The Student Government Association opened its first meeting of the academic year with new representatives, new expectations, and a long list of issues members hope to address this year.
SGA President Aubrey Costello `27 welcomed members by looking ahead to what she described as an exciting year, highlighting an alumni gratitude campaign and fall formal among the initiatives already in the works. “There’s a lot of really exciting things that we keep going on this year,” Costello said.
Members then introduced themselves and outlined their goals. Priorities ranged from improving communication with administrators to addressing housing, party policies, campus health policies, and disciplinary procedures.
Vice President Jed Swan `28 said he hopes to “help SGA in general run a little bit smoother, more efficiently,” while also working on party policy. Parliamentarian Anthony Simescu `27 said he wants to improve follow-through within SGA and address the perception that the organization “doesn’t do anything.”
Several representatives identified specific campus issues they plan to pursue. Senior Class Senator Peter Ryan `27 said he wants to work with administrators on concerns surrounding new housing while continuing to advocate for a roofing project he has worked on for the past two years.
“I’d really like to see something actually happen with it,” Ryan said. “It would be nice to actually see a policy change from the administration.”
Improving communication with students was another major theme of the meeting. Communications Chair Anya Eder `29 said she hopes to improve the SGA website and increase outreach, while Class of 2029 Co-President Addy Smith said she wants to improve “transparencies through SGA” and make sure students know what the organization is doing.
Beginning Oct. 20, class representatives will also have five minutes during designated meetings to report what they have accomplished, what they are working on, and what they need from SGA.
Members will also have a designated portion of meetings to raise concerns they hear from students. Rather than allowing conversations to continue without a clear outcome, SGA leadership encouraged members to identify an action item and someone responsible for following up.
“If there’s something you’re talking about, you should be finding someone who should be taking action,” Costello said.
The meeting concluded with discussion of a proposal for “dinner weeks,” an initiative designed to create more opportunities for students to connect through classes, clubs and residential communities. The proposal would designate several weeks for groups to organize dinners, giving students more flexibility to find a time that works with their schedules.
The idea aims to address what the presenter of this proposal, Zubair Hossain `28, described as a loss of connection on campus after orientation. “I think we definitely have some — we’ve lost some over the years,” Hossain said. He described the idea as “an amazing one” that addresses the lack of connection on campus.
The first meeting ultimately served as both an introduction to this year’s SGA and a blueprint for how the organization hopes to operate: with greater transparency, accountability, and follow-through.
As the semester progresses, SGA members will strive to turn those priorities into action.
~ Mia Dinunzio `28
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