Coinciding with the draft of a new constitution, the Student Government Association (SGA) has decided to change both their official name and logo.
Although not all agree, many within the SGA feel the name brings negative connotations to the association and inaccurately represents the purpose and goals of the organization.
Various names are being considered including the Student Assembly, the Student Council and the Student Association, all not including the word Government, which many perceive to be bringing the negative connotations.
“I initially proposed it,” said President Michael Jamnick. “Of the seven state university schools, we are the only ones who use the name Student Government Association, and I am very much of the opinion that we are not essentially a governing body. We are an advocacy and advising body.”
“It feels like there is a division between Student Government and the Student Body,” Jamnick said.
Constitutional Review Chair Terence Glommen- McCloskey agreed that there is a perceived division between the study body and the Student Government and their goal is to get rid of such a perception.
“We felt that by changing the name of the Student Government, we might be able to help in changing that perception from this impenetrable force to a welcoming voice of the students,” Glommen-McCloskey said.
Glommen-McCloskey said that a name change is one positive side-effect of drafting a new constitution as it is an overhaul of the entire organization and a name change can much more easily be up for revision.
“The idea that I would be pushing for is to name it the St. Cloud State Student Association,” Jamnick said. “That is the direction that I want to go in.”
Jamnick explained that under the name Student Association, current members of the SGA would be called “officers” to define their role within the student population yet highlight that they are still in fact a part of the student body like every other student.
However, other members of the SGA feel that their current name is sufficient.
“I do like Student Government for the fact that when I say Student Government, they (fellow students) know what I am talking about,” said Senator-at-large Alex Kharam. “I think it is more universally known.”
Senator at large Alisha Arnold also voiced her opinion.
“I like Student Government the way it is,” Arnold said.
The SGA is also seizing this opportunity to change their acting logo, and to do so, they are planning to host a campus wide contest allowing students to design a new logo for them.
“The logo we have right now is not all that well known to begin with, and it leaves something to be desired,” said Public Relations Chair Lindsay Scherer.
“It (the contest) is a really nice way to engage the greater student population in the Student Government’s activities and maybe make them feel more a part of it,” Scherer said. “Then also of course you have the added benefit of putting something in your portfolio that gets widely used and exposed throughout campus.”
Scherer said the contest is tentatively scheduled for early spring semester.
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