The USA is not the only democracy having an election this year. Yavapai College students are electing leaders for the college’s first Student Government Association.

Early in the college’s 52-year history, a student council advocated on behalf of the student body and sponsored activities. The YCSGA, by contrast, will serve as a partner and a voice in college governance, said Janice Soutee, the YCSGA’s staff advisor and YC Director of Engagement and Leadership.

The new YCSGA is in keeping with the college’s goals to develop transformative student experiences, cultivate future leaders, and provide students a platform to participate in college decision-making, Soutee said.

A group of students who work with Soutee, known as Roughrider Ambassadors, were determined to launch the SGA this fall, despite the fact most students are studying remotely.

“There is never a wrong time for leaders to step up to the plate and make a difference, and there is never a more important time for students to be heard than the present,” said Madelyn Hart, a Roughrider Ambassador helping steer the YCSGA launch.

Nicole Reithal, a principal YCSGA organizer and Roughrider Ambassador, agreed. “Even in seemingly chaotic moments, leaders are still out there. The launch of the YCSGA can give those who are called an accessible platform. For the students, it will be beneficial to have a way to express concerns in a changing environment.”

The YCSGA is developing in two phases this year, with a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer first up for election. Nine student senators representing each of YC’s campuses and centers, will be elected in the spring. YC Professor Chris Tenney is serving as the YCSGA’s inaugural faculty advisor.

Eleven candidates for the four YCSGA cabinet positions are introducing themselves and pitching their platforms remotely ahead of an Oct. 30 virtual Town Hall. YC students will make their choices via electronic ballot box the week of Nov. 9. Election results are to be announced on Nov. 16.

Besides gauging the needs of students and communicating them to college faculty, staff and leadership, the first order of business for the elected YCSGA leaders will be to write a constitution “that will shape the way future generations of the YCSGA function,” Reithal said.

The YCSGA is an open, inclusive body and all students are encouraged to attend future meetings and get involved, Hart said. Students with issues or concerns are also encouraged to attend YCSGA meetings or reach out to the organization’s leadership, she said.

Additional information about the YCSGA is available by visiting yc.edu/ycsga.