SGA administration to host meet and greets

Many people feel marginalized by government, but UCF Student Body President Matt McCann and Vice President Adam Brock want students to know that their voice matters.

Following up on their campaign pledge to be more accessible to students, McCann and Brock set out to talk with students and seek their input and opinions Wednesday morning in the Student Union.

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"Matt and I campaigned on a platform where we going to represent the students and really let their voice be heard," Brock said. "This is how their voices are heard, even if it's just them asking a question, suggesting something to us, or following us on Facebook or Twitter. Even if it means we get one more follower, I think that we've done our job."

Wednesday's meet and greet was the pilot for a program that McCann and Brock plan to turn into a weekly event to take advantage of traffic created by Market Day, a forum outside the Student Union for student organizations and business to reach students.

"Those are the days that we can reach the most students," McCann said. "We're located right in the heart of campus, in the atrium, and we're here to answer any questions and just talk about any issues that they [students] may have. Of course, if students have any questions outside of Wednesday, our office is always open. We're always walking around campus trying to interact with students so that we can create the best student government and the best student experience students have ever had."

And what do the students think?

"I think it's really respectable," said freshman Greg Raymond, who was involved in student government in high school. "Them meeting the new kids makes us feel welcome. I want to find out about what's available and how I can get involved."

Another pair of freshmen, Erika Bentley and Taija Cole, also spoke with McCann and Brock about ways they could become involved with student government.

McCann said that after he finishes installing his cabinet, he plans to work on adding new services and activities.

"We have a lot planned," he said.

McCann said SGA is looking to expand services across the campus such as the SGA's new All Knight Study by the UCF Arena.

"All Knight Study has been a huge success," McCann said. "But one thing that we're really excited about is trying to open up a new express print lab on campus in an area that's not as well utilized when it comes to student services."

In addition to their Wednesday appearances in the Student Union, McCann and Brock plan to use Facebook and Twitter to reach out to more students.

"We've learned that social media is an excellent way to inform students of a lot of the services and a lot of events that SGA puts on," McCann said. "Of course we're trying to reach the greatest amount of students possible…but we're not going to neglect a lot of the paper advertisements that can reach a different demographic of students on campus."

Brock said most students are just getting acquainted with them because it's still the beginning of the term.

"I think it's very pleasing to them that their student leaders are really just taking the time to get to know them rather that just being up in an office," Brock said.

McCann said the event highlights their campaign promise to create a more approachable SGA.

"We're here to cater to the needs and desires of students," McCann added. "That's Student Government's role. We're here to advocate on their behalf and make sure they have the best student experience possible."