By Chase Hewitt, Student Body President
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Chase, and I am a senior in the business program. Perhaps I’m better known for starring in the jeering, finger-wagging advertising campaign titled, “Join SGA Today.” As an homage to the early 20th century advertisements featuring “Uncle Sam,” I created posters to encourage students to join our own student government. In this opinion piece, I will discuss the importance of SGA and my desire for all USM students to get involved in the upcoming election.
A little background on me; I have served as the Student Body Vice President for the majority of the 2017-18 academic year. I have had the pleasure of working closely with passionate faculty and Student Government members to oversee various issues pertaining to budgeting, student affairs, and public relations.
Historically, USM has had depressingly low voter turnout. On average, less than 1 percent of the total student body participates! Personally, I feel that the Student Government Association (SGA) is imperative to the USM culture. As the stewards of the “Student Activity Fee,” SGA plays a large role in funding and regulating about fifty different student organizations. SGA also allows any student the opportunity to create their own club and attend off-campus conferences if desired. Perhaps more importantly, SGA offers clear and objective representation of the USM student body to the faculty and greater community.
The intent of my advertising campaign was to increase student participation in the voting process of SGA. SGA is important and severely underrepresented. It has been brought to my attention that these posters may have been seen as offensive by some. The aggressive nature of the photograph can be shocking and overly persuasive, and that is far from the message I meant to convene. Combined with the fact that I am a white male, some have expressed the perception of discrimination on the bases of race and gender. I take all student concerns very seriously, and I want to make it clear that I had no intent of said discrimination. I highly encourage students of all races, genders and backgrounds to participate in the important democratic process we have here at USM.
We’ve all heard it. Diversity; sometimes it comes off as a buzzword merely used to shine the appearances of corporations and politicians. However, true exposure to diversity has been essential to my education here at USM. It has introduced me to new perspectives about purpose, about how I can define success, about how I seek happiness and enlightening and liberating perspectives that I never could have wrapped my head around prior to attending USM! It is extremely important to really accept diversity, to embrace alternate perspectives, so that together we can expel prejudice and eradicate discrimination that subdues and damages millions of people in this day and age.
Personally, I am extremely humbled and grateful to represent such a diverse student body. I encourage all USM students who want to perpetuate a campus of inclusivity and positivity to participate in the upcoming SGA elections on March 21. Above all else, I aim to include and represent the entire USM student body. I welcome the opportunity for anyone to reach out to me regarding any issues at [email protected]. Thanks for reading!