Final Thoughts

These are my official final thoughts about SGA. If you would like to hear my unofficial final thoughts about Samford, about college, and about life, come find me on a back porch late at night somewhere.

When I first started my term as SGA President, I somehow thought I was going to revolutionize the organization. We had a top-notch executive board lined up, a restructured office of student affairs, and a phenomenal new SGA advisor (Janna Pennington). Needless to say, I was excited about our endless potential this year.

What I quickly found, however, was that change does not come easy. Our initial fervent energy soon receded, and before we knew it we were falling back into old routines and getting swamped by school. SGA has not revolutionized the lives of Samford students this year. But it has made some tangible improvements.

Perhaps the most unseen of these improvements is the fact that SGA has almost completely restructured itself this year. The Student Activities Council and the Presidential Advisory Council look completely different, and we have even taken the first step in re-writing our own Constitution and Code of Laws. To the average student, however, I am sure this is about as exciting as watching stalagmites form.

So what are some things that SGA has done that the average student might actually care about? Well for one, we have planned some really good events. I would daresay that anyone who has given Harry’s a shot any Thursday night this year has been very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the performers featured there. And the only measure we need that the upcoming Avett Brothers is a raging success is that it is the only student event (besides Step Sing) in recent memory to completely sell out the Wright Center.

We have also done our best to demonstrate a collective student voice to administration. Although many students probably do not realize it, SGA has communicated concerns about everything from meal plan pricing to unfairness in the Samford judicial system to the appropriate administrators this year. But communication is an ongoing process, and as I stated earlier, change does not come easy. Trying to get major policies changed at Samford is like trying to teach a dog to juggle… it might not be impossible, but it takes a long time.

Well, this is the end of another year. College is an interesting place, it stands eternally still as students pass through it like water. In just a few short weeks we will be finishing up projects, getting ready for finals, and saying goodbye to another class of Samford students and student leaders. That includes me. I have made some really dumb decisions during my time at Samford, but choosing to lead SGA this year was not one of them.

I wish you all nothing but the best as you carry on in this exciting and bizarre time of life.

Sam