The alcohol survey that the Student Government Association (SGA) held brought to light a re-occurring issue that UTSA students face each year – apathy.
Now, it’s easy to blame the lack of student involvement in campus activities on the commuter students who have families and jobs. One would think the last thing on their minds is a survey about alcohol at Chili’s Too.
This blame then becomes a defense mechanism for SGA to use when students complain after the fact. What can we do when people don’t vote or participate in the process?
The current shuttle crisis happening was created when less than 10 percent of students voted not to increase the transportation fee by $10.
While the SGA was partially responsible for not illuminating the consequences for not increasing the fee, the student population also needed to take responsibility to stay informed about upcoming surveys.
UTSA had to fight very hard to remain a voting site for the November midterm election campaign, and, in order to remain a site, students will need to demonstrate to political officials that a site on campus is important.
It wouldn’t be improbable if the students didn’t take the initiative and just allowed for UTSA to lose its voting site privileges. Students just don’t seem to care and it shows in the polls.
“SGA is here to help but if there is no input from students then there is not a lot that the student government can do to help them. We are helpless without their voice,” said SGA president Derek Trimm.
It’s interesting to observe how quickly students run to complain once a problem affects them. Students have no alternatives other than to walk to class or wait extremely long for new shuttles to arrive only to then sit in stinky, overly crowded vehicles.
“If we had increased the fee $10 more, we would have gotten at least three new shuttles this semester,” said Trimm.
The Paisano, SGA, Campus Activities Board, etc. try to make UTSA a more informed, inclusive campus.
UTSA students are creating a culture that promotes inactivity. Students need to break this habit and make their voices heard.
