The Student Government Association (SGA) has worked on many initiatives throughout these past semesters. From making the laundry services free to installing personal days into the attendance, the organization consistently listens to the students and their needs.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the changes we have helped make on campus,” Student Body President Dean Millard said.
An initiative that is near completion is the installation of menstrual product dispensers. At the end of last semester, SGA passed legislation to install two new menstrual product dispensers in different academic buildings on campus.
“SGA remains committed to expanding access to these essential products, ensuring that students who need them can find them conveniently throughout their day,” Student Body Vice President Aleko Zeppos said.
The products will be in women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms and will be regularly stocked by the University’s maintenance staff. The goal is for menstrual products to be more accessible for students across campus who need them.
SGA’s public relations team is working on a new monthly newsletter, which will inform students about SGA’s progress and the changes the organization has in store. Moreover, SGA is looking to extend its outreach far across campus and is creating a new program: the SGA Liaison Program.
“We are eager to offer more programming for the student body to share feedback, suggestions, questions and concerns,” Millard said.
The program will consist of different members of SGA connecting with several organizations on campus. Each member of SGA will be assigned to a couple organizations on campus to help cultivate new relationships with them.
“In SGA, we understand that students will have different opinions about our initiatives,” Millard said. “We make it our priority to listen to the voices of all students and be adaptable.”
SGA has started using artificial intelligence to better support students at Villanova. In the past month, senators from the Villanova School of Business have launched the VSB resource guide on Microsoft Teams. In this guide, there are different resources available for students such as major requirements, internship opportunities and academic resources all in one space.
“Moving forward, we’re committed to expanding this approach across all aspects of campus life, ensuring that students have the tools they need to succeed with greater ease and efficiency,” Zeppos said.
Zeppos said that one of SGA’s ongoing plans with Dining Services is to begin the “reusable takeout box” initiative.
“I have been working closely with new dining director, Andrew Camuso, and after gauging the opinions of students about what boxes we should go with, our program should be ready to launch within a month,” Zeppos said.
The takeout boxes will be synced up to a tracking system called Topanga, which will help limit food and package waste.
“SGA is excited to help roll out this new technology campus-wide and have enjoyed working with dining along this process,” Zeppos said.
Another concern that SGA has been working on is ensuring that campus is properly maintained and safe for all the students. Zeppos shared how he has done walk-abouts across campus with University maintenance leadership to address certain aspects of campus that need to be improved.
“We addressed key concerns such as lighting, the basketball courts on South and West [Campuses], Blue Boxes and one of my next passion projects: revitalizing the South Campus bridge mural,” Zeppos said. “After years of weathering, the mural is long overdue for a refresh.”
Zeppos shared the importance of reinstalling the South Campus bridge mural to its full glory.
“This is more than just a fresh coat of paint,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate Villanova’s values and community. With SGA’s name already on it, we’re committed to bringing this campus landmark back to life.”
Both Millard and Zeppos discussed their time as leaders in SGA and their personal goals for the rest of their term.
“Being Student Body President allows me to help create a more positive experience for Villanova students every day,” Millard said. “My primary goal for SGA is to make meaningful progress for Villanova’s undergraduate student body.”
“Beyond continuing existing initiatives, I hope to foster an even stronger connection between SGA and the student body,” Zeppos said. “Villanova is a special place, and I want to do everything I can to make sure our students feel supported, valued and empowered throughout their time here.”
SGA encourages students to stop by its office in 206 Dougherty Hall to voice any thoughts or concerns. Additionally, follow SGA on Instagram, @sgavillanova, to learn more about the organization and how students can ignite change on campus.
