Erin Grant & Alyssa Still
News Editor & Staff Writer
Florida Southern’s Student Government Association (SGA) has welcomed a new class of senators and they are already getting to work. These senators are not only preparing for the year ahead, but also working to continue the history of SGA at FSC.
FSC’s Student Government Association hasn’t always looked the way it does today. In fact, early editions of the Southern Newspaper point to SGA once acting in tandem with an organization called the Student Body Association (SBA). Back then, the student leaders in SGA worked on more than just campus events and student life. They had many different roles and responsibilities. One of these roles was to confirm the eligibility of SGA and SBA candidates in the event of an election.
The structure of SGA was also more layered than it is today. Previously, in addition to one male and one female senator for each class, each class elected a resident, secretary, and treasurer who worked together to represent their peers.
The election process looked a little different then too. Instead of clicking a candidate’s name on-line, students had to vote in person with their “activity card.”
Today, the organization is separated into three independent sections: the executive board, the elected senators and the student accountability board acting as the judicial power. This system mimics the separation of powers at the national level, serving students in every aspect of their lives on campus.
Senate elections for the 2025-2026 school year were held in early September, where these senators will hold their positions until the final day of the spring semester. With a fresh group of members stepping into leadership this fall, students can expect to see new energy and new ideas in action.
The senate is made up of an elected body of students from each academic college. Each senator plays a key role in student life, serving as a representative for the study body. Along with serving as a liaison between students and the school, senators address student concerns, organize student initiatives, and fund student organizations.
Many senators are already outlining their goals for the year. Sophomore and education major Kathryn Gay is a new senator for the School of Education. During her time as senator, she plans to be an advocate for other pre-service teachers and would like to connect more with the Roberts Academy on campus. Alongside the other education senators, she is excited to work towards her mission of making information and resources readily available for those in her major. Throughout this year, she will be working to ensure that everyone in an education major “has everything that they need and has access to all the resources that they can,” she said.
Gay is also on the SGA Spirit Committee, so her responsibilities will include helping to organize Really Red Friday and other FSC tailgating-style events.
SGA senators uphold the legacy of their positions by working together to improve the student experience through events like Frank Lloyd Wright Day and general student body meetings like Town Hall and President’s Circle.
