The Student Government Association at Birmingham-Southern College

Following months of campaigning and a recent campus general election, rising senior Trey Cotney came out a winner and has taken the reigns as president of the Birmingham-Southern College Student Government Association (SGA) for the 2008-09 academic year. Cotney, a business major from Helena, was sworn in March 6 as the college’s 75th SGA president.

The BSC student body also voted this spring to fill four new executive officer seats and 18 student representative seats for the SGA. Freshman will be elected and added in the fall. The college’s Student Government Association is made up of 28 main positions, 27 of those being voting positions. There also are 20 or so students active on committees, subcommittees, and councils.

The SGA holds the issue of student participation in high regard and has as one of its goals to increase student involvement on campus.

“Actually, it is always a goal to make the SGA more visible and accessible and as open to students as possible,” says Cotney, who served as first vice president of the SGA his junior year. “We are here for the students, and without their input, the SGA can accomplish nothing.”

SGA executive officers for 2008-09 are (from left) Will Breland of Decatur, freshman and secretary; Wes Akin of Killen, sophomore and treasurer; Charisma Shah of Brentwood, Tenn., junior and second vice president; Cotney; and Brad Robinson of Pinson, sophomore and first vice president.

The new SGA leaders already have a blueprint for enhancing student life on the Hilltop, which includes pushing for additional wireless hot spots to be set up on campus, implementing an electronic student voting system, and working to further improve the Café and its menu choices. They also desire to improve parking around the campus by implementing 10-15 minute parking slots and commuter parking.

“My personal goals for the 2008-09 year include further improvements and additions to the pool house at the college’s Hilltop Terrace Apartments, a school wide alcohol license enabling Birmingham-Southern to sell beverages on campus, tailgate traditions to begin in the next few months for various athletic programs, and increased funding for student conferences and study abroad opportunities,” he describes.

“The pool house probably tops the list of our projects. There’s just no limit to what can be done there—we’re looking at adding a swing, gazebo, volleyball court, vending machines, and possibly a pub.

“As a ‘wet’ campus, alcohol already is allowed here,” explains Cotney. “I am promoting this because I feel it is safer for students who want a drink to do it on campus rather than go off to a gas station or some other spot to get one, and then have to drive back to campus. I believe a liquor license for the campus will protect students by preventing them from having to go to places at night where they shouldn’t be.”

The entire SGA meets Wednesday evenings in the SGA Room, located on the second floor of the Norton Campus Center. The executive officers arrange for themselves several separate meetings during the week for additional strategic planning, often in the SGA Office, which also is housed in Norton. Despite the added time to their schedules, each officer’s commitment to the organization is vital for the SGA to be successful, Cotney says.

“We have a really good group this year. We are positive, cohesive and diverse, and there is a lot of discussion at our meetings. Plus, we have a good amount of people who are more proactive rather than behind the scenes. I’m really excited about this coming year.”

As the voice of the BSC student body, Cotney’s main role is mediator, and he meets often with campus administrators—the provost, president, or dean of student affairs—if an issue with a student arises and/or to discuss important campus objectives. He also has in mind to work on a leadership project with SGA presidents at other Alabama colleges and universities, depending on their goals.

“Whether or not people realize it, the SGA is an important part of campus life,” notes Cotney. “It is responsible for much of the event regulation at Birmingham-Southern and works hard to ensure that campus life at ’Southern is enjoyable for all students.”