Seemingly in response to the opinion piece attacking SGA last week in the Red and Black, SGA President Katy Bowers has an opinion piece today entitled “SGA requests opinions of all”.
I have quite a few comments about her opinions, so I am going to post my responses line by line.
Creating change in a community of 34,959 students is no easy task, but it is the job of the Student Government Association to work every day towards the ideal university setting here in Athens.
Come on, “work every day towards the ideal university setting”??? How about representing students? Isn’t that what you are elected to do?
This past semester, SGA successfully advocated on behalf of students to achieve many significant improvements in campus life.
Funny.
Sometimes we, myself in particular, get so excited a change is occurring that we forget to tell everyone what role we played in the initiative.
Ha, does any one actually believe that? SGA touts everything to make themselves look important, including the accomplishments of other people and organizations.
Here are things the Student Government Association successfully advocated for last year.
As you may have noticed, beginning this fall, the University no longer will utilize Social Security numbers in the classroom due to the security risks that distribution of this sensitive information posed to students.
Now that you fixed the little problem with Social Security numbers, why don’t you fix the big problem where people might actually have their important information stolen? This is where the problem is SGA, when you have to sign on to OASIS using your Social Security number.
The Collegiate Readership Program, first implemented last fall, continues to provide national and local newspapers to all University students on a daily basis.
Make sure you tout this one some more, Ms. Bowers, since you predecessor put this program in place and you have done nothing for the program.
In order to place student safety above punitive measures in all aspects of University life, the Responsible Action Policy was implemented in May to ensure students seek medical attention for their peers without hesitation.
Umm, excuse me, when did this happen? Why haven’t you told students? This should have been a major score for students, and yet it is buried in your list of accomplishments. And why don’t you explain this policy some more. Do underagers who call for medical attention for others get no punishment, or is it the one in need of medical attention gets no punishment? You need to explain this, and then get out and tell every person on campus, so something like this doesn’t happen again.
We have advocated successfully for increased wireless access in classrooms - which can be utilized to learn about the distribution of grades in University courses by viewing the Key, which has been compiled by SGA and posted on our Web site.
Now, you say you’ve “advocated successfully for increased wireless access in classrooms”, can you tell me which classrooms have increased wireless access? I would like to know, because otherwise I don’t believe you.
As for the issue of The Key, I know you read this last week.
In a few weeks, the University will launch Ruckus, a legal media downloading program that will be accessible to all University students, free of charge.
Damn you people. Do you not know that anyone with an EDU email address can access for free anyways? Yeah, you can. So is UGA paying for this? I would hate for them to pay for something that is free for all college students already. I know this is Rodney Bennett’s pet project, but maybe someone needs to take a broader look and see if UGA should really sign an agreement with Ruckus dealing with a service that is already free to students.
We also have launched a Web site ourselves called GeorgiaStudentOpinion.com to connect all of the colleges and universities in the state.
When issues regarding HOPE scholarship, tuition and textbook prices are raised during future legislative sessions, we will be able to respond quickly in a unified manner.
Ummm, yeah, your site doesn’t really work. It requires a password to get in. Strangely enough, the username and password combination to get into the site is sga and sga. Let me tell you a little something about web lingo. When you say you launch a website, usually that means it is available to be of use to someone. But apparently nothing SGA does is of use to anyone.
With those tasks off our list, SGA still has a busy fall ahead of us. Issues on our agenda include:
• Opening the Student Learning Center 24 hours a day - which polls show is overwhelmingly supported by students - around 80 percent for those of you who like numbers.
Thank you. Any chance you can work on getting the libraries open 24/7 as well?
• Providing art classes for non-majors so all students have an opportunity to get a well-rounded education at the University.
Has anybody actually told SGA that they would like for this to happen? Just curious if this was a personal goal.
• Improving the advising process at orientation so freshmen will have the best possible start to their academic careers.
Ha, like this will actually happen.
• Posting the faculty evaluations each student completes at the end of a course online.
Won’t ever happen.
• Drafting and passing the Commitment to Academic Excellence - an agreement between students and faculty ensuring respect in the classroom is a two-way street.
What the heck is this? “Ensuring respect is a two-way street”? Some explanation please.
