Meet the SGA Co-Chairs, Jerry & Melissa

Jerry Volpe '02 and Melissa Murray '02 are not your typical college students. In addition to attending classes, participating in extracurricular activities and balancing social lives, they are also in charge of Holy Cross' Student Government Association (SGA).

The SGA, the largest student organization on campus, is made up of approximately 100 student "senators," each representing a student organization, in the general assembly. Although only senators are voting members of the SGA, all are welcome to attend general assembly meetings. They are held every-other Monday at 8 p.m.

Jerry and Melissa have a myriad of responsibilities in their positions as co-chairs. They preside over a 17-member student cabinet and regularly attend meetings and speak to such College personnel as the faculty assembly and the Board of Trustees. This regular contact with College administrators helps establish good relationships between the students and administration that are vital to enact change.

When elected last year, Jerry and Melissa established a main goal of their administration to gain respectability back into SGA without making it too bureaucratic. According to Jerry, "We are more than another student group; SGA is a resource, a link between students and the administration and we are here to help student organizations have their voices heard." "We believe in the power and voice of students," adds Melissa.

To date, the SGA under Jerry and Melissa has made great strides toward reaching their goals. Some of their major accomplishments include:

Newspaper Readership Program: Thanks to funding and organization from SGA, Holy Cross students can now pick up free newspapers every day in Hogan. "The idea is for students to share the papers - to read them and then leave them in the Student Lounge or Crossroads for the next student to pick up and read. It fosters a sense of shared community," explains Jerry. So far, the co-chairs have received positive feedback from students, and they are currently working with Kimball to meet demands that papers be available in the Dining Hall.

Student Activities Fee Increase: As a result of the many new student groups formed each year at Holy Cross, there has been a lack of funding to meet the groups' programming demands. As a result of months of research and planning, the SGA succeeded in having the Student Activities Fee increased by $20 per student. The hope is that the fee will be eventually tied to a percentage of tuition, so that the amount will increase incrementally over time.

Student Resource Center: In an effort to meet demands to increase student accessibility in Hogan, the SGA has recently approved a new room designated solely as a student organization workspace. The center, located in Hogan 237, will grant workspace to the over 80 student organizations who have no offices. The large space will be filled with computers, filing cabinets, office furniture and supplies, and aims to be open in March.

A psychology major from Haledon, N.J., Jerry co-supervises the residence staff in Healy Hall as the Head RA. He is a part of the Holy Cross chapter of Pax Christi and is active is social justice issues. After graduation, Jerry aims to pursue a career that connects his experiences in counseling, education and leadership.

Looking back on his tenure as co-chair, Jerry is impressed with the energy of the students at Holy Cross. "Sometimes I just step back and take in the energy of the SGA office ... It's so rewarding to see so many students enjoy doing good things for the school. It feels really good to be a part of such a positive atmosphere."

A history/political science double major from Warwick, R.I., Melissa wants to grow her career in politics. Ideally, she wants to monitor international humanitarian aid programs. Among her many activities at the College, Melissa started the Holy Cross women's varsity golf team and plays women's rugby. Active in the Student Labor Action Committee (SLAC), Melissa sits on a national board against sweatshops. She also runs the Allies "Safe Space" program.

Melissa remembers one of her favorite moments as co-chair as being in the SGA office past midnight with a bunch of other student leaders brainstorming programs and plans for Holy Cross. She is proud of SGA's accomplishments and feels good about her part in motivating students toward positive change. "The whole experience has been very rewarding and exciting - it's been an integral part of my experience and education here at Holy Cross."