We sat down with Student Body President Michael Parks to review what Student Government has done during the fall semester, and hear about what he has planned for the spring.
Cockstock
The Carolina community-based concert festival was the main initiative of Student Body President Michael Parks. Student Government partnered with Carolina Productions and the Homecoming committee to plan the event that brought in over 8,000 students on Strom Thurmond Field and featured popular artist Rae Sremmurd. Parks said the attendance was far greater than he expected, and Student Government hopes to lay the groundwork for the event to become an annual tradition that will grow to include more of the Columbia community.
“At a school this big, you can’t have enough community events like that," Parks said.
"The crowd is diverse in nature and everyone just enjoys what it means to be a student,” Parks said.
It’s On Us
Parks said that hundreds of students participated and signed the pledge during the Week of Action held in October. The initiative informed students about the national campaign to end sexual assault on college campuses and understand what to do in those types of situations.
Spurs and Struts
When the Homecoming committee made the decision this summer to not include Spurs and Struts and the step show from the week's lineup, Student Government stepped in. The NPHC community planned the step show and student government collaborated with Dance Marathon and Fraternity Council to make the annual event a reality. The response was positive, and over one thousand students attended Spurs and Struts held on Greene Street.
Uber discount
As the university’s contract with Carolina Cab came to an end last spring, Student Government worked to come up with a new, late-night, affordable student transportation system using an Uber discount code. They held a four-week trial period where students registered with their student emails and Uber accounts to see how well it worked.
“It went very well; we’re at a place now that I can tell you that procurement for a state entity like USC is a very complicated thing," Parks said. "That’s one of the biggest things I’ve probably learned in the last semester that that’s very complicated.”
The trial period gave Student Government numbers and information that will help them better reach their goal of restoring a safe ride programs. According to Parks, they plan to do so by looking at the trial period and determining whether they can afford it, or need to find funds from somewhere else or reevaluate their options.
Veterans initiatives
Student Government appointed a secretary of veterans affairs to the cabinet. Parks said the purpose of the position is to work towards initiatives to serve veterans on campus such as priority registrations and advocating for veterans to have a stole or cord to wear and be recognized with at graduation.
$1 water bottles
Student Government, with the help of the athletic department and athletics director Ray Tanner, secured $1 water bottles for students during the second half of home games. This eliminated the profit margin target at students before and helped with safety and health of students at hot games when hydration is normally an issue.
Greek affairs committee
With more than one fourth of students being members of the Greek community, Student Government compiled a committee of 30 students that represent over 80 percent of Greek chapters on campus to meet bi-weekly. Parks said the purpose is to keep Student Government keyed in on the future growth of the community with university projects like the Greek activity center and other things up for debate.
“We look forward to the rest of our term of working for the student body and adding to the successes of our first full semester in office. Next semester, we look forward to continuing to visit student organizations to market the initiatives that have just begun to be put in place. Additionally, we will begin to lay the groundwork for planning the second annual Cockstock and establishing a long term safe ride program. I am excited about our progress this term, but I am even more excited for our future,” Student body Vice President Ross Lordo said.
Higher education report and honor roll
Parks said this report will be a collaboration between Student Governments at USC and Clemson, the major universities that receive state funding for the state legislatures, with the intent of giving the student body a way to give recognition to those in the state Senate and House of Representatives who are supporters of higher education in South Carolina. The report, to be released on Jan. 9, will also include a policy section that is a "wish list" of things students from both campuses need. According to Parks, the No. 1 issue in the proposal is for a bond bill that would allow additional funds to operate universities and provide students with a more affordable college education.
Four executive system restructure referendum
Last month, Student Government passed a referendum to add a speaker of the student senate and allow the vice president to pursue initiatives with the student body president. Next semester it will be on the ballot for the student body to vote on in February.
“It’s the system that most of our SEC counterparts use and it's very practical and it's time that we transition to that," Parks said. "I certainly urge and hope that the student body will vote 'yea' for it on the ballot in February."
Additional student space
Student Government has begun to advocate to administration and the Board of Trustees and push for additional student union space for students on campus. The Russell House provides only 5.5 square feet per student, and with a continually growing enrollment, Student Government hopes to work toward this next semester and in the future.