LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Actions Count At VCU! Positive Change Begins with
you:

Better student government doesn’t come from above-it
comes from within. It begins with each of us. The Student
Government Association is a reflection of ourselves. When
we participate in the selection of our representatives, we
earn the right to be critical of their performance. When
more students become interested in, concerned about
and connected to student government, that government
will become more responsive to the students. We get the
government we deserve. We deserve better.

Our principal responsibility as citizens in our student
community is to participate in the selection of our representatives
. to vote! Do you realize the tremendous
power the SGA has to affect your life? SGA is the only
effective voice you have in the management of VCU.
Consider how many important decisions the university
makes that affect you on a daily basis, from food services
to health services to book purchases and sales to financial
assistance. Consider the impact the city of Richmond has
on your university experience. SGA is your only lobbyist
in those decisions. The transformation of the SGA into a
more-effective student voice begins with you!

Selecting your leaders is the beginning. In seeking to
represent you in leading the SGA, we don’t pretend to know
all the answers. Without listening to you, we don’t even
know all the questions. Only you can tell us what you need
to make a better VCU. We are Virginia’s largest university.
We can become Virginia’s best university. And while we’re
at it, we should seek to make it an even better bargain. We
strive to become servant leaders . facilitators . a voice
for all students. The students, the administration and the
SGA are not adversaries. We can become interdependent
collaborators in our university community working to
stimulate creative imagination and energetic responses that
positively affect everyone. In dozens of daily ways, each of
us can identify improvements. Working together, change
can happen. The focus isn’t only on getting more for less.
The focus is on better solutions, taking into considerate
account the concerns and conditions of all our constituents,
customers and citizens.

Better government is not a burden. It is a service. It is
uplifting! Upon our graduation, we will know where our
university is growing. And we will proudly represent VCU
in our varied communities as better-prepared citizens. We
will be the powerful and positive product of responsible
personal development, effective student government and
enlightened university management. We must create the
VCU of tomorrow. Our time has come. We are ready. This
is our time! We are ready!

-Students for Positive Change on Democracy