By Alex Gaughan
As the carousel of student government officials at the university continues, so do efforts to implement a sustainable and effective Student Government Association. For President O.J. Oleka, Executive Vice President Stephanie Bonenberger, Academic Vice President Michael Rolf and Services Vice President Krista Woltermann, collectively known as the Top 4, the biggest challenge of the year is breaking through the barriers of inexperience. Issues like reducing the cost of attendance, campus health reform and the expansion of Student Activities Center wait to be addressed.
President Oleka is not wasting time in his push to re-establish SGA’s influence within the university. “I am of the belief that government should be operating in the best interest of the people. They have to be telling us what they want. We are going to re-engage and communicate with the student body.”
Oleka will address this goal and others during the senate meeting on Tuesday Sept. 8. A town hall meeting will be held Wednesday Sept. 9; students are invited to join the Top 4 and members of the senate for questions. According to Oleka, officials will be explaining procedures and initiatives during the meeting, as well as assessing student concerns.
Bonenberger, the former president of the College of Education, has made it her personal goal to get the senate and staff working together more actively. She wants everyone to be informed on procedures, making progress a viable goal. Bonenberger said, “When I came to the senate, I feel like I had to teach myself everything. This takes too much time. We’re doing hands-on things because that is how people learn.”
While Oleka is determined to give SGA a new reputation and open up lines of communication with students, and Bonenberger is focused on making sure the senate and staff are informed and operational, student advocate Blake Christopher is doing what he can to make SGA’s goals resonate with those of the state by working with Governor Steve Beshear.
Beshear will be attending a Listen Up Legislators meeting in the Chao Auditorium on Sept. 16. According to Christopher, Listen Up Legislators is an initiative created by the Kentucky State Board of Student Body Presidents to promote student advocacy for funding at the state level.
“Governor Beshear coming to speak is a once in a lifetime chance for students to not only hear him speak, but to also engage the man who most directly affects higher education,” said Christopher.
The optimism of Oleka, Bonenberger and Christopher is met with the challenges of working with a senate committee that saw nearly three-quarters of its members graduate or move forward. With that many new senators, a smaller than expected operating budget and only one year to tackle issues, the Top 4 faces a seemingly incomprehensible agenda.
“It’s going take more than one year to change things,” said Bonenberger. “I just want to see progress. I want to pass things on so we can continue these projects.”
Oleka echoed her wish for progress and said, “If there are roadblocks, it’s the naysayers. It’s the ones who do not believe in student government. If we have 22,000 echoes then we will prove these goals.”
Billy Garland contributed to this story.
