Student Association President Roger Kapoor said the SA this year has a hand in virtually all aspects of student life, from academics to contraceptives, rather than setting its sights on one main issue.
Delivering his “State of the SA” speech to the Senate Tuesday in Thurston Hall, Kapoor said the SA has reacted to student concerns and created initiatives to represent student voices.
“Students look to the SA for a collective voice,” he said, touting events coordinated by the student government and negotiations with administrators to meet student needs.
Kapoor said the SA has made advocacy for the student body a priority.
The SA “stepped up to the plate” for students after GW’s decision to close campus for protests last month, Kapoor said, adding that he influenced University officials to open residence halls and make travel arrangements for students. Another example he cited is the SA-organized campus vigil following Sept. 11.
Kapoor said a strong cabinet has allowed the SA to implement “new policies and programs to make a difference for students” this year.
Many executive positions went unfilled until Tuesday’s meeting, said SA Vice President Josh Singer. Seven were filled, but four positions are still open or waiting for confirmation. Singer said the executive “has had issues finding appointments.”
“It has been a slow process,” Singer said. “Usually by this time the positions are filled.”
During Kapoor’s 25-minute speech, he outlined the “Save It” program, a plan to help curb paper waste in the Gelman Library. The SA will distribute floppy disks at the library for students to save their work and print it elsewhere, Kapoor said.
Kapoor also said he will take “night walks” with administrators and campus security officials to locate “dark spots” where students would feel unsafe and to test University Police response times to blue lights.
Efforts to increase the SA’s efficiency and aid student groups include a “money-trail program,” through which organizations can track what stage of the reimbursement process they are in and a credit system for group budgets, Kapoor said. He said student leaders will soon be able to use a card to draw funds from their budgets like a credit card wherever they purchase supplies, because SA reimbursement was “a really big problem” in the past. The SA will begin a pilot program this month with the College Republicans, College Democrats, the medical school and MBA association.
Kapoor said the SA has responded to student concerns with many initiatives, such as working to replace 40 percent of the Dining Services staff after students complained of slow service.
“The SA is not limited to (its office in) Marvin Center 424,” he said. “The SA is the school.”
Contraceptives including spermicides will be more readily available at all campus food stores, like Provisions Market and the diner in the Hall on Virginia Avenue, he said.
Kapoor also said the SA will begin holding meetings at the Mount Vernon campus soon.
“SA on the Road,” another campaign initiative in which vice presidents hear student concerns in different campus locations, began last month with free ice cream in HOVA with dialogue about the residence hall’s food service. About 15 students attended the event.
“I wasn’t there, but it went well from what I’ve heard,” Kapoor said.
The Senate has passed one piece of legislation, the finance allocation bill, so far this year. Freshman senators were also appointed Tuesday.
Kapoor said he is now focusing on each SA committee, such as undergraduate policy, graduate affairs, student activities and academic affairs, tackling big issues individually.
“This is how the SA should be,” he said. “There’s never one concern.”
