In his column “The SGA: Real leadership wanted,” Malcolm Harris makes serious accusations that the SGA has failed to represent the interests of the student body and simply looks for politically expedient solutions to students’ problems.

While it may be easy to fall into clichéd college contempt for all things political, the truth of the matter is the Student Government Association has and continues to work diligently on behalf of the student body. Activities such as lobbying Annapolis, voter registration and safety awareness may seem trivial to Harris, but freezing tuition, increasing student representation in the state and keeping students safe are far from “pothole fixing.” These are real issues that affect students in real ways.

Solutions require a combination of mobilizing students and working behind the scenes. Harris criticizes the SGA for its role in the campaign to keep late-night study at McKeldin Library as “a fluke,” yet the campaign represents a perfect partnership of organizing the student voice while working with deans and administrators to preserve the service. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive, but rather can work together to achieve the student interest.

Any good advocate knows that the most effective way to achieve results is building relationships based on respect and trust. Burning bridges for the sake of watching them burn will get student leaders nowhere with administrators and officials. Harris claims what is required is a “combative SGA.” This logic only alienates students from the people we try to influence. Too often we assume that all faculty members, administrators, delegates and senators are automatically our enemies, but the truth is there is much we can achieve by extending a hand rather than slapping one away. Harris argues the SGA does not find out about enough issues on the campus, but opening up channels of communication with administration rather than isolating ourselves is the way to improve on that problem. For example, one simple call from SGA President Jonathan Sachs to Department of Transportation Services Director David Allen allowed all students access to the University View commuter bus shuttle that had just a week before been restricted to University View residents for a number of its runs.

With that said, there is a time and a place to resort to more drastic action. For example, this spring, the SGA will be organizing thousands of students from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences to protest the consistent lack of funding that has plagued the college for the past 15 years. Earlier this year, the SGA joined a coalition of student groups standing against administrators to fight for the Campus Drive alignment of the Purple Line.

The point, however, is not to resort to the nuclear option before reaching out through peaceful means. As representatives of the student body, the SGA is charged with handling itself in a demeanor that is reflective of students at the university. We are college students who often find ourselves working in a professional world quite foreign to us. While screaming for blood may attract more headlines, to be taken seriously we must show respect to those we demand it from.

Matthew Lyons is the SGA Speaker of the Legislature. He can be reached at mlyons123187@gmail.com.