• Creating an interactive calendar for all student organizations, thereby making it easier to get plugged in on campus.
Oh cool! Like, we could put all the Greek events on this one calendar, and then like, we could all go to each others’ parties. Like, totally great idea.
• Expanding the on-campus venues that accept Bulldog Bucks (especially Sanford Stadium and Parking Services) and many other projects that will benefit the academic, social and cultural welfare of students here at the University.
“Many other projects that will benefit the academic, social and cultural welfare of students”. Excuse me, I just choked on my milk.
Please let us know what you think of these initiatives, what your issues are and anything on this campus that could be tweaked in order to make your stay in Athens the best time of your life.
We can’t cancel classes on Friday or change the drinking age to 18, but please let us know if you ever need anything else.
Ya know, if this are the kinda projects that students want you to work on, shouldn’t you be so inclined? I mean, you are elected to accomplish student goals. No classes on Friday!
To learn more about the issues above and others, please visit www.uga.edu/sga or join us on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in SLC room 101.
Feel free to contact Student Government Association anytime, through e-mail at www.ugasga@uga.edu or me personally at KABowers@uga.edu or by swinging by our office in Tate 169.
Remember, we’re here working for you. Make sure to let us know how you think we are doing.
- Kathryn Bowers is the president of SGA.
It is funny, usually these articles are penned by both the President and Vice President of SGA.
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The Ruckus thing really bugs me- I’ve already got 200+ songs downloaded via ruckus now and all it took was entering my email address. Why is UGA getting involved right now with it when it’s fine as it is?
Yep. Just signed up for Ruckus. No SGA required…
The University of Georgia is comprised of many unique and diverse individuals. Out of the 34,000 plus students who have the privilege of attending the wonderful institution, a select few are elected to the Student Government Association. Throughout the existence of the Student Government Association at the University of Georgia, there has always been a small majority of pupils who take time to criticize the organization. As elected student officials, it is important for SGA members to learn how to take criticism with a positive attitude. It is my understanding that this website, “Hatin’ SGA”, is intended to make SGA a better organization for the student body by exposing its flaws. Although few students really take an interest in this website, or any student run website including that of the Student Government Association, I do not disagree with the purpose behind “Hatin’ SGA”. So, if you’re a member or elected official of SGA, please read the stated material on this website with a smile. As elected student officials, it is your jobs to not only serve your peers (which is extremely noble by the way, since your not getting a paycheck), but to learn how to positively interpret judgment (good or bad). This comment is not intended to speak out against the “Hatin’ SGA” website, but merely to encourage those that are being judged to not give up!! If public service is a profession you wish to pursue, please remember that there are also those who pursue careers of criticizing you. As for Miss Bowers who was the topic of the latest post, I want to remind you that you and Miss Gibbons were elected by your peers to serve as the 2007-2008 Student Government Association representatives. It is my opinion that you are both doing fantastic jobs – so please keep it up. I leave you with this quote from Winston Churchill, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
Jeffrey, I appreciate your sentiments. I would like to let you on a few little secrets. The SGA President and Vice President are paid by the University. And, Ms. Gibbons is no longer Vice President of the SGA, she resigned at the beginning of August. Thank you for pointing out that criticism is necessary, as I believe most in SGA do not understand that, and refuse to work with myself or the average student.
Thank you for the necessary corrections you made concerning my last comment on your website. They have not fallen on deaf ears. As elected student officials at the University of Georgia, I was under the impression student representatives did not receive payment for their volunteer service. Could you please clarify exactly how much Miss Bowers receives on a monthly basis (not including compensation for lunch or campus parking passes).
As American citizens, we are granted the opportunity to publicly pass judgment on our peers. Critics have utilized this Constitutional right even before this country was a nation. With that being said, let us remember the words of Abraham Lincoln who mentioned, “Although he has a right to criticize, does he have the heart to help?” As a critic, always remember to offer your opinion on what you believe is the right course of action. It is one thing to bring to light what is wrong. It is an entirely different thing to add how these wrongs could be made right. If you have no will to change it, than you have no right to criticize it. This will give you much more credibility and I feel that more students will take an interest in the website. Upon doing that, hopefully more individuals will be willing to work with you.
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