How to Use Your Senators Effectively: Tips from Senator Jack Dougher
Lucy Olmstead | lolmstead@butler.edu
Sophomore Lacy School of Business Senator Jack Dougher initially decided to run for Senate in order to be “[the] liaison between the student body and higher officials,” he continued. “Throughout my first year, I saw specific growth within my business skill-set and wanted to expand my interpersonal skills. All while befitting the community that gives me a beyond sufficient educational experience.” To Dougher, being a Butler Student Senator “allows [him] to help serve the Butler Community and the Lacy School of Business that [he] knows and loves.”
“My job is to act as a liaison between the Lacy officials and the student body, to improve and better the student experience for those within the walls of Dugan Hall,” he adds. “Within the Senate, we start with addressing Student Concerns, where students have the opportunity to come into the Senate and voice their concerns about any issues that they see around Butler’s campus. Further, we vote to pass resolutions that may range from campus initiatives to granting funds for SGA Approved Student Organizations. Our goal as a Senate through these resolutions is to create the best student experience and to be the voice for ALL students on this campus.” Dougher stated.
“Currently, the Student Senate has 38 senators: two from each academic college, residential area, and class. Each individual Senator represents those students within their respective positions, as well as having a duty to serve the entirety of the student body within the Senate Meetings.” Dougher explained as he discussed the current organization of the Senate.
Recently, Butler’s Student Senate took a vote to determine a possible new way to organize the Senate more effectively. “This current outlay has been redistributed and reallocated to allow the student body to be properly serviced by SGA. In total, there will be 20 undergraduate student Senators. Eight will be class representatives (two from each class). The remaining 12 Senators will be divided between Academic Colleges based on the student population within them.” With this Senate organizational change in place, Butler’s next Student Senate will be proportionately diversified according to each Academic College’s population.
The Senate works hard year-round to help advocate for students across Butler’s campus. When Dougher was asked how students can use Senators to implement change on campus, he responded, “As a Senate, there is the ability to create change within Campus through our communication with Butler Officials. If a student wishes to implement change that they see need be, they have the ability to contact the Senator that represents them, which could be found on the Butler Student Government Association Website, and if their suggestions benefit the entirety of the student body, it is the Senate’s goal to create that change.”
If you are interested in learning more about your Senators, please visit the SGA website https://butlersga.org/. You will find each Student Senator under the Legislative Branch and can contact them via Butler e-mail.