Being a member of the Student Government Association at Colgate University is thought of as important, but no one really knows why. We see the campaigns for senators each year, mapping out what changes they want to make at Colgate and how they'll better represent our grade. We read (or skim or completely ignore) the platforms that candidates put out and we see their Facebook posts in our class pages. In the end, we vote for our friends and the nice kid that was in our Legacies class that one semester.

Once senators are elected, we release them into the mysterious world that is "SGA" and never hear from them again. We know that they're doing something, we're just not sure as to what that something is.

As the new Recording Secretary of SGA, I entered Senate not knowing anything about its procedures, goals, or results. This article shows a little of what I've learned in my first few weeks.

The Dress Code

After getting the position, I went to my first senate meeting in 27 Persson Hall, 7 p.m. sharp. I walked in wearing dark jeans, a sweater, and some boots while hauling my backpack. The next person to walk in was wearing a blazer. The person after that was wearing pink pants and a purple polo. One girl wore a fur jacket, a skirt, and a cute black purse.

"Am I out of dress code?" I asked.
"Oh, no, don't worry. We passed a bill last year saying that dark jeans were OK."

Dark jeans need a bill?

The Lingo

As the meeting started, people began to check in for attendance. There were more than 40 people in attendance.

"Hi, I'm going to proxy for Maggie this week."

What's a proxy? Is that a verb or a noun? I'll just nod and pretend that I know what's going on.

I later learned that "proxies" take the vote of another senate member when they're not in attendance. This is especially important when a vote is split.

The Formalities

Call to Order: “The regular weekly meeting of the Senate of the Student Government Association is now in session.”

The Senate used Robert's Rules of Orders.

With that statement, the room grew quiet. The meeting began in a regimented way. Speakers took the floor in front of the rest of senate to explain what they had been working on since the last meeting. When they had questions, senators raised their hands and waited to be called on. They stated their name and their question concisely.

To get more information on a topic, from approving clubs to approving sweaters, senators would ask questions to people presenting. They'd argue in a passive way, speaking their minds and correcting errors of other senators.

To vote on something, a senator first needed to "motion to vote," someone else needed to second their motion, and the majority of the room needed to approve the motion. Then, the room would vote, approving, opposing, or abstaining.

The winning vote had the final say.

The Committees

Academic Affairs Committee: "The board’s responsibilities include long-range academic planning, the curriculum, the definition of academic integrity, academic advising, registration, academic calendars, graduation requirements, the granting of credits, and other matters directly related to the academic functions of the university."

These are the people that decide our academic fate, from registration to courses and major requirements.

Student Affairs Committee: "The board’s responsibilities include student services and activities, residences, student conduct and procedures for discipline, and other matters directly related to the extracurricular life of students of the university."

These are the people that affect life outside of academics. They look at housing, discipline, activities, and all other aspects of campus life.

Student Organizational Committee: "A Committee shall work with current and prospective groups and task forces on campus to get approval and funding."

These are the people that get a first look at clubs and approving them.

Government Affairs Committee: "A Committee shall review and advise on resolutions, amendments, and bylaws coming before the Senate, and shall continually review the bylaws and workings of the Senate, the Budget Allocations Committee, and the Executive, as well as the elections procedures."

These are the people that decide how class elections for president and vice president work. They also review senate's proceedings, reviewing even the smallest issues so people like me wear dark jeans to senate instead of khakis.

External Affairs Committee: "Committee shall discuss and resolve issues that relate to village businesses and residents, including off-campus students. They shall be informed of and make recommendations to the Association on issues involving the neighboring community, and shall organize events and services which will facilitate and maintain positive relations between the University and the neighboring community."

These are the people that work to connect Colgate to Hamilton and the wider world.

The Issues

At Colgate, if you want to make a club, you're allowed to. Unless, the senate does not approve it.

Every new club on campus needs signatures from classmates and to present their club in front of the senate. The club needs to create something new on campus, be inclusive to everyone, and have a need for funding. Deciding which clubs deserved funding wasn't easy, either. Senators decided for the entire school what was worthy of CLSI recognition for a club (the key to funded supplies, events, speakers, and travel).

Besides clubs, senators hear from professors, deans, the registrar's office, and many other people on campus about changes coming through Colgate.

If registration times change, the senate will know about it first. If torchlight changes, senate will know about it first. If summer storage changes, as it recently did, senate will know about it, talk to administration about it, and try to create solutions to problems that affect the majority of students at the school.

Senate's role matters.

Through reading this article, I hope that Colgate students finally get some of the transparency that they have been looking for from their student government.

Senators have a prominent role in how Colgate operates and how Colgate changes. Talk to your senators about the issues and make sure your voice is heard.