Two years ago, I found myself at a debate tournament in Missouri criticizing the Slippery Rock Student Government Association’s accessibility and transparency to the average student.
As president of the Debate Society and a frustrated student, I had a lot to say about how difficult it was to navigate the SRSGA’s policies from the outside.
That’s when a few SRSGA senators challenged me with words that would change my college career: “If you don’t like how it’s being run, why don’t you run for president?”
I took that challenge seriously.
That night, I filled out my election packet and began assembling a campaign team. Being 19 and never having participated in the SRSGA before I knew I was taking a risk, but I believed in the possibility of change.
Our campaign went all out. We created an Instagram presence, launched a website and chalked messages across campus. While my fellow ticket members were not elected, I won the presidency and immediately began working to transform the organization I had criticized so heavily.
Now, as a senior double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy, I can confidently say that running for SRSGA president was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Throughout the two terms I was lucky enough to have, we made significant strides in creating a more transparent and accessible student government.
From advocating for expanded use of the two-hour delay policy to creating large-scale projects that will benefit student life and generations of Slippery Rock University students for years to come, everyday has been an opportunity to make a difference.
I know it might sound self-serving to praise an organization I currently lead, but I want to be completely honest with you. The SRSGA is not perfect-it never has been and never will be. There are still challenges to overcome and improvements to be made.
But I cannot deny the remarkable transformation I have witnessed over the past two years. The changes we have implemented, from increasing transparency to making our policies more accessible, have created a real impact for students.
There is still work to be done, but that is exactly why we need passionate students to step up and continue pushing for progress. As the Spring 2025 SRSGA elections approach, I want to speak directly to every student reading this: You do not need years of experience or an extensive leadership background to create change.
What you need is passion, dedication and the courage to step forward. Whether you’ve been involved in student government before or you are completely new to the process like I was, your perspective and voice matter.
The election packets are available on CORE starting Feb. 14, and submissions are due by March 14 at 11:59 p.m.
Positions are open for both executive board roles and senate seats. The executive board requires a 2.75 GPA, being in your second full semester at SRU, attendance at two senate meetings, and attendance at one financial affairs committee. Senate positions require a 2.5 GPA and attendance at one senate meeting before winners are announced.
For those who prefer to make their impact through voting rather than running, mark your calendars for April 7-9. The voting period opens at 8 a.m. on April 7 and closes at 5 p.m. on April 9.
Your vote is your voice in choosing who will represent your interests and advocate for your needs on campus. Remember, the best advocates for students are students themselves.
Whether you are submitting an election packet or casting your vote, you are participating in shaping the future of Slippery Rock University. Whether from the podium or voting on CORE, the decision to get involved can create ripples of change that affect generations of students to come.
Take it from someone who started as a critic and became an advocate for change: your voice matters, your ideas matter and your participation matters. The future of the SRSGA is in your hands.
As the deadline for election packets approaches, will you be the next student to step forward and make your mark on our campus?
