As the new SGA executive officers prepare to take office, their predecessors are winding down their terms.
One year ago, Logan Powell, Olabode Anise and Richmond Gunter campaigned on separate platforms.
In his platform, Logan Powell, SGA president and senior in political science, said he wanted to improve campus transportation.
"We tried to improve the structure of that system, and I feel like we did that," Powell said. "It was hard for people to get adjusted to it right away. Participation is up, and we feel like that is reflective that people are using the system like they are supposed to."
Powell said he also wanted to improve on-campus dining by doing away with some of the less popular dining options.
That part of his platform took care of itself, according to Powell.
"We actually don't have to replace any restaurant because there's a new facility coming to campus that will be right outside the library on Mell Street," Powell said.
When he began his presidency, Powell said he hoped to make teacher evaluations available for students to see.
Powell said he wishes he had been able to accomplish that, but being SGA president is about prioritizing.
"That's one of those things that kind of fell to the wayside," Powell said. "When you come into office, you kind of have to evaluate what your top priorities are. One of the difficulties was making those records public, and we didn't really know about that when we came into office. We kind of pushed that one down and never really got around to accomplishing that, so there's a little bit of regret there."
Powell also said he wanted to charter a bus to and from an away football game during his presidency.
Transportation to a game will likely be available next football season, according to Powell.
"We were trying to shoot for the Georgia game," Powell said. "Once we got into it, we really started to realize how understandably difficult it is to work with other schools' athletic departments. We hope this will be accomplished next year because a lot of groundwork has been laid."
Powell also said he is proud of Auburn Answers, SGA's student feedback system.
"I think having that student voice will be really beneficial to SGA officers in the future," Powell said.
Powell said he has some words of advice for his successor, Walker Byrd.
"It's a hard year, but it's also a really fun and memorable year," Powell said. "You grow in so many ways you never would've thought. Be passionate about it and put students first."
Olabode Anise, SGA vice president and senior in computer science, said he wanted to ensure senators are working to their full potential.
"One of my biggest points was in-college office hours," Anise said. "That's really the senators' time to communicate with their constituents. The way it's set up is they serve two hours a week."
Anise said he is proud of the outcome.
"They're doing a great job," Anise said. "I can definitely see from some of the legislation that's been passed, people are actually engaging."
Anise said he also wanted to make exam week less stressful for students.
"That has definitely been a hot topic," Anise said. "We all know how it can be toward the end of the semester and having tests that Thursday and Friday and not having a lot of time to prepare."
Anise said this topic will be discussed at a future meeting and will not take effect until at least 2017.
"I'm excited to have our next meeting so we can see what will come of this," Anise said. "Even though it won't get implemented for another few years, those students will be really appreciative."
According to Anise, he owes part of his success to his SGA team members.
"We had these goals, but we wouldn't have been able to accomplish them without a great team," Anise said.
When he campaigned, Richmond Gunter, SGA treasurer and senior in finance, said he wanted to raise Miss Auburn's budget.
Gunter said he was able to increase Miss Auburn's budget of $1,000 to $2,000.
"By giving Miss Auburn that $2,000, we are able to make sure Miss Auburn is able to continue impacting this community and campus in the tremendous way she always has," Gunter said.
Gunter said although Miss Auburn's budget was increased, the overall SGA budget has been cut by 3 percent since he took office.
According to Gunter, the SGA budget was the only student activity portfolio budget reduced this year.
"A general theme of my platform was spending money in a way that empowers the student body," Gunter said. "We really looked for ways we could eliminate wasteful spending."
Gunter said future SGA officers should hold themselves accountable to students.
"The most important group you can advocate for is the student body," Gunter said. "I think we have the greatest student body in the country."
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