By Jake Thomas
Cameron University’s Student Government Association is beginning the fall semester with new membership, new initiatives and plans to continue expanding the organization’s role as a voice for students.
SGA President Connor Holt is serving his second term after initially joining the organization as a representative during the 2024-25 academic year. Ashley Smith, SGA treasurer, is serving her first term in the position after previously representing the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club. Andrew Cervantes is similar, in that he is now the Vice President for SGA, after being a SGA senator for a few years.
SGA currently has a little more than 30 members, with only about seven or eight returning from the previous year. As a result, much of the organization’s first few meetings this semester has focused on introducing new members to SGA procedures and filling leadership positions.
Holt serves as the presiding officer of SGA meetings and appoints members to committees and other positions. He also meets with Cameron President Hunt twice a month to discuss issues affecting students.
Cervantes has just recently been sworn in as the new Vice President of SGA. His responsibilities include serving as the Chair of the Legislative Committee, as well as keeping records of meetings and assisting the president in his absence or when needed.
Smith oversees SGA finances, including funds available to student organizations. She also chairs the Finance Committee, which reviews requests for SGA funding.
One of the major projects currently being developed is a loan program for student organizations.
Under the current funding rules, SGA funds for student events must be used for events that are free and open to all students. This can make it difficult for organizations to cover expenses associated with competitions, conferences or travel.
The proposed loan program would allow eligible student organizations to borrow money for fundraising purposes and repay the initial amount after raising the necessary funds.
The proposal is currently being reviewed by SGA advisers. If approved, it will be presented to the full SGA body for discussion and a vote.
Smith said the program was partly inspired by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, which previously reached the semifinals of a competition but did not have enough funding to cover the associated travel costs.
“It’s a way to work around that,” Holt said. “It’s also really beneficial to a brand new club that has no money. Instead of having to start from nothing, they can get a temporary loan.”
SGA is also looking at potential legislation involving SHARPS containers and plans to expand the amount of student artwork displayed across campus.
Holt said SGA previously issued a proclamation calling for more student artwork to be displayed in the McMahon Centennial Complex. Student artwork has since returned to the building for the first time this decade.
The organization hopes to continue that effort by expanding student artwork into buildings such as the Academic Commons and Nance Boyer, where Holt said some artwork has not been updated in more than a decade.
SGA has also been working to update its own internal structure. According to Holt, the organization updated its constitution last year for the first time in nearly eight years, its bylaws for the first time in nearly 18 years and its election rules for the first time in nearly 13 years.
The organization also changed how student organizations request funding. Holt said that before last year, there was no formal, easily accessible process for clubs to request SGA funds.
After updating the funding request process and making it available online, SGA used nearly all of its approximately $3,000 in available funding last year, compared with an average of about 20% in previous years.
Smith credited former SGA treasurer Briana Miles with helping establish the foundation for the changes to the organization’s financial system.
SGA has also pointed to its role in preserving the Student Enrichment Center as one of its significant accomplishments. Holt said SGA passed legislation supporting the center after funding from a COVID-era grant was set to expire.
Beyond legislation and funding, Holt said SGA provides students with a formal avenue for communicating with university administration.
“Students deserve to be heard,” he said. “Students have a voice, and there are about 3,700 students at Cameron University. By far, the largest group on this campus.”
SGA meetings also regularly include guest speakers from different areas of the university. Speakers can include university administrators and representatives from departments such as housing, information technology, physical facilities, the Student Enrichment Center and the Student Wellness Center. President Hunt was the first one of these guest speakers, with Sodexo to follow.
The meetings are open to the public, allowing students to attend, hear from university representatives and ask questions.
“It is the direct way to reach the university administration,” Holt said. “We were able to really push things over the line and get things done and make changes for the better across this campus.”
As the semester continues, SGA plans to continue refining its internal policies, considering new legislation and providing funding opportunities for student organizations.
Holt said the organization’s goal is ultimately to make student government more active and effective while giving students a direct voice in decisions affecting campus life.
“I want to continue empowering the student body and the student government,” Holt said. “I want our members of the student government to be incredibly active and aware of what’s happening on campus. And I want them to fight to make campus better.”