Letter to the Editor

SGA.Do WorkThe following article does not necessarily represent the views of members of The Rotunda editorial board.

Disclaimer: I am an involved student on campus and I am about to voice many frustrations and concerns that I feel a good amount of the student body also have. I am in no way implying that I am speaking for the entire student body.

Dear SGA,

Have you forgotten what the "S" stands for? Let me remind you...STUDENT! I was under the impression that your role as SGA was to serve your fellow students, listen to our concerns and help meet our needs. I have heard of numerous clubs and organizations that go in front of you to ask for funding and are denied regularly. How are you serving us? How are you supporting the interests of the entire student body by not granting these funds? Lancer Productions puts on great programs on a regular basis because they are given a large amount of money, which allow these programs to be possible. I love LP and what they do for the students but they do not get a consistent turnout to make their budget worthy of what it is.

On the other hand, in the last issue of The Rotunda there was an article that said SGA denied APO, the co-ed service fraternity, funds to attend a national conference because they have "private rituals." Really? Two thoughts about that: 1. If the president and vice president of SGA are "WORKING" on creating a new bylaw that would restrict giving funds to closed organizations with private rituals (which, the article in last week's Rotunda says that they are doing just this), and that bylaw is NOT CURRENTLY in place, how can you deny funds for that reason? That bylaw does not exist; therefore, you cannot deny funds on that basis. 2. Why does it matter if they have "private rituals" if that organization is made up of Longwood students? If they have legit reasons for needing the funding and are not asking for outrageous items, why not support them??

Rumor has it that SGA has not used all of their budget for many years in order to donate the remaining funds back to the school in order to make themselves look good. I don't know if this is just a rumor, but if it is true, clubs and organizations are not benefiting from this "gesture." Clubs and organizations that did not have to charge in the past now must charge their members fees and dues in order to make up for the funding that SGA has denied them.

SGA, you are incredibly stingy with your money; especially when an organization that the board is not involved in or have connections to is in front of you. I have gone in front of SGA on a couple of occasions and was surprised at how negative some of the board members are towards those standing in front of them or towards what the individuals are asking for. People are scared to go in front of you for these reasons. SGA should not be an organization students do not want to approach, but rather a welcoming group that wants to assist in what ways they can in order to support the students. I have been lucky to have known a few of the members present on the board when I have gone and, therefore, received the funding my club/organization needed. I have seen others that have not been as fortunate.

You are an organization that is supposed to represent the entire student body, but it shocks me to see a board largely comprised of individuals from the Greek community, mainly consisting of Alpha Delta Pi's and Theta Chi's. How is this representative of the entire student body? It would be different if the board consisted of these individuals and they were still diplomatic in their decisions and understanding of all students; however, this is not the case.

You are only talking about issues that you are concerned about. Saying that "students don't approach us" is not a valid response considering you scare/intimidate a good amount of people. Go out and ask students what their concerns are. You and your brothers/sisters are not the only ones that you should be representing. I am in no way saying that it is bad/wrong that you are involved in the Greek community on campus; I just think you need to ask/listen to the concerns of others on this campus as well.

Another concern of mine is that you are not following your own Constitution. Your Constitution states under Article IV, Section 1.A.u. that the Judicial Board Chairperson is disqualified from sitting on the Student Senate. Senator Jordan Miles clearly serves on this board and is an incredibly vocal representative of SGA, as well as a Judicial Board Chair...please explain how it is ethical for this to occur. If it were any other organization that contradicted their constitution in such a way, you would deny their funding until they righted the wrong. Can we deny your funding, or at least some of your powers? This seems highly hypocritical to me. Perhaps you should mind your own P's and Q's before minding everyone else's.

SGA, you need to stop talking poorly about other clubs and organizations. On numerous occasions I have overheard members of SGA (1. because I know them and 2. because they were wearing their polos) talking bad about student groups. How is this appropriate? You do not have to agree with every club or organization on this campus, but it is your job to recognize and support (in public) each club and organization that has gone through the proper procedures to become recognized by the University. Get off of your pedestal and act professional.

You should feel guilty putting this on your resume until you start changing things. I'm sick of hearing SGA is so great...PROVE IT and do what is expected of you!

Sincerely,
A member of the student body you are NOT governing properly.