Elon University’s SGA to implement suggestion boxes on campus, look to make an impact in the spring

Elon University’s Student Government Association had an eventful fall semester following the implementation of a new funding model, freshman elections and an atypical town hall. 

The funding model organizations use to request money from SGA was changed last spring to a quarterly system. This new system prioritized on-campus events and does not cover non-essential food and supplies. Many organizations had to adjust to having a more structured funding system, as well as one that placed larger limitations on what would be funded than in previous years. 

Vice President of Communications for SGA Kennedy Steiner said SGA has held information sessions to educate club presidents on how to apply and receive funding. She also highlighted the efforts of Vice President of Finance Ian Brecker to meet with organizations individually to explain the funding model. 

“Change is change,” Steiner said. “People don't always love change, but I think for the future, I think this could be really good, people asking, maybe why something didn't get funded, and just making sure everything was as equitable as possible for organizations.” 

SGA swore in new freshman senators on Sept. 18. Steiner said right after being sworn in freshmen take part in the SGA retreat, which helps them become familiar with other senators and the proceedings of SGA. She said freshmen senators have already written legislation that has been passed. The legislation creates suggestion boxes students can use to be heard by SGA.

“It will be like just suggestion boxes, where we will be checking them so that we can make sure that they get to where they need to go, just trying to, again, get another way for the student body's voice to be heard and voice their concerns,” Steiner said. 

Besides legislation for suggestion boxes, SGA has also passed legislation recognizing pedestrian safety month and safe practices when traveling around campus. 

Throughout the semester SGA has interacted with senior faculty and staff, with the fireside chat they hosted with President Connie Book and Vice President of Student Jon Dooley and the senior staff dinner. During these events, SGA is able to bring concerns and questions students have to staff. 

SGA’s executive council was invited to a board of trustees meeting that also included the student government executive council from Queens University amid the merger with Queens. 

“That was really great to hear from students from Queens to know what their student body was thinking, but from the conversation we had with them, they were really excited,” Steiner said. 

SGA also hosted their fall town hall. Steiner said this event was different then previous years because of the emphasis on a conversation centered event and the inclusion of local nonprofit organizations and business leaders. The town hall had over 80 attendees who were able to listen to a panel discussion led by Crossroads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center and the Gender & LGBTQIA Center. After the panel students were able to move to different tables to speak to members of the community. 

Steiner does not help with the planning of the town hall events but said the spring town hall may look similar to previous town halls that were mainly panel discussions. 

Steiner said in the future SGA wants to continue being present and recognizable on campus. They have already implemented new initiatives for students to be aware of who represents them on campus such as Anya’s Top 5; a social media series where SGA executive president Anya Bratić spotlights five resources or events on campus. SGA has also started making recap videos for social media where a senator summarizes what happened during a business meeting. 

Steiner said she hopes these videos will help gain more input from the student body and encourage students to get involved in SGA. 

“Any momentum we've built this semester, that ends up getting the word out, and hopefully people are like, ‘oh, I want to be involved in that,’ because we really get the opportunity to do a lot of awesome stuff with the school and with students,” Steiner said. “It would be great to be able to continue doing that, but we only can continue doing it with students involved.”