The Student Government Association at Southeast Missouri State University is ready to begin a packed semester of policy changes, events and new opportunities for students.

SGA’s first event is a forum titled “Improving Intergroup Relations,” which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the Academic Auditorium. The goal of the forum is to discuss ways the university can improve intergroup relations by promoting discussion and engagement.

“As a result of some disparaging remarks and some distasteful behavior that occurred on campus this past semester, members of the Student Government Executive Board got together to determine how this institution can better support students on and off campus feeling welcome, respected, safe and appreciated,” Peyton Mogley, SGA president, said.

Mogley said she hopes the panel discussion will be the first of many ways to create a welcoming environment at Southeast will assist in increasing the retention rate at the university. She also hopes the panel will show students the university is aware of and empathetic to the students’ needs.

The forum will consist of seven panelists, including three members of faculty and four students. Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success and dean of students: Dr. Tamara Zellars Buck, associate professor of mass media; and Dr. Chris McGowan, chairperson of the University Sustainability Committee and dean of the College of Science, Technology and Agriculture will be the faculty panelists. SGA is in the process of taking student applications to be members of the panel. Interested students can apply at https://semo.wufoo.com/forms/student-panelist-interest-form/. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Jan. 20.

This semester, SGA also will be asking student organizations to send in weekly updates and announcements.

“A lot of what Student Government has been working on is trying to improve opportunities for all of us to be as inclusive as possible and reach as many students so they understand we are a resource for them and we want to truly help,” Mogley said.

As part of SGA’s efforts to increase engagement with students, student senators will be participating in “SEMO Speaks Now,” a series that will allow student senators to be available to students to answer questions and help determine the needs of students in each college. Senators will be stationed at a booth in a building pertaining to their college to have discussions and meet with students a couple of times per month.

“We hope this effort will help allow our student body to understand what we do as a governing body and, again, how we’re here to help,” Mogley said.

SGA also is working to expand representation opportunities to students at Southeast’s regional campuses in Malden, Sikeston, Kennett and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In the first week of classes, SGA is sending surveys to students at those regional campuses to judge whether those students are interested in participating in SGA’s weekly meetings via Zoom, technology that allows two-way video communication. Regional campuses would be able to have student senators for the first time in Southeast’s history.

SGA meetings are held at 8 p.m on Mondays in the University Center Ballroom and are open to all Southeast students.