In some ways, as members of the Smith College community, we are part of a small business. Smith is an educational institution that tries to generate money in order to make more money–just look at the construction of Neilson.
We as students, contribute largely to the income of Smith College and therefore, have power.
My name is Bei Heald and I am current Vice President of Smith Government Association (SGA) and chair of the student senate.
As a senior, I am well aware of the bubble that we live and are trapped in.
Though it may seem like this simulated environment is an ecosystem that changes without our input (tuition increases, etc.), that is not actually the case. As shareholders in the company that is Smith College we have power. And through student government we can generate change.
SGA interacts with various committees and offices on campus, as well as with the board of trustees.
The purpose of this column is to create more transparency between SGA and the student body.
This is the first step toward solving the larger problem of visibility. If we, the students, want to make a change – WE CAN.
The key is using the power we have as a whole student body, and though it might not have felt that way in recent semesters, the best way to do this is through student government.
Organizations working on an issue can get the support of SGA to strengthen their movement, to get their proposals onto the desks of the people with the power to create institutional changes.
Slowly, but surely, we can make Smith what we want it to be.
This column will provide updates on the happenings at Senate meetings (which are 7PM Thursdays in the Carroll room and open to the whole student body) in the hopes of informing the Smith Community on what we work and aspire to do. Organizations and individuals hoping to work with SGA can email me at kheald@smith.edu
