Guest column: Semester in review

With finals just around the corner, now is a good time to reflect on this semester’s accomplishments, both inside and outside the classroom. The SGA would also like to reflect on its achievements. 
This semester, the Student Government Association was a leader among university system schools and played a crucial role in the Board of Regents’ recent decision not to institute a restrictive policy for on-campus entertainment events. The SGA mobilized students to voice their opinion on this important issue at a forum in October, the effect of which was magnified by regional and national media coverage. This free speech forum not only demonstrated student opposition to any policy, but it showed decision makers that students are important stakeholders in the discussion and should have a seat at the table. 

The SGA also mobilized hundreds of students to register to vote in this year’s College Park City Council election. Along with UMD for Clean Energy, the SGA organized a get-out-the-vote effort and distributed informational pamphlets to educate student voters. Our efforts led to a high student voter turnout and resulted in the election of a student-friendly council, including a full-time student.

Safety was also a top priority, and through our first-ever Off-Campus Safety Walk, we brought together stakeholders to focus on areas often forgotten. On a university-wide level, we expanded our annual On-Campus Safety Walk and worked hand-in-hand with university decision makers to address safety concerns. We have already seen improvements through the Department of Public Safety’s efforts to reconnect broken blue light phones and improve lighting.

The SGA has also continued to be a leader in environmental sustainability efforts.  Partly due to our campaign to educate students about sustainability, the university was awarded the title of America’s Greenest Campus and $5,000 for future environmental initiatives. The SGA also executed the university’s first large-scale zero-waste event with its fourth annual Crab Fest, which set the precedent for future sustainable on-campus events.

Through legislative initiatives and increased outreach to the student body, the SGA expanded its presence and influence throughout the university. To benefit the students who live outside the central part of the campus, the SGA planned and funded the future bus shelter in the Leonardtown community and significantly expanded its monthly Good Morning Commuters breakfast program.

The inaugural SGA Speaker Series, which will be continued next semester, allowed students, faculty and community members the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of leaders in the fields of business, environment and agriculture.

The SGA facilitated networking opportunities between student groups through the first-ever student group box at football games. The SGA, in partnership with Stamp Student Union, also hosted a student group mixer to mark the opening of the Student Group Organization Resource Room. The room contains meeting space, computers and other useful resources to help students run successful campus organizations.

With the administration making increasingly tough decisions about the distribution of funds, it is imperative students have a say in the university’s administrative decisions and continue to push for increased transparency. Next semester, the SGA will complete an audit of student representation at the university to identify where we are being effectively represented and where representation needs to improve. The SGA also took the lead and posted the university’s budget online, which was the first time this document had ever been widely distributed and made easily accessible. This gave students the ability to become informed and know how our money is spent.

As we look forward to next semester, we want your input and your ideas. Where can the SGA improve? Where can the university improve? We are here to represent your voice — now’s the time to use it. 

SGA President Steve Glickman submitted this column on behalf of the Student Government Association, which can be reached at SGACommunications at gmail dot com.