2008 Woodie Awards
"I Hate SGA" provides answers for officers
Janine Camara
Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: Campus News
The Student Government Association's interestingly titled forum "I Hate SGA" drew a small but vocal crowd of students last Monday afternoon between 5 and 7 p.m. The student forum, a collaborative effort of various committees within SGA, lent students the opportunity to articulate their concerns and criticisms of university policies, services and facilities.
Current Concerns Committee Chair Ashley Brown discussed part of the motivation to plan the forum.
"A bunch of students had no idea who SGA was; they thought that it was Spring Garden Apartments," said Brown of an experience she had while working a booth on campus. Brown's committee later surveyed 138 students about their satisfaction pertaining to campus services and issues.
The topics addressed by the survey included campus police, cafeteria food, smoking, the Financial Aid office, and the question of student contentedness with on-campus parking. The last question elicited laughter from the audience. Later though, the issue produced fervent discussion amongst the gathered students and SGA officials.
"If I purchase a parking spot, I should be able to park," said student Adam Petaccia, who adamantly related the parking difficulties he faces as a commuter student.
"You are not buying a parking spot…you are buying the privilege to park on campus. It's just reality that you're not guaranteed a [parking spot]," said SGA Legislative Chair Matt Hill Comer during the forum. Comer pointed to the vast size of UNCG's student body and the campus's location near downtown Greensboro.
Comer also posed a suggestion to the parking problem.
"Whether we like it or not there are numerous good reasons to take [parking permits] away from freshmen…it will help to solve the [parking problem]."
Student Ahmed Kayyali, a member of SGA's House of Representatives, also proposed a solution to the parking issue.
"One big thing that we need to stress is the alternative to cars," Kayyali said. He also suggested incentives be provided to discourage students from bringing cars and transportation options like HEAT be better publicized.
Current Concerns Committee Chair Ashley Brown discussed part of the motivation to plan the forum.
"A bunch of students had no idea who SGA was; they thought that it was Spring Garden Apartments," said Brown of an experience she had while working a booth on campus. Brown's committee later surveyed 138 students about their satisfaction pertaining to campus services and issues.
The topics addressed by the survey included campus police, cafeteria food, smoking, the Financial Aid office, and the question of student contentedness with on-campus parking. The last question elicited laughter from the audience. Later though, the issue produced fervent discussion amongst the gathered students and SGA officials.
"If I purchase a parking spot, I should be able to park," said student Adam Petaccia, who adamantly related the parking difficulties he faces as a commuter student.
"You are not buying a parking spot…you are buying the privilege to park on campus. It's just reality that you're not guaranteed a [parking spot]," said SGA Legislative Chair Matt Hill Comer during the forum. Comer pointed to the vast size of UNCG's student body and the campus's location near downtown Greensboro.
Comer also posed a suggestion to the parking problem.
"Whether we like it or not there are numerous good reasons to take [parking permits] away from freshmen…it will help to solve the [parking problem]."
Student Ahmed Kayyali, a member of SGA's House of Representatives, also proposed a solution to the parking issue.
"One big thing that we need to stress is the alternative to cars," Kayyali said. He also suggested incentives be provided to discourage students from bringing cars and transportation options like HEAT be better publicized.
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