Two weeks into the new Student Government Association term, the SGA executive officers said they have their focus on one large goal: obtaining student feedback.
Although the new executive officers have been in office for only two weeks, most of which was spent appointing other officers, they have their goals down on paper and are almost ready to begin discussing the plans to facilitate these goals over the next year.
The new executive committee, which includes the president, vice president, treasurer, executive vice president of initiatives, executive vice president of programming and chief of staff, has yet to meet with administrators, but has a vision for the future of the University, which is stated in their vision statement.
However, Logan Powell, SGA president and junior in political science, said he believes a strong SGA must begin by analyzing the SGA mission statement, which reads, 'Serving and promoting the individual student and unifying all that is Auburn.'
"That's one statement were going to look to throughout the year as we try and obtain our goals and, really, as we just serve in the positions," Powell said. "A lot of times, we have the tendency of four months from now to kind of be in a vacuum getting our stuff done, and we forget why we ran and what SGA is for, and so that has to bring us back to that base line."
Although that has been the mission statement for SGA for many years, Powell and the other executives said they are not going to brush it under the table, but are instead going to have it in the back of their minds at all times during the SGA year.
The six-person committee is hoping the mission statement will keep them focused on getting student feedback and said they believe each of them represent a different side of the University.
"Most of us come from different sections of the campus that we have represented during our time here," said Olabode Anise, SGA vice president and junior in computer science. "The main goal is making sure that we voice the concerns of them and making sure every group's voice is heard."
With an independent representative, a Greek Life representative and a Black Student Union representative in the mix of the six, Powell said he believes the University will be represented well as a whole.
"You have to go beyond that because it's only six people, but as a whole, I believe we will represent the campus well," Powell said.
All six of the executive officers have previous experience in SGA, which they said should assist in the easing of the transitioning between executive committees.
Jackson Pruett, SGA executive vice president of initiatives and senior in political science, said he believes the previous experience will help the executive officers have some knowledge of important student issues.
"It's a decent knowledge of what issues I think students are facing right now and a willingness to work hard and accomplish the goals that are going to make those students experiences better," Pruett said. "I think that's something SGA does a good job of and could always do a better job of."
Richmond Gunter, SGA treasurer and junior in finance, said he has a firm grasp on what issues students find important.
Gunter said his focus will be on spending SGA funds in an accountable manner.
"I want students to feel confident that their money is being spent in a way that's fair and accountable," Gunter said. "When you are trying to solicit feedback, it's important for you to articulate what your vision is and what you are doing, especially with our purchases or different ideas we are going to be implementing."
Taylor Akers, SGA chief of staff and junior in communications, will be assisting the director of student feedback.
Her background has both SGA experience and other organizational experience.
Although the new term started two weeks ago, Powell said he has done everything in his power to get the wheels rolling in the direction to give power to the students.
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