SGA inactive
this semester

North Lake College has no Student Government Association this semester.

One officer transferred to UTAustin, and another three left SGA service for personal reasons or academic concerns, officials said.

“When I learned ... the majority of the SGA officers would be unable to return to the organization, I felt dispirited because the SGA no longer could voice its opinion to the administration,” said Dr. Gabriel Bach, SGA co-advisor.

The SGA was created so students could communicate issues with elected officers at SGA meetings. SGA members represent their classmates when speaking to North Lake authority. This semester, weekly meetings were open to everyone and were to be held Mondays in room A-346.

Members of the SGA were publicly elected by North Lake students in fall 2006. Students voted the president, vice president, secretary, parliamentarian, historian and treasurer into office.

One officer, who asked not to be identified, spoke about difficulties faced as a new representative of North Lake's SGA. “We have a lot to do as new officers, and because there were no re-instated officials, all six of us had no one to ask questions that had been through the process before.”

This officer left because of academic concerns. He also held another SGA office outside of North Lake College. “I was officer of Region Two. It's the TJC [Texas Junior College] SGA Region Two executive board.”

In addition, the student government gave him a 643-page book to read for his position.

SGA representatives faced several issues that may have contributed to the North Lake association's collapse. Scheduling clashes, work and school duties, dealing with the loss of loved ones, and misunderstandings with SGA were among those complications, officials said.

After losing four of its officers, the SGA had to decide if it should pursue replacement elections. The anonymous former representative spoke about the remaining officers and their experience: “It would be hard for two officers to teach four new people, plus learn what they had to do.”

Former SGA President Sibongile Mlambo talked about the decision she made. “We had two choices, either to elect a new board and carry on or be placed as inactive… by the time we got new people in we would have been two-thirds through the semester.”

These factors led advisors to temporarily disband the Student Government and cancel its meetings for the semester. They also concluded that no elections would be held for new officers for the spring semester.

Mlambo and a sixth former officer continue to work with the administration in an effort to obtain free DART bus passes for NLC students. That pair also are working on plans for the Student Life Center. In addition, three of the former SGA officers will represent North Lake at Community College Day in Austin.

There are other opportunities for students to express themselves to campus administrators.

SPAR Director Virginia Jones said: “Students are encouraged to use the suggestion boxes, SGA mailbox in SPAR and to visit directly with SPAR staff.”

She also said that SPAR is an advocate for students and will continue to send student concerns to the appropriate administrators.

The suggestion box is located in the hallway on a wall opposite from the Student Programs and Resources office, room A-223.

The Student Government will soon hold officer elections for fall 2007.

When speaking of the students who may run for SGA office, Jones said, “It poses challenges with the majority of our students taking classes, working, and also managing a family. It is difficult to have commitment and strong leadership skills in this environment.”

Mlambo had a message for those who want to run for office.

“To the people who want to be part of SGA, you really have to have a passion for the students and for government as well,” she said.

Mlambo also shared her advice for administrators in charge of the SGA: “They could give more information for the duties involved. They didn't actually tell us what we would be doing.”

Mary Ciminelli, North Lake's vice president of student development, gave her perspective: “Student government has to evolve out of the students' desire. It can be a potentially important voice for students.”

— News-Register editor Amanda K. Witt contributed to this article.