Student Government at USAO

The USAO student body has the opportunity to be involved with two organizations that were created to better campus life. Student Government Association (SGA), and the Student Activities Board (SAB). The two organizations were formed in order to give the students a voice on campus. 

The SGA and SAB are both funded by student fees and serve the campus in two different capacities. The SGA legislates bills to improve campus, and the SAB organizes events to make students time on campus more enjoyable. Students are automatically members of both organizations, and simply have to show up to meetings in order to participate. 

Mike Coponiti, the Vice-President for Business and finance, said “I encourage SGA and SAB to use the fees budgeted to them each year, the year they are budgeted. That way, students who pay the fees will receive the benefit of those fees.” Coponiti said that while the organizations are funded through those fees, they can request supplemental funds from the Culture and Recreation committee. Those funds are generally utilized for large events like droverstock. 

Kaycee Ward, a junior biology major and president of the SAB, encourages students to be active in one or both of these organizations. 

“I found something I was passionate about, and it was also an escape from schoolwork.” she said, “While it can be stressful some, I can still have a good time. I also enjoy meeting new people, and this is a great opportunity for that.” Ward explains that the main goal of SAB is to give students a break from school, help them make new friends, and have a fun time. SAB is responsible for the planning of Welcome Week, Homecoming, Droverstock, the annual ice cream social, and monthly events like the Flannels & Fireside. 

The SAB holds general meetings every other Thursday at 7pm, over zoom. The link can be found online, or by emailing SAB at usao-sab@usao.edu.

 Korbyn Peebles, a senior history major and president of the SGA, would like students to be aware of the opportunity presented by the SGA.

 “The biggest benefit of SGA is its power to represent students and evoke the change they want to the university,” he said “As students, we have far more power than we might know, and if we pull our efforts together into a unified voice, I believe we can advocate for positive development across the university and see it out.” Peebles also said that students can be involved both directly and indirectly. One can be directly involved by becoming a voting senator, executive member or joining one of our committees. Students who are more timid might be intimidated at first and may feel more comfortable with more indirect engagement, like attending public meetings as a visitor. SGA has been involved in offering more vegan alternatives in the cafeteria, supplying recycle bins around campus, supporting Black Lives Matter, and funding scholarships for undocumented students at USAO.

The SGA meets every Thursday from 11:05-12:05 in the Davis Amphitheater (224), and can be contacted through email, usao-sga@usao.edu. 

Written for The Trend, October 2020