Hello this is Steven Powell with my first blog entry. I have been a part of the Student Government Association for two weeks now and I am really starting to enjoy seeing the democratic process at work first hand. The senate meetings are engaging from beginning to end, and I enjoy the whole new area of cognitive thought that comes with working with this sect of likeminded individuals. My extent of senate involvement at this point does not go any further than the senate meetings and the Environmental Forum, though the forum did spark an idea for my first piece of legislation for which I feel very confident about. The piece is in regards to an old idea that now only travels in whispers, a concept of sustainable sharing that I feel simply screams Boone.  The cognitive wheels are now constantly turning, with a passion to see a feasible, cost efficient, and practical bike sharing network in our town. At this point that is where I stand with SGA but I hope to add drastic expansion in my involvement in this organization.

Being a freshman I am completely new to a lot of things about college, and basking in the freedom that is living separate from parents, I am realizing I have a lot to learn. In high school I regarded the student government as somewhat of a joke. I knew that they were hand selected by teachers, and all in all had little power in regards to the school. Not to mention a budget of next to nothing. Disgruntled, I chose the worst path, apathy.

Upon coming to college I again took an indifferent stance towards Appalachian’s student government, just another organization looking good and adding to their resume. I was then put on probation for skateboarding. To me, this did not seem fair. Why should I be criminalized for doing something I love, while not harming anyone else in any other way? From this rose emotions of exasperation, confusion, and mistrust. I decided to challenge it, not from a conduct point of view, but go directly to the rule, law, or what have you, that I so greatly wished to see abolished. I was advised to contact SGA.

I did not immediately see SGA as my most plausible option; I was considering more along the lines of a rebellion. Coupled with my previously mentioned animosity towards student governments I more or less drug myself into the SGA office in hopes of some meaningful alternative before all out war. I discussed in adamant detail my plans, and to my surprise, especially around the subject of skateboarding, I was met with complete unbridled support.

I was initially very confused on how SGA could help me. But through careful explanation I grasped the process of surveys, meetings, legislation, voting, and more meetings. It occurred to me then that SGA was so much more than some dinky student government in high school, this was a real organization with merit, funding, power of change, and passion. I wanted in.

By filling out a petition, I was able to become a senator. Doing so, even for a short time, had engaged me in campus life and has encouraged me in different an unexpected ways. I am currently working on legislation for the validation of skateboarding on campus, and with help, I’m sure skateboarders will be cruising around campus without anyone telling them that they are wrong to do so.