SVCC student government needs you

By Ethan Ainley, staff reporter

The Student Government Association (SGA) has had difficulty getting SVCC students motivated to run for crucial officer positions this year.

SGA advisor, Ana Salgado, decided to extend the deadline to apply when the original one ended and there were not enough candidates. 

This isn’t the first time SGA has had to do provide an extension. Salgado says, “In the past, we’ve only had to extend it once and then we get enough applicants.”

If there are still not enough applicants after the new deadline there is currently no plan other than “to extend it [the deadline] again.”

“I know students have been struggling with their own time management,” says Salgado. “It’s just a difficult time, I know. I’ve noticed a lot of students are not even checking their emails.”

Ana Salgado believes the reason why it has been difficult getting students to apply is that “students are working more hours. Some students are not taking as many [credit] hours.” 

Another large obstacle has been the virtual wall between student and school. “Whenever we were at Sauk, in person, it was so much easier because we would set up a table and encourage students to read the information and apply.” In her words, “That personal contact makes a huge difference.”

According to Vice President Jon Mandrell, student involvement on campus is important and plays a large part in a student having the “full Sauk experience.” 

“SVCC is a students-first college…” and a large part of that methodology is students participating in government or leadership roles. 

Dr. Mandrell says, “The college journey is rich with new relationships, growing as a person, and new levels of engagement.”

In Dr. Mandrell’s opinion, SGA and its officers provide “the most essential function of the college, which is listening to students and responding to their needs.”

Current SGA President, Anah Chamberlain, shares her experience with being a part of student government. 

Chamberlain wanted to give back to the campus community that has been supporting her education. “What better way to do that than become President of SGA and help to bring events to campus as well as help other student organizations along the way.”

As student government president, Anah Chamberlain has been able to be influential to student life. She says, “I was able to attend college-wide staff meetings and add student input into multiple opportunities coming to Sauk.”

Chamberlain recommends running for an SGA officer position to all SVCC students interested. “You make awesome friends in your fellow officers, as well as learning and growing on campus in ways that class just wouldn't be able to teach. You have so many new opportunities that open to you as an SGA officer,” she says.

The election for SGA officers will be held on April 26 & 27. It will take place through online voting in the form of a survey sent via email. SGA used this voting method previous to the pandemic and the process will therefore be unaffected.