Student Government Association or Swimmer Government Association?

            Instead of thinking about all of the important issues that University of the Cumberlands’ Student Government Association address for the student body to the administration, UC students often think of all of the swimmers who seem to run SGA. The student president, Grace Van Ryckeghem, senior biology and exercise sports science double major with a missions and ministry minor at UC and women’s swim team captain, encourages any student to join SGA.

“Others can just as much be involved,” said Van Ryckeghem. “We’re not excluding anyone. Everyone is welcome to join. We would love for our room to be packed every week and need a bigger room with more people in it. If you want to complain about it, then do something and join SGA.”

                                                                                  Lydia Huggins
Students studying in SGA office.

SGA has tried open membership to get more of the student body to get involved. Non-members are allowed to come to their every other Wednesday night meetings. Students can fill out an application (located in the SGA office located in the Mid Boswell Campus Center) and have students sign a petition who want the applicant to be a representative in SGA’s senate.

“SGA is the voice of the students,” said Lisa Bartram, director of student activities. “If students want change on campus or need something for a club they are in, they go to SGA.”

Recently, the archery team approached SGA about wanting to send members of their team to the University Championship Trials in Phoenix, Arizona, because they need help getting their members there. SGA is able to help other student organizations or sports teams because they are one of the few student organizations that gets a budget directly from UC. SGA doesn’t fundraise for their expenses, but help others with their funds.

                             Photo from the University of the Cumberlands.  
SGA provides Health and Wellness Center with couches.
    

The leather couches in the new Ward Correll Health and Wellness Center were provided by SGA to complete their pledge that they gave for the building project of the Health and Wellness Center. They also fund the recycling program and are considering getting new recycling bins.

At the beginning of the school year, SGA meets to discuss ways to improve student life at UC. Members of SGA as well as non-members are welcome to come to their meetings and present ideas. Dr. Emily Coleman, vice president for student services, asks them if they have any new ideas to improve campus. Last year, SGA helped to implement new open house hours. Most recently, they have taken proposals for a new meal plan to the administration who are now looking into a new ID system and infrastructure to do so. 

“This school is not perfect. No school is perfect. SGA is the place to come if you want to see something changed. If you just complain about it, but if you don’t take it to anybody, than how can anything change?” said Van Ryckeghem. “Even if you’re not a member, tell one of the members on SGA so we can bring it to the people who can look into that. Sometimes [the administration] just doesn’t know. They’re not students living on campus day to day the way we are. They don’t and can’t know everything.”

                                  Photo from University of the Cumberlands
SGA students walking in Relay for Life's opening ceremony. 

SGA does more than speak for the students; they also facilitate activities. Throughout the school year, SGA hosts annual study breaks with food for students to study or relax during finals week, provide students with a free movie, popcorn, and drink during spring fever and homecoming weeks, have a booth at Relay for Life, collect votes for an honored faculty member as well as homecoming king and queen, and have senate members on many committees throughout UC. Van Ryckeghem is currently on the committee for the QEP for the reaffirmation of the school.

“Really there’s a place for SGA pretty much everywhere in school,” said Van Ryckehem. “They really listen to our opinions.”

Aside from Van Ryckeghem, half of the executive board are not swimmers. SGA does their best to involve all of the students that are a part of SGA.

“The reason why I joined SGA is I wanted to earn community service hours at first,” said Yuko Baba, senior business and administration major with a minor in history at UC. “Before I joined SGA, I didn’t know what was going on in SGA. After I joined, I realized that SGA is really important for UC students. We can help UC students because we represent them.”

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