Student government — the ultimate opportunity to become a leader-servant at Southern Virginia
Student government isn’t new at Southern Virginia University, but after the recent reorganization, it stands to be better than ever before.
Student leaders will maintain their traditional service role, but the focus will shift to include leadership development beyond time spent at Southern Virginia.
Ammon Milligan, Student Body President for the 2016–2017 school year, and who maintains a role on campus as a current employee, shared that this year’s student government is “a night and day difference” from last year’s. “There are opportunities to do a lot more this year,” Milligan remarked, continuing on to say that the changes would not have been possible without the work done by student government during recent years.
One of the changes is a new leadership class offered exclusively to the leadership of the Southern Virginia Student Association. According to Matthew Gowdy, Communications Senator, the class is intended to provide a more meaningful experience for student leaders — an experience that will enhance their leadership skills beyond their time in school. Students learn from guest speakers and group discussions, as well as from the instructors.
The class is taught by Rachel Wilcox, Associate Director of University Writing, as well as Cameron Crowther, Executive Director of Career Development and Advancement Officer. “I would consider this year a success if each member of the SVSA felt they had contributed positively to the school and its students, grew in their understanding of leadership and in their ability to lead, and left with an increased desire to contribute to making a difference in the world,” said Crowther.
“I think the overall structure of the class is vital to not only our leadership, but us as individuals growing and that’s what they’re focusing on,” said Quinn Skousen, Student Body President at SVU.
Members of SVSA have already played an integral part in the events of the first month of school. From freshman orientation to the LaunchPad initiative to 2017 homecoming activities, these students have shown that they are truly motivated by service. The combination of the service they provide and the leadership class they attend give SVSA members unprecedented opportunity to become leader-servants.
According to Skousen, student government has three main goals for the school year. First, the officers want to “improve the communication on campus,” he said. Each student should know where to look to find out what’s going on. Whether it’s an athletic event, campus activity, or performance, each student should know exactly what’s coming up. SVSA is working on finding creative ways to use the new iPads and Apple TVs in classrooms to communicate what’s happening.
The second goal of SVSA is engagement and involvement with the community that surrounds the school. Again Quinn: “I really want to go to Parry McCleur’s basketball games, football games…go support them and have them come support us…I think we have a lot to offer towards the community and I think they have a lot to offer to us.”
The third goal stems from the honor code. Skousen feels that, in the past, students have thought of the honor code as simply dress and grooming standards. “The honor code is much more. It’s giving yourself a higher standard of living — living an honorable life. We’re shortchanging ourselves by not understanding the effects that the honor code can have towards our lives.”
Surely there is already a sense of unity on SVU’s campus. But through the actualization of the aforementioned goals, Skousen believes campus will become even more unified. “We don’t have to worry about just saying we want to be unified. It just happens naturally,” he said.
Both Milligan and Skousen highly recommend running for student government for the upcoming school year. According to Milligan, it’s “not only a resume booster but an experience you won’t get anywhere else.” With all of the growth the school is experiencing, it is an exciting time to be a part [of student government] and to contribute to that growth.
As a member of student government, Skousen says, “You become part of a bigger whole. You’re able to see things at a different plane…you’re on the front lines of pioneering. Seeing how things happen, you have such a greater love for the university and for the people you come in contact with. If you feel like you’re a leader or a potential leader, be a part of student government. It’s a really fun, fulfilling thing.”
SVSA will plan and carry out one major activity and two to three smaller activities each month. Keep your eye out for upcoming activities planned by SVSA, including the haunted house coming up on October 30 and 31. To learn about other upcoming events at Southern Virginia University, visit calendar.svu.edu.
