure, then it is not for lack of ability. This week’s meeting proves that.

Passivity in the face of important student issues, such as parking and advisor shortages, is a failure of leadership on SGA's behalf. Whether this is due to an uncertainty of popular sentiment or a deeper aversion of controversy, the assembly has a responsibility to represent the student body. What this week's meeting demonstrates is that SGA has the ability to act when the situation meets members’ concerns. For now, parking shortages and advisor attrition and other student issues appear to have just not been the assembly’s priorities. 

If in the spring semester, a student asks why SGA did not achieve improvements to popular student issues such as parking, Swoop-N-Go prices or otherwise, this week’s meeting shows that the answer will not be for SGA’s inability to act. I appears it will be for its lack of those issues not being among the assembly’s priorities.

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X: @Jhescock12

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