SGA in practice: How student government is making an impact

The University of Georgia’s Student Government Association (SGA) exists to protect students’ rights and serve as a liaison between students, administrators and other governing bodies of the university. During February’s SGA elections, debate centered on the organization’s impact on campus, with questions arising regarding what the organization actually does. 

This has not gone unnoticed by SGA members. President of the Senate Amanda Neighbour said a common misconception about SGA is that the organization “doesn’t do anything.” 

SGA does not have the authority to change university policy independently. Instead, its proposals depend on administrators for implementation, with the organization serving in an advisory role. 

“The value proposition of student government is the relationships we have with the administrators,” former student body president John Neely said. “You can’t do everything with relationships, but you can’t do anything without them.”