Summary
“George Mason University’s Student Government is a permanent standing entity which receives its legitimacy and authority as representatives of the entire student body. We advocate for the interests of our fellow peers, educate the university community with regard to the state of the institution, and represent the interests of each student. Our mission is to do so through serving as a liaison to the administration, faculty, and community.” SG website
GMU Student government, especially the Government and Community Relations committee, and the Students onAir @GMU chapter, are exploring ways to collaborate on the Virginia onAir Hub and the US onAir network of 50 state governance and election hubs.
Our first project is to support livestream debates between Northern Virginia congressional candidates.
OnAir Post: GMU Student Government
News
The 40 George Mason University students who traveled to Richmond for Mason Lobbies on Jan. 26 shared their college experience with legislators and highlighted the need for increasing financial aid for Mason students, increased funding per student, and increased staff and faculty salaries for the university to be more competitive in the Washington, D.C., metro area. They also highlighted Mason’s diversity and production of STEM and workforce-ready graduates.
This was the first in-person Mason Lobbies since 2019 due to the COVID pandemic. The joint effort is led by the Office of Student Involvement and the Office of Government and Community Relations. Students were accompanied by Mason President Gregory Washington, Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell, and members of Mason’s Community and Government Relations team.
“In addition to the policy positions Mason focuses on throughout the year, students brought their own anecdotes and experiences which drove those points home to legislators,” said Lauren Posey, associate director of state government relations at Mason.
Paul J. Wyche, a sophomore cybersecurity engineering major and speaker of Mason’s 43rd Student Senate, helped plan the day. “Our goal was not only to make legislators aware of the lack of funding Mason receives in comparison to similarly sized institutions but also get them energized and passionate about changing this,” he said.
Following the spirited welcome, students split up into groups and made their way to lawmakers’ offices.
Students met with Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera and Mason alumni Delegate Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, and Senator Jeremy S. McPike, BA Public Administration ’97, MPA ’06.
“Get engaged in the political process now,” McPike told the students. “Everything we, as legislators, do touches your lives. Policy, regulations, and education it’s all intertwined.”
Michele Adjei-Fah, a senior biology major who plans to attend medical school, said Mason Lobbies is a unique opportunity for students to use their voices to improve Mason. “It’s important for students to highlight their concerns and ensure Mason receives the support it needs from the state. Being able to address concerns directly to legislators is empowering.”
For freshman government and international politics major Gabriella Grabovska, a native of Ukraine, Mason Lobbies was a front-row seat to American democracy. “It was a great experience for students to look inside how government really works and how decisions are made, while legislators learned more about Mason. Hopefully, they will offer more support for our institution.”
“Legislators are just like us,” Wyche added. “They may seem like intimidating individuals who don’t have time to hear your concerns, but that’s certainly not the case. Most of them enjoy hearing from people, even if they aren’t their direct constituents.”
Delegate Michelle Maldonado said events like Mason Lobbies are valuable for legislators because they hear diverse perspectives that help them make better decisions. “No one group should be burdened with changing society. It’s all of our responsibility to make society better. Listening to diverse groups of people helps us to make better decisions.”
She encouraged students to believe in themselves. “You have all that you need to succeed,” she said “Surround yourself with people who will bring out your skills and talents. There are more people that want you to succeed than fail.”
Posey echoed Maldonado’s assessment.
“The students were professional, organized, and effective,” Posey said. I know we’re all going to be in good hands with this next generation of leaders and advocates.”
List of the candidates Instagram pages.
About
Student Government has undergone many, many changes throughout its history, but our mission has remained focused on advocated for each student. We have three main branches that help accomplish that goal.
Web Links
The Team
Student Government has undergone many, many changes throughout its history, but our mission has remained focused on advocated for each student. We have three main branches that help accomplish that goal.
