On the heels of the unveiling of this year’s SGA campaigns, the current SGA administration took a few moments with The Daily Beacon to reflect on their achievements and next year’s leadership transition.

“I’m a little sad, I feel like it came by so quickly,” Taelor Olive, student services director, said. “It’s a little bittersweet, but at the same time exciting because I feel like a lot of the things we wanted to accomplish we did … like the locked tuition rate, we got a lot of positive feedback on that.”

SGA President Adam Roddy and Vice President Terry Nowell both agreed with Olive and mentioned several other improvements their administration has achieved.

“Personally I feel the tuition lock was our biggest victory, and a great way to start off the year,” Nowell said. “The continual input we’ve had for the app will be our legacy … for future students to see and appreciate.”

Beyond the success of the new UT app, Roddy hopes to accomplish a few more goals before the school year draws to a close.

“We’re working on that food pantry concept,” Roddy said. “If that could get implemented, that would be a great thing for students.”

He would also like to guarantee students have an easier time planning their college expenses by encouraging administrators to give fair warning about tuition increases.

“I’m going to try to present this idea at the Board of Trustees meeting, and it wouldn’t be implemented for a few more years, but I would love to see the tuition announcement be made before the onset of summer,” Roddy said. “That is a big determinant of students taking summer jobs, or rather they go on a study abroad trip.”

While the team would still like to gain more ground, Nowell believes that the student senate has conducted its affairs diligently for the benefit of students.

“I’m really proud of the way senate has run this year,” Nowell said. “I don’t know if we’ve had a more productive senate in the years I’ve been here. Also, to add to that, if we’ve had a more impactful senate. (Senators) are continuing their service of students inside senate chambers and outside them.”

Olive hopes that next year’s administration continues to support the culture that has emerged this year in student services. She offered some advice for student leaders that emerge after spring’s transition.

“I want whoever the next student services director is to make sure that goes smoothly,” Olive said. “In general, it’s less certain things I want them to do and more the mentality of whatever their policies are … first keep in mind you’re here for the students. You are elected by the students and you are here to serve them, so that’s your first priority … and if it’s something that the student’s want, we have to fight for it, we have no other option.”

In line with that sentiment, Roddy is doing what he can to ensure next year’s SGA gets off to the right start.

“I definitely keep in the loop … I’ve told the presidential candidates of every campaign, and the campaigns in general, my advice is free,” he said. “If you ever have questions, whether its involving rule-breaking or violations or what it means to be president, or what that looks like, give me a call or stop by the office … I’d like to think that I’ve extended that hand out at least. But I try to stay as neutral as possible.”

He hopes the new executive board will continue this year’s emphasis on student service and continuity.

“I’d like to think we have set a precedent that SGA is doing their best to provide things for the student body, whether it’s a food pantry, whether it’s really trying to affect tuition,” Roddy said. “I’d love to see SGA not become a year to year organization, because that has been what it has been historically. I challenged our exec board to really think about how they can package all of the projects they are working on and prioritize.”

Nowell conveyed the responsibility candidates will need to assume.

“I think its very important that our future leaders within SGA really take the time to prepare, to research, and to speak out when its necceary, and sometimes when it’s inconvenient,” he said.