We all disagree from time to time and that’s what democracy is all about. We voice our opinion even if we are in the minority and it all comes down to a vote that we cast, a motion we make and how people respond to it. The majority decides what the course would be. This is no different for SGA. This is what democracy is all about. There is a flow of debate and the majority decides. At the end of a meeting, we can continue to debate each other and try to convince one another in the most civil way possible. Sometimes we get through to people and other times we don’t. We can continue trying or simply learn from our failure and do a better job in the future. Democracy is not about getting what one always wants. It is about compromise and cooperation. We give up something to gain something. It is not about yelling at someone after meeting because we were unable to get what we wanted. It is not suggesting one is “uncommitted” because we disagreed with them. There are many nights that I sit through senate meetings and not get a single motion or resolution to pass. I walk out thinking of ways to reach senators and bring them on my corner to get things done. I am nowhere near having the right solution to any problem and therefore I give in sometimes, other times we reach a compromise. Many of us have worked our hearts out on resolutions and see it called “garbage” in senate meetings and, being a democratic body, we watch as our efforts go to waste because the majority disagrees with us. The next day we try again and again. Since the day I set foot here at Trinity I have always been committed to the Student Government Association and will continue to be so. I continue to be committed to this body because of the democratic ideals it comes with. If this is news to anyone, then WELCOME TO DEMOCRACY!!!

The beauty of being at Trinity College is that you are at the center of it all. The opportunity to get involved both on and off campus is unlimited. Trinity College is more than the academic curriculum, it’s also about the people you meet, the challenges you will face and the difference you will make.

Being in Hartford gives you the unique opportunity to tutor kids once a week, intern at a law firm or a human rights organization, or be part of dozens of student run organizations. I watch friends identify problems on campus and do something about it. As a member of Trinity College Student Government Association, I have seen students sit through a long Sunday night senate session to pass a controversial bill and then go home to continue this debate on our SGA blog. So while you are here at Trinity, write an op-ed for the Tripod on something you are passionate about, join or create a club, attend lectures and events, if anything you will walk away a better person, be more informed and you will have a couple more people to add to your list of friends.

Welcome to Trinity!

Ibrahim Diallo
Vice President of the Multicultural Affairs Council

What is SGA? What do you guys do? These are questions that I hear repeatedly when I tell people I am a member of Trinity College Student Government Association.

Only a few students on campus can list some of the services that SGA offers. Sometimes I wonder whose fault that is, the students or SGA representative? Every member of SGA has
some sort of interest in student government and that interest is what keeps members coming back meeting after meeting.

As member of SGA, part of our job should be creating a interest of SGA for those who lack interest. We can do this by talking to our friends about SGA, and telling our neighbors about our accomplishments. We are representatives of the student body and we should demonstrate this outside of our meeting. When was the last time any senator attended an event on campus just to show their support? This is not a criticism of any one individual, but simply a valid observation.

Most of us remain in our circle of “SGA interest.” If we don’t step outside of this and
engage the student body in the things that they care about, attend the events they are sponsoring, how do we expect them to care about SGA? Change comes from within and if we want people from outside to care, we must care about them first.