The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch is comprised of over 25 positions appointed by the Student Body President and Vice President. The appointed members serve directed liaison roles throughout the Mason community in various projects, events, and initiatives. The Executive Branch also contains various boards. These are the Student Parking Board, responsible for hearing citation appeals; the Student Dining Board, which acts as an advisory committee to dining managers; and the Student Housing Board, which also acts as an advisory committee to housing administrators.
Each one of our cabinet positions and board member positions is open to the student body to apply for. If you are interested in any open position, or want to learn more, please contact us at sg@gmu.edu.
The Student Senate
The Student Senate serve as direct representatives for the student body and are elected each fall and spring. Student Senators are required to sit on two committees:
- Administrative and Financial Affairs, which deals with Student Governments budget, governing documents, and Senate appointments.
- Academics, which focuses on academic based initiatives such as Scholarship of the Week.
- Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, which focuses on initiatives related to multi-cultural RSOs, as well as University diversity and inclusion on campus.
- Government and Community Relations, which focuses on liaising with community members, local governmental organizations, as well as state and federal groups.
- Services, which focuses on initiatives related to dining, IT infrastructure, facilities, housing, parking & transportation sustainability, and more.
- University Life, which focuses on initiatives related to student well-being, student involvements, and the atmosphere on campus.
Spring elections are held in the months of March or April for Student Body President and Vice President as well as 30 Student Senators. Fall elections are only open for freshman and transfer students who campaign for 10 open Student Senator positions. If at any point our total number of Senators drops below 40 between Fall and spring election cycles, there is an appointment process for new Student Senators.
If you are interested in joining or learning more, please contact us at sg@gmu.edu.
The Elections and Disputes Commission
The Elections and Disputes Commission (EDC) are tasked with hosting the fall and spring election process, resolving disputes between branches or candidates, and upholding our governing documents. EDC commissioners are appointed to “lifetime” terms (until graduation). If you are interested in joining learning more, please contact us at sgedc@gmu.edu.
Executive Cabinet
The Executive Branch of Student Government is led by the Student Body President and Vice President, and includes the Secretaries and Undersecretaries for each department as well as the Executive Boards.
This branch executes the many projects and policies organized with Student Government. Each member is focused on a particular subject, issue, or program, and works with their Student Senate counterparts to accomplish these initiatives. All Secretaries, Undersecretaries and Board Members are nominated by the President and approved by the Student Senate.
Interested in joining? Please email sg@gmu.edu for more information.
Government & Community Relations
The Government & Community Relations committee is lead by Josephine Petras. Undersecretary for Community Relations and Civic Engagement Chadni Cowpwer and Undersecretary for State and Local Government Affairs is Olivia Nealon.
GMU Student government, especially the Government and Community Relations committee, and the Students onAir @GMU chapter, are exploring ways to collaborate on the Virginia onAir Hub and the US onAir network of 50 state governance and election hubs.
The first collaborative project is to support livestream debates between Northern Virginia congressional candidates. These aircasts (livestream, student-led discussions) will be similar this two minute highlight video of an interview aircast with Congressman Don Beyer.
Mason Lobbies
Source: Webpage
Mason Lobbies is an annual event in which Student Government brings students down to the state capitol in Richmond to lobby state legislators for legislative items that impact Mason and its students. Mason Lobbies is a key factor in maintaining relations with our state legislators to ensure that Mason receives support for financial aid, research funding, and other key issues for our university. This is a special why for the student body to emphasize their concerns and use their voice to make our university better for all.
The opportunity provides students with the opportunity to advocate for themselves and their community by taking the needs of our university to Richmond. The impact of these meetings directly affect the student body in the form of tuition freezes, increases in financial aid, research funding, and much more.
Mason Lobbies usually occurs in late January/early February and sign-ups will typically open early in the Fall semester and run throughout the semester. Keep an eye out for sign-ups on Student Government’s social media! Transportation and lunch will be provided, and students will be given lobbying resources and training prior to the trip to contribute to your professional skill set.
