One thing SGA has consistently stressed this year is how much they want the students to get involved and voice their opinions, but students attending their public meeting Sunday night wouldn't know it.

 Students rarely attend these forums open to the entire community, and SGA publicizes that they want students to come and get involved. Yet when students do come to speak their minds to those who are supposed to be governing us, they are treated as if they are taking up time for useless jabber.

 Our president John Jewell is willing to respond to issues of racial representation when brought forth by students, but the second our former SGA president, Emi Hurlburt Smith speaks, Jewell can't keep his fingers from moving fast enough on his cell phone. When another student voices concern that our student body president isn't even listening to his own students' comments, she is told not to speak because it's nit-picking and a direct attack on Jewell.

 Who is to decide what is a valid opinion and which is not? Apparently our student government leaders think they can. One student pointed out the obviousness of SGA's agenda at the meeting. In defending himself the SGA speaker at the time, Jeff Schumacher said "As chair I do have power to ignore any student to move debate toward certain things." This only proved more valid that point.

 If SGA really wants the student body to get involved they have a hard time showing it. One SGA member told the crowd that they still are learning as a student body government, but we all need to work together as a community. If working as a community toward a constitution everyone agrees on involves cutting people off, choosing texting over listening to constituents and dictating what opinions on our government can be voiced, then our SGA leaders are doing a great job.

 What may be the worst part is that after all of these opinions are voiced and students' emotions are expressed, it's not our president or any SGA member who comes up with the best solution for the night. It was a student unaffiliated with SGA. He combined everything discussed with a plan of action to move forward. That suggestion was one of, if not the only thing agreed on that night.

 So while we hear SGA telling us get out there and get involved, if this is what happens when they do, why would students want to be a part of SGA discussions? They continuously told students "I appreciate you all being here and I appreciate what you're saying, but ... " If they really want student involvement, maybe SGA should truly appreciate student involvement and leave out the buts.