Lucy Bobb ‘26
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be in the SGA at St. Andrew’s or how it even works? While the SGA’s job is to propose ideas to improve the school, does the administration listen to them?
The SGA, Student Government Association, meets every Monday morning for about 40 minutes to discuss upcoming events and what they want to plan for the week. Class presidents, the upper school leaders, class representatives, and the SGA sponsor compose the SGA.
At the meetings, President Pamela Kim sits in front to discuss the agenda and future events. When the SGA comes up with an idea, they send a proposal to either Mr. Tajan or Ms. Cobb, and the Upper School Leadership Team, consisting of all the Academic Deans and Directors of College Counseling, discuss it.
As the SGA sponsor, Mr. Ferriby’s goal is not to make decisions, but rather to guide them. He encourages the SGA to speak up if anyone has an idea or suggestion. There is no specific voting system when proposing an idea, and according to Mr. Ferriby, no person with a “higher power position” has more say than any other member.
This is Mr. Ferriby’s fifth year as the sponsor. He enjoys seeing young people driven to improve the community. Furthermore, he enjoys the especially diverse voices the SGA has this year.
Joel Crump, the Sophomore Class President, said that he likes being in the SGA because he relishes “being able to add to our community.”
Additionally, Crump said that the SGA meetings are “a great moment to talk about our community and talk about what we can add.”
The administration chooses to accept or reject a proposal after hearing it and occasionally will accept a proposal but add caveats to it. For example, the administration will shift dress-down days and class cup events depending on whether they feel it will impede other school events.
This year the SGA has attempted to gain more student involvement by increasing the number of class cup events, organizing different school-wide events like gingerbread house-making competitions, and trying to improve on the Homecoming dance. It currently plans on holding a March Madness event as well as another t-shirt competition to raise school spirit.
Former Junior Class President and current Senior Class President Julliete Naddelman said she is in the SGA because she loves the people and “loves the idea that [she] gets to change things to a higher level at the school.”
Mr. Tajan and Ms. Cobb sometimes refrain from sitting in on SGA meetings. According to Mr. Tajan, “Sometimes not having Ms. Cobb or me there, allows for more open conversation.”
When Mr. Tajan and Ms. Cobb stop by at meetings, they check in, give announcements, and get feedback from the SGA to see what went well and what could be better at school events.
“What we like is that the student leaders are advocating for changes in the community,” Mr. Tajan said.
What most people may not know is that SGA meetings are open to any student in the upper school. Most people will come if they have an idea to propose, but it’s also a great way to see what it is like to be a part of the SGA and maybe inspire someone to join next year.