SGA holds first ever State of the Student Body address

Students and faculty gathered in the Lamar P. Higgins Ballroom inside the Trojan Center for a first-of-its-kind event last Thursday afternoon.  

The Troy University Student Government Association (SGA) held its first-ever State of the Student Body address. SGA President Caleb Smith, a senior risk management insurance major from Gadsden, Alabama, along with university leaders, focused on one central theme — transparency. 

“Transparency means talking about everything that SGA does,” Smith said. “That includes things that we’re passing, events that we’re holding and plans we’re making for the future. 

“We had so many students who were here today who are not involved in SGA, and they wanted to come see what it was all about. Getting people who not only know what we’re doingbut getting them involved in what we’re doing is what we want.” 

During the address, Smith highlighted several major accomplishments made over the past year, including reorganizing the student senate and holding a successful homecoming week.  

Dr. Hawkins speaks during the address as audience members listen on. (Quang Le photos)

According to Smith, his favorite accomplishment is when students and organizations come to the SGA to get something done or share new ideas. 

University administrators also took part in the address. Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Associate Dean of Student Services Dr. Korrie Lynn Williamson and Senior Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Sohail Agboatwala all praised Smith and the SGA’s commitment to serving students. 

“Caleb [Smith] and I have talked about where Troy is headed,” Sohail said. “One of the points Caleb wants to make is that the SGA is a central student organization on campus. 

“It is not to serve the SGA senate; it is to serve all students. Caleb and his senior leadership staff and the whole senate have done an excellent job at that.” 

Hawkins echoed the message of transparency and emphasized the role of leadership in uniting the campus community. 

“Leadership does require transparency, and I think real leadership is about bringing people together and not dividing them,” Hawkins said. “I know that’s what you all are dedicated to and we are to at the University administrative level.” 

Smith said serving as SGA president has been an honor and hopes the state of the student body address becomes a lasting tradition. Elections for executive officers were held March 4.Check out The Tropolitan next week for a story on the new officers.