In the over 100 years that the Student Government Association at Sam Houston State University has been serving students, they have always kept one goal: to be “the official voice of the student body.”

However, according to a recent poll of SHSU students, the majority of students do not know or are confused about what the purpose of SGA is. Still, the organization is working behind the scenes to ensure students are heard—even if no one knows SGA is behind these initiatives.

The SGA’s main duty is to listen to issues brought up by the student body and facilitate the creation of the legislation that is needed to implement changes once approved by university president Alisa White. This duty just got easier with one major change, according to members of the SGA.

Emarie Schweikhardt, a junior student and SGA’s director of rules and regulations, explained there has been a significant increase in the size of the organization, going from a little over 20 participants to almost 70 in the last election season. This growth in size has also meant a growth in man power and outreach, which has led to more resolutions being proposed by students on campus and passed through the work of Student Government representatives.

Akylia Washington, a sophomore student and SGA’s co-director of community affairs in SGA, points to an effort to highlight diversity around campus as one of the most impactful resolutions passed last year. This campaign encouraged Washington to join the organization.

One of Washington’s biggest takeaway from attending SGA sponsored events before she joined the organization was that despite the popularity and high student turnout of some events, very few students knew the events were organized by the SGA. Once she joined SGA, part of her agenda was to make sure the group’s involvement around campus would be more emphasized. She hopes to take steps towards accomplishing this goal by creating an SGA 1101 course.

The course, if approved, will educate students who are interested in learning how they can become a part of SGA.

“More minds is better than one,” Washington said of recruitment efforts.

SGA’s meetings are held every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Criminal Justice Building courtroom and are open to all students.