SA should focus on campus goals before broadening scope to national student issues

The Student Association should continue to prove it is proactive with tangible on-campus initiatives, before looking to tackle national student issues.

At the second SA meeting of the semester, President Allie Curtis discussed her experience at the ACC Presidents Conference in an address to the assembly. The conference focused on other universities’ efforts to emphasize national student issues and gain student support to lobby local politicians. She said this is a concept that would make SA better “defenders of the students.”

It is encouraging that Curtis is looking beyond Syracuse University and considering larger issues that confront students. Still, it is crucial that SA puts the university first and maintains focus on the day-to-day issues yet to be solved.

SA should also make sure not to take on too many projects.

Large-scale, tangible improvements have yet to be seen on campus. Therefore, SA should continue to undertake smaller-scale projects before broadening its scope to include national issues.

After a tumultuous spring semester with the departures of most of the organization’s cabinet members, an experienced cabinet is necessary to lead and rally students around a regional or national issue.

For now, the cabinet is getting back on track. Assembly members voted on a new bill during Tuesday’s meeting that provides startup money for new student organizations. This suggests a step in the proper direction and that more progress is ahead for the student group.

Continuing to cross off on-campus goals from SA’s agenda will help build its reputation among students. From there, they will be able to better hone student support for the national student issues Curtis has suggested that the organization target.

For now, SA should make sure it doesn’t bite off more than it can chew.