By Blake Grapperhaus
The Scene staff
All Forest Park students have opinions about what should be done differently on campus, but many don’t realize that there’s an organization whose main purpose is to represent their viewpoints.
The Forest Park Student Government Association is guided by an Executive Committee that works to resolve problems and serves as a liaison to St. Louis Community College administrators.
They’re inviting fellow students to tell them what they think about everything from facilities to activities to clubs and organizations.
“What we often see is students (who) have a very valid concern, but they’re going to the wrong person about it,” said Calvin Carson, an Executive Committee member who also is director of communications and chair of the Public Relations and Assessment Committee.
Historically, each STLCC campus had its own SGA with members elected by students. A few years ago, the college went to a districtwide SGA with appointed members.
Now the college is returning to SGAs on each campus, and starting in the spring or fall, members will be elected again.
“The whole theme of this school year is rebuilding stability and a foundation,” said Jo Gayle, chief diversity officer for the PR&A Committee.
The president of the Forest Park SGA Executive Committee is Logan Canaday. The SGA adviser is Donivan Foster, an STLCC employee who manages the Campus Life office. He appointed current SGA members to serve during the transition from appointed to elected members.
The other Executive Committee members are Oliver Nicishatse, vice president; Cheikh Diop, treasurer; Nate Davis, secretary; and Carson, who also is a reporter for The Scene.
Committee members are in the process of rewriting the SGA’s constitution.
One of the changes is that the Executive Committee will be able to remove presidents of clubs and organizations if two thirds of the other members of those clubs and organizations request it.
“It’s a way to handle club disputes on a student level instead of an administrator level,” Carson said.
Beyond the Executive Committee and PR&A Committee, the SGA also includes a General Assembly consisting of all presidents of clubs and organizations.
Much of the feedback that SGA receives comes from leaders of clubs and organizations. But the Executive Committee and PR&A Committee want to expand that to include all students.
“Speak up,” Carson said. “When we get student feedback, that allows us to identify what there’s a need for.”
Students can get updates on SGA activity by going to the Campus Life office and picking up documents known as SGA Meeting Public Releases. This could be helpful for those who are thinking about running for SGA.
Candidates will need to campaign and prove to the student body that they’re qualified and capable of representing student interests.
“We’re the assistants to the student body,” Gayle said. “We’re here to assist with anything that an individual student wants to say, or if a particular club wants support, in various different ways.”