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From: Student Government Association
Date: February 27
Subject: Student Government Association February Newsletter

Student Government Association February Newsletter

Welcome to the Student Government Association Newsletter!

As the semester continues to build momentum, the Student Government Association presents the February edition of the newsletter. February proved to be an impactful and engaging month for both SGA and the greater West Chester University community.

Inside this month’s edition, you’ll find highlights from initiatives and events such as Town Hall discussions, the Majors and Minors Fair, and the Presidents Panel to campus-wide engagement experiences like Org Wonderland and our Philadelphia City Hall trip. We also celebrate milestones in student leadership through the 1871 Awards, recognize our Senator of the Month, Lizzie, and share updates on allocations.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to get involved, share your perspective, and help shape the future of student life at WCU.

Org Wonderland

SGA was proud to take part in Org Wonderland, a glimpse into spring involvement at WCU. This student organization “snow”case brought campus to life, offering students the opportunity to explore the many clubs, programs, and leadership experiences available this semester.

Throughout the event, SGA had the amazing opportunity to connect with students and fellow organizations, sharing information about our initiatives, upcoming events, and ways to get involved in student advocacy.

Org Wonderland served as a reminder that involvement is at the heart of the student experience. Whether joining a new organization, stepping into leadership, or simply exploring options, events like this open the door to building connections that have a lasting impact.

February Town Hall: Academics

The Student Government Association and the Office of Student Engagement brought the West Chester University community together this February for an impactful Town Hall focused on Academics.

This event created space for students to speak openly about their classroom experiences, academic resources, advising, accessibility, and the policies that directly impact student success. Attendees had the opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, and hear directly from campus leaders about ongoing and future academic initiatives.

The Town Hall reinforced SGA’s commitment to advocacy and collaboration, ensuring that student voices remain central in shaping the academic experience at WCU.

To encourage participation and celebrate engagement, three iPads were given away to students in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and helped move the conversation forward. Your voice matters — and it makes a difference.

Philadelphia City Hall Trip

Members of the 38th Assembly traveled to Philadelphia for a memorable day of civic engagement and recognition at City Hall. SGA senators were honored to attend Philadelphia City Council’s introduction and passage of a resolution officially designating February 5, 2026, as Citywide Student Government Day.

Hosted in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement, the event brought together student leaders from across the City of Philadelphia to celebrate the impact of student governance and youth leadership. Councilmember Anthony Phillips introduced the resolution, highlighting the vital role student governments play in advocating for their peers and strengthening communities.

The experience provided senators with a unique opportunity to witness local government in action, connect with fellow student leaders, and represent West Chester University in a regional celebration of student voice and civic participation.

Presidents Panel

SGA President Derrick represented the Student Government Association on the 2nd Annual Presidents Panel, hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists. The panel brought together some of the top Black student organization presidents on campus to share their experiences, leadership journeys, and insights on building and sustaining successful organizations.

Open to all students, the event created a powerful space for learning, inspiration, and community connection. Attendees heard directly from student leaders who once stood in their same position, exploring involvement, developing confidence, and growing into leadership roles that now shape campus life. By hearing from people across our community and sharing their stories, the program gave aspiring leaders meaningful guidance and showed the impact of student-led organizations at WCU.

Auntie Anne’s Student Appreciation — Round 2

On February 5th, the Student Government Association brought back one of the fall semester’s most popular events: Student Appreciation Auntie Anne’s pretzels. We heard the student body loved it, so we brought it back for round 2! Once again, students gathered in the heart of campus to enjoy complimentary freshly baked pretzels, connect with SGA representatives, and learn more about opportunities to get involved.

With 400 pretzels distributed, SGA was able to reach many people across the student body and foster a sense of engagement. Round 2 of the Auntie Anne’s Student Appreciation demonstrated how simple moments of connection can strengthen campus community and keep students informed, involved, and supported.

Major of the Month

At-Large Senator Elizabeth Leyvaguidici is leading the initiative to spotlight students from a variety of majors each month, celebrating the diversity of academic passions across campus. By intentionally highlighting students in different fields of study, Elizabeth helps to showcase the breadth of talent, perspectives, and career aspirations within our community. From STEM to the arts, education to business, this monthly feature not only recognizes individual achievement but also fosters greater appreciation for the many academic paths that shape our campus. Through this effort, Elizabeth is creating space for students to feel seen, valued, and inspired by one another’s journeys.

Major Spotlight: Philosophy & Religious Studies — Featuring Geoffrey A. Martin (they/he/she)

This month, we are excited to highlight Philosophy and Religious Studies through the experiences of Geoffrey A. Martin, a dedicated student in the College of Arts & Humanities and SGA Senator.

Why Philosophy & Religious Studies?

Geoffrey has long been fascinated by religion’s role in culture, society, politics, and the individual psyche. The program offered the opportunity to study religion academically across diverse traditions without a single focal point, exploring how humans across time have engaged with the transcendental and the divine.

