We often hear that SGA isn't as accessible to students as it could be. This year, our Communications Team has a lot planned to keep you informed throughout the year.

The goals for the communications committee this year are to revamp Emory SGA's social media, to increase communication between the Emory community and SGA, and to find new ways to expand Emory SGA presence on both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses.

The Communications Committee hopes to build a presence that is representative of everyone and displays the voices of the entire student body, including Instagram take-overs and the creation of an SGA Twitter.

Each month, we send a monthly newsletter to student with updates on our progress in SGA. Newsletters typically include SGA initiatives, resources, and important information that we've compiled throughout the month.

Our communications team has prioritized a more engaging social media presence, from introducing SGA members to interactive polls to live-streaming our meetings on Facebook. Check us out on Instagram, Facebook, and The Hub!

Student Concerns Committee

In the era of COVID-19, it is important that an equitable and inclusive representation of the student body is included in our work as a student government. Our Vice Presidents of Student Experience work closely with a Student Concerns committee, consisting of members in and out of SGA, in order to deliberately target areas of need on our campus as it relates to the student experience and campus life.

Printing Initiative

The legislature of the 52nd SGA created an initiative in which all undergraduate students at Emory receive $5 in their EaglePrint accounts (100 black and white pages, front and back) at the start of every academic semester

Communications with dining office

Legislators in the 53rd SGA worked to amplify student concerns as it relates to dining. Many students expressed concerns with the narrow hours of operation at the Dobbs Common Table (DCT), the amount of food available at certain hours, and dining options at Cox Hall. All of these concerns were shared with the Emory Dining office and a collaborative relationship between students and the office was built as a result.

Equity and Inclusion Committee

Goals for this year:

-- Establish a committee with representatives from different cultural/identity backgrounds to advocate for diversity through existing initiatives or the formation of new initiatives

--Start a Diversity Newsletter to highlight and advocate for the diversity on campus

Gather data from campus climate survey related to diversity and address potential issues brought up from the student body

--Foster connections between Emory students and faculty members with expertise in the field of equity and inclusion on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status

Serve as a bridge between the student body and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and assist in the transition back to on-campus learning once students return to campus

Emory Edge

Emory Edge is a program that seeks to expand student access to professional development opportunities. Of specific interest to the 53rd SGA and the current administration is to further student access to unpaid and/or underpaid internships, jobs, research positions, etc. Students, many of whom are in the College, report that opportunities at non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, and in the public sector often do not provide student employees with compensation or adequate compensation to support student expenses. Our principal goal is to ensure that no student, regardless of financial circumstance, should be excluded from pursuing the professional opportunity of their choice. Members of SGA have been in communication with the Offices of the President and Provost, Deans of the undergraduate colleges, and members of executive leadership. As we move forward, we will continue to have these conversations with administrators to present student concerns and programmatic recommendations.

Tampon Initiative

The 53rd SGA implemented the Free Tampon Initiative in collaboration with the Office of Health Promotion to increase student access to menstrual hygiene products. To date, multiple restrooms on campus have been stocked with menstrual hygiene products, and in the coming year, our goal is to expand this initiative to all restrooms in all buildings across campus.

International Student Affairs

The Global Ambassador Program is a keystone accomplishment in International Student Affairs

Transportation

--Additional C-route shuttles

--Dooley Discover shuttles

The 53rd Speaker of the Legislature oversaw a Transportation Committee and worked closely with the Transportation office to address the needs of students who regularly use the Emory shuttle system. As a result of their direct advocacy, the committee was able to establish C Route Shuttles on the weekends, as well as a new Dooley Discovers Shuttle, which runs between Emory, Toco Hills, and the MARTA Decatur station

The goal of the Governing Documents Committee is to improve the functioning of the SGA by revising the rules and guidelines which structure our organization. For many years, the SGA governing documents received little attention. This resulted in outdated documents which no longer reflect the way SGA functions. This committee was founded in April 2019, and in the past year, the primary focus had been on revamping the SGA Constitution. This year, we are going to focus on our other governing documents like the SGA Code and the Rules of the Legislature.

The Committee for Oxford Atlanta Relations is dedicated to hosting events, socials, and media platforms that bring the students from either campus closer together. Not only that, but the committee has an obligation towards ensuring a long lasting relationship between Oxford and Atlanta student organizations to boost campus inclusivity. This will not only help create a connection between incoming students of both campuses, but also help establish a smooth transition for Oxford students from one campus to another.

--Making SGA meetings virtually accessible for Oxford students

--SGA retreat at Oxford