Photo courtesy of SGAt

Left to right Maggie Wiegandt, Sue Feldman, Daniel Waits, Jeff Petry and Todameka Boudreaux.

Newly elected SGA officers prepare for upcoming year
by Michelle Drab
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

New Student Government Association officers have been elected and were inducted April 26.

The 2002-2003 executive council, which will begin meeting during summer 2002, includes: Jeff Petry, president; Todameka Boudreaux, vice president committee coordinator; Daniel Waits, vice president of student outreach and communication, and Maggie Wiegandt, recording secretary.

SGA serves three primary purposes. The first is to provide student input to UH-Clear Lake administration. The second is to elect or appoint students to UH-Clear Lake committees involved in the shared governance proc-ess. Finally, SGA allocates funds to student organizations.

This year, in hopes of being elected, candidates increased their visibility on campus.

"Professional campaigning was held for the first time on campus," said Sue Fellman, student life coordinator.

"Campaigning raised the level of what the executive council is," said outgoing SGA president Kimberly Barfield.

"I had tough competition when running for recording secretary, so I decided that campaigning would be the best tool for people to know who I am," said Wiegandt, who ran on a dual ticket with Petry. "We both thought that two heads always work better than one, and we decided to campaign together. Lucky for us, but unfortunate to others, we were the only ones that hung flyers around the campus. People had already seen the flyers and knew that being part of the executive council was very important to us."

SGA does not have the history of the association on paper, so one of the projects for the upcoming council is to write the SGA history from the beginning. The new council hopes this will help students realize what SGA has brought to this university, who has been a part of it, and what an influence it has become for both administration and students.

"I really feel that we are going to be able to make some really good changes or even push for some important causes that the students at UH-Clear Lake have had problems with," Waits said. "We are looking forward to serving the university and students at UHCL."

Council members are meeting with new constituents.

"Some of the students have already been approached by other students with problems on campus," Fellman said.

"The new council coming in are emerging people with a new outlook to build on the past," said Barfield, whose council also strongly believed in strengthening ties with alumni.

"This year we worked very hard alongside of Dr. [William] Staples to bring in distinguished alumni to speak at events or meetings. We also tried to make an annual homecoming for past executive councils, dating back to 1978, to get input on what we can do for the students who will be graduating. This year we invited them to the inaugural student government leadership reunion. Our main goal is to let students know that they do have a stake in this school."

SGA began in 1978, a few years after the school was built in 1974. It is composed of internally chosen representatives from approximately 70 student organizations on campus. Representation in SGA is not obligatory for each organization. However, to be eligible for funding from SGA, an organization must designate an SGA representative to attend SGA meetings.

The new council will meet May 7 to plan agendas for the upcoming year. The first official summer meeting will be held June 11. Other meetings are scheduled for July 9 and August 6.

SGA committee members were recognized and given awards at the Student Life Banquet held at Bay Oaks Country Club, April 26.