As students hopped in cars and boarded planes to begin an early trek home for Thanksgiving break, Emory University’s Atlanta campus quieted. Yet energy reverberated throughout the Emory Student Center (ESC) as students gathered to grab Mellow Mushroom pizza and lemonade, catch up with friends and connect with members of Emory’s Student Government Association (SGA).
SGA hosted its first SGA Fridays event on Nov. 21. SGA designed the event based on the weekly Keeping Everyone at Goizueta Social (KEGS) tradition at the Goizueta Business School, a community-building event allowing business students to enjoy food and drinks and connect with peers after a week of classes. While this was a one-time event, SGA President Tyler Martinez (26C) said SGA plans to use it as a pilot for future events. With SGA Fridays, the group hopes to create a space where students can socialize, enjoy food and interact with SGA members in a casual setting.
SGA Vice President of Transfer Student Affairs Hamidah Jimoh (28C) highlighted that SGA Fridays aims to foster connections between students and SGA members.
“This SGA cabinet really wanted a way to emphasize that the student government is here for the students, and we also wanted to be actively involved on campus,” Jimoh said.
In addition to catered food and music from DJ Geronimo, an Atlanta-based producer and DJ, SGA members sat at tables throughout the ESC to share information about initiatives, including the new Peer Advocate Office. Students gathered to play board games, ask questions and chat with peers before Thanksgiving break.
Martinez described SGA Fridays as a way for SGA to build relationships with the student body. He stressed the importance of creating accessible spaces where students can express their concerns to student government members.
“I want people to understand that they can come to me whenever and express their concerns, and it won’t be an argument or anything,” Martinez said. “I definitely want to make sure that, for the rest of my tenure, I’m listening to students and I’m addressing their concerns.”
Martinez added that SGA Fridays also builds on his goal to humanize SGA.
“We want to show that SGA is fun,” Martinez said. “SGA isn't always serious. We do handle a lot of business, but we also want people to: One, see what we're doing, but also understand that we're human too.”
For students like Jada Clarke (29C), the event offered an opportunity to learn more about SGA and get involved with the Emory community.
“I love going to the events, so I really wanted to come support and see what it was about,” Clarke said. “I get to meet new people in our community, and I thought that that was a good networking opportunity.”
Clarke also mentioned the importance of community-based events to increase SGA’s accessibility. She said she would appreciate more opportunities to connect with student government members face-to-face.
“We get to see what they do, but we don’t always get to see who they are,” Clarke said. “Having that opportunity to really see them, promote events and see their faces more would be beneficial.”
For Gloria Nip (29C), it was Professor in the Practice of Finance Thomas Smith who encouraged her and her classmates to attend the event. Despite initial unfamiliarity with SGA, Nip said she was excited to attend future events like SGA Fridays.
“This is something I would definitely come back to, I’d bring my friends back,” Nip said. “Events like this, where people can just socialize and learn more about the organization, they’re really helpful.”
