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SGA Hosts USD Student Guest Speaker

On Sept. 5, the Student Government Association (SGA) held their third meeting of the year. This meeting included a guest speech, conversations on funding for the Spanish Honors Society as well as the induction of a new SGA member.

SGA heard from guest speaker Brock Brown, a current USD law student and a Student Regent for the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR). Brown spoke to SGA members on various subjects, including the State Union, government funding for students and his upcoming end of term – in which Brown’s term as (SBOR) Student Regent will be ending sometime during June 2024. 

Along with Brown’s end of term announcement, he also gave information regarding open positions and opportunities for students interested in joining the SDBOR, stating, “I got appointed onto the board just by knowing people that were able to recommend me to the governor’s office as well as the governor herself, so if you’re interested shoot me an email.”

The SGA meeting went on to hear from President Lilian Shari and Vice President Sydney Johnson of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Society. 

The honor society is currently looking for further funding as a way to expand both their student and community involvement. Shari and Johnson described multiple aspects in which expanded funding would be beneficial to the Spanish Honors Society, including how funding would aid in planning and executing field trips, incorporating study sessions for lower level Spanish learning students and broadening the USD’s Spanish Department.

 “There are so many benefits to learning a language and whether or not you have the time to put it in your schedule, we want to be there even if you’re just learning about the culture because it makes you a more well-rounded human being,” said Shari.

Finally, SGA members warmly welcomed a new member into the association. Sophomore Waverly Patterson was sworn into the SGA by senior President Caleb Swanson, earning her the position of senator. This position grants Patterson a guaranteed seat at all upcoming SGA meetings as well as a direct say in all SGA votes and conversations. 

SGA’s next meeting will be held on Sept. 12 in the Freedom Forum Conference Room in the Al Neuharth Media Center.