Often, I am asked “what does the Student Government Association do?” It’s a question I struggle to answer quickly or concisely because as a group we do many meaningful things every day. The core purpose of our organization is to advocate for our fellow classmates. We are the megaphone that amplifies every student’s voice — but we need students like you to help us reach our goals.
I started my time in the SGA as a freshman serving as a member of the finance committee. I found the time I spent there to be incredibly valuable. It taught me the importance of allocating funds in a way that all students could pursue the activities they were passionate about through their respective student groups. After a semester on the finance committee, I became a legislative representative for the behavioral and social sciences college. It was there, on the legislature, that I had the chance to make real, lasting change. I got the feeling that I was a part of something much bigger than myself. Surrounded by other student representatives committed to making our campus a better place, I was both encouraged and humbled by the power and passion of the numerous students who cared.
As I watch our organization work to make students’ lives better, I am reminded of that feeling. Four short months into my presidency, with the help of my cabinet, we have come together with student groups to host a town hall event on student-police relations, coordinated a weekly clean-up of Old Town College Park in association with the Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council, organized voter registration drives for the upcoming presidential election, created a guide to student legal aid and so much more. I feel lucky to be a part of such a hardworking, passionate group of students.
The job of the entire SGA is to advocate on behalf of our student body and work to make real, lasting change that benefits the campus community as a whole. Should you choose to join us, you will represent thousands of student voices and act as a link between the student body and the university administration. Though these tasks may seem daunting, I can promise that this job — no matter how you choose to get involved — is a rewarding one.
So, to back to the million-dollar question: what does the SGA do? I encourage you all to find out and I’m sure you won’t regret it! Visit ter.ps/applysga today.
Katherine Swanson, student body president of the SGA, is a senior government and politics major. She can be reached at kswanson@terpmail.umd.edu.