What Geoffrey Loves About the Major

Geoffrey most enjoys encountering different worldviews and reflecting on how those perspectives shape their own. Drawn to existential questions, they value being able to read, write, and discuss philosophical and religious ideas daily. The discipline’s emphasis on meaning, identity, and human experience makes each class personally and intellectually engaging.

Challenges in the Major

The field requires deep open-mindedness and introspection. Geoffrey notes that to fully benefit, students must actively work to understand unfamiliar perspectives and suspend judgment, embracing what they describe as “Socratic wisdom.” This intellectual humility can be challenging but ultimately transformative.

Course Structure & Class Sizes

Introductory courses such as ethics, world philosophies, critical thinking, and logic typically enroll 20–30 students. Upper-level seminars, including topics like existentialism, animal ethics, or women and religion, are smaller, more intimate, and academically rigorous, fostering close discussion and analytical depth.

Career Outlook

Geoffrey emphasizes that humanities graduates, especially philosophy majors, develop exceptional skills in critical thinking, writing, argumentation, and leadership. These strengths translate across fields including law, business, politics, education, and community work. The discipline also cultivates lifelong decision-making skills and a deeper awareness of the world.

Why Highlight Philosophy & Religious Studies?

Though one of the smaller humanities departments, Geoffrey believes it is among the strongest pathways to graduate study and intellectual development at WCU. The program intentionally builds high-demand skills such as critical reasoning, cultural understanding, ethical reflection, and persuasive writing capacities that are increasingly valuable across professions and society.

Final Thoughts

Geoffrey encourages students to explore Philosophy or Religious Studies in any way their schedule allows, even through a single general education course. The department offers engaging classes and outstanding faculty that can meaningfully enrich any academic path.

Majors and Minors Fair

Students had the opportunity to shop around for their future at this year’s Majors & Minors Fair. Designed to help students explore academic pathways in an engaging and accessible way, the event encouraged attendees to discover majors and minors they may not have even known existed.

Departments from across the university gathered to share information, answer questions, and provide insight into coursework, career paths, and opportunities within their programs. Whether students were considering a change, adding a minor, or simply exploring their options, the fair created a space for curiosity, conversation, and informed decision-making.

From first-year students beginning their academic journey to upperclassmen refining their goals, the Majors & Minors Fair sparked meaningful conversations about passions, possibilities, and future careers.

Reminder for Student Organizations – Budget Requests

The SGA Allocations Budget Form opened on February 2 and is now available on RamConnect for student organizations seeking funding support. All budget requests must be submitted by March 6 at 11:59 PM to be considered. No late submissions will be accepted.

Organizations are encouraged to plan ahead and complete their forms early to ensure eligibility for the upcoming funding cycle. Don’t miss this important deadline!

Senator of the Month

This month, we are celebrating our At-Large Senator, Elizabeth Leyvaguidici, for her dedication to ensuring that students in smaller majors and minors receive the recognition they deserve. She has been working hard to advocate for these programs and to amplify their voices on campus. She is passionate about this goal because she believes in emphasizing the importance of niche communities on campus. It can be especially helpful for undecided incoming and current first-year students to learn about groups they could connect with. The Student Government Association aims to address the needs of every student and support them during their time at West Chester. This initiative helps fulfill this mission by encouraging students to find a place where they truly belong. Elizabeth also sits on the Ramboree Committee on behalf of the SGA. We are grateful for all of her hard work!

1871 Awards Recognition

The Student Government Association proudly celebrates several members of the 38th Assembly who were recognized with the prestigious 1871 Award: Sakina Zaidi, Gina Crandall, Anthony Forgacic, and Aaliyah Wood. This honor recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to the West Chester University community.

Each of these senators has made a meaningful impact through their dedication to advocacy, involvement, and student engagement. Their work within SGA and across campus reflects the values of leadership and service that have shaped WCU since its founding in 1871.

We commend Sakina, Gina, Anthony, and Aaliyah for this well-deserved recognition and thank them for their continued contributions to strengthening student voice and campus community. Their achievements exemplify the spirit of SGA and inspire future leaders to serve with purpose and pride.

Senator Update — Geoffrey A. Martin, College of Arts & Humanities

Throughout February, Senator Geoffrey A. Martin advanced collaboration between the College of Arts & Humanities, student organizations, and university leadership through coordination, representation, and committee work. As the College of Arts & Humanities Senator, Geoffrey met with Dean Jennifer Bacon to reconnect on spring priorities and identify key programs and initiatives to share with the broader student body.

Geoffrey represented the college at the Academic Town Hall, presenting 11 upcoming Arts & Humanities events and encouraging student groups to engage with lectures, performances, and academic programming. By distributing event information and promoting cross-campus collaboration, he strengthened communication between the college and student organizations while expanding awareness of Arts & Humanities opportunities.

He also continued his work with the Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Experiential Learning, serving as a liaison with the Teaching and Learning Center to advance the committee’s student survey on AI use and experiential learning. Geoffrey coordinated feedback, facilitated revisions, and brought recommendations back to the committee to support development of a clear and effective survey. His work contributes to broader university efforts to understand student engagement with emerging technologies and inform future academic initiatives.