SGA President’s Column:Why the SGA has been silent by Harold C. Callaway III

By Online Editor

Harold C. Callaway III and Jennifer Kohler ran for SGA President and Vice-President to put a structure in place that will bring vitality back to the organization.  Our Executive Board includes nine very determined student leaders: Dave Shutt, Director of Finance; Lexie Humphrey, Director of Communications; Nick Lanter, Director of Student Relations; Cortney Keller, Elections Commissioner; Kayla Wymore, RC President; Jasmine Wilson, WAC President; and Skye Callaway, Gene Ryals, Lolita Murphy as Homecoming Chairs.

Our Current Senators include:  Harold McClellan, Chair of Philanthropy & Civic Service; Lolita Murphy, Ron Dickerson, Chair of Governmental Affairs; Josh Todd, Alyssa Ostrander, Stephen Parr, Brian Turner, Kaari Owens, Leonard Lawson, Paul Frazier and Darryl Boswell.  We still have a few open seats for students that are willing to work hard and have a desire to lead. We meet Mondays at 5 p.m. in Blum 220.     

As a team we have begun fixing the problems from the past SGA administration and their lack of attention to detail; we have aggressively pursued the following issues:  we have sought the help of Michelle Ritter to develop a highly effective SGA website that will launch soon (promotions will follow in the coming weeks);  we have outlined an efficient transition process for the Presidents;  we have constructed, with the help of the Senate, legislative sessions that foster promotion and growth of the members of the student body: resolutions, bills, amendments and ballot measures are now commonly passed.  As senate we have only met four times and passed 28 pieces of legislation just in the Fall semester.  As an organization we have formalized all forms and applications.  We have developed, with the coordination of Mark Mabe and IT, secure server space centralizing all electronic files of SGA that will aid future SGA administrations in their success.  A final process is quickly approaching regarding funding procedures for individuals and student organizations. Dave Shutt has done an amazing job in this area and will continue to make the necessary adjustments.  We are bring one thing back from the past and that is getting all the presidents of all the clubs and organizations together so we all know the opportunities for funding and issues we are all dealing with, in and out of the classroom.  Then we can begin writing specific legislation aimed  toward fixing our issues. 
The success of our plan is in three parts.  Spring 2008 was spent finding and analyzing problems through the value chain and SWAT analysis.  Fall 2008 has been developing solutions and fixing key problems.  Spring 2009 will be for transition in new leadership and unveiling SGA’s hard work.  The upcoming administration will need to consider the following when developing their plan of action: a Graduate Council becoming a branch of SGA, developing a five year strategic plan for SGA and the Union. A student fee structure that pursues beneficial ideas like expansion of Baker Fitness Center or development of a new facility, issues of the student health center, continuous facilities/classroom technology improvements, professor’s equality payment and retention/ hiring of new faculty.  Consider taking on faculty evaluations.  The last item is petitioning the new Gov. Jay Nixon and state legislators for the need of higher education funding and its importance to Missourians future.