(DECATUR, Ga.)–On Wednesday, September 24, the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its first town hall of the semester in Alston Hub. Town halls are a space for students to hear directly from SGA leadership and guests, ask questions, and learn about ongoing initiatives that impact our campus community. On this occasion, guest speakers included President Leocadia Zak and members of her cabinet, such as Vice President Chicora Martin and Dean Rachel Bowser. This town hall centered on transparency, student safety, the ethical use of AI, and the broader theme of care for students, staff, and the systems we rely on.
AI: Ethics, Policy, and Student Voice
AI was a recurring theme, both in SGA legislation and administrative updates. Last year, SGA passed a bill banning AI-generated content in their promotional materials, citing concerns around sustainability, plagiarism, and the importance of showcasing student-created art.
“This [was] a bill to prohibit the use of AI-generated images in promotional materials,” explained SGA PR chair Yashi Jadhav, who spearheaded the effort. Parliamentarian Anabelle Magid added that the bill was a direct response to student feedback. SGA bills are only passed on things SGA directly controls, such as policy, student organization funding, and internal changes. Conversely, resolutions, which apply to issues not under direct SGA control, are passed by the SGA and then sent to the President’s Cabinet for approval, after which they are implemented by the administration for the student body as a whole.
On the administrative side, VP for Global Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Yves-Rose Porcena shared that staff now have a formal policy on AI use, echoing many of the values SGA has championed. The policy defines ethical use, responsibility, and privacy, and commits to ongoing training. Faculty are working with Dean Rachel Bowser to explore what ethical AI integration might look like in classrooms. As Dr. Porcena put it: “If you’re going to Decatur Square, you’re not going to take a plane to get there… think of AI the same way.”
When sophomore Genevieve Hill asked for elaboration on the AI policy’s ethical framework, Dr. Porcena encouraged students to read the full document, which defines ethics, responsibility, and confidentiality. The document is located on MyAgnes (https://myagnes.agnesscott.edu/), a portal that the President’s Cabinet, specifically Dean Martin, repeatedly stressed the importance of. MyAgnes is only accessible to users with Agnes Scott credentials and provides an archive of all policies and information released by the administration.
Safety and Accessibility
SGA continues to prioritize student safety, especially in the context of campus infrastructure. SGA President Alexa Robinson emphasized the SGA’s intent to light up the main walkway connecting the campus to the Decatur community. “We care about the greater campus community and making sure that students are getting from the Decatur community back to campus safely,” said Robinson, continuing, “we want to make sure that those pathways get lit up for students to be able to get back on campus safely [and] to be able to see where they’re going.”
In addition to lighting, SGA is pushing for improvements to walkways and ramps, noting that brick pathways can hinder accessibility for students with mobility needs. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to making campus navigable and safe for everyone.
Marketing and Community Engagement
SGA co-sponsorships are a vital way to support student organizations. As Treasurer Kitely Sherman explained, “SGA co-sponsorships are partnerships between SGA and chartered student organizations on campus. A co-sponsorship provides funding for a specific event that is for the greater student community.” Any student organization can apply, and the general SGA body reviews requests.
Vice President Chicora Martin also highlighted new community engagement initiatives, including inviting local middle and high school students to campus for First Fridays. These efforts aim to strengthen ties between Agnes Scott and the broader Decatur community.
Facilities and Food Systems
One bill passed by the SGA last year reflects creative problem-solving around sustainability and student needs. It introduced a system with the “Remind” app to notify students when leftover food is available after campus events. While food safety laws limit redistribution, this alert system helps reduce waste and support students experiencing food insecurity. “The broader community can either opt in or opt out of receiving alerts when there is an excess of food to help reduce waste and support more sustainable efforts,” said Magid.
A similar bill proposed to the SGA this year focuses on leftover meal swipes. As Alexa Robinson explained, “We want to try to implement this system where students can donate their leftover meal swipes at the end of the week.” This would support commuter students and those who can’t afford the meal plan that works best for them.
Resolutions and Legislative Work
SGA also passed two resolutions last year. One encouraged Agnes Scott to create more non-federal work-study positions, expanding employment opportunities for students. The other renamed the Vulcan Teaching Award to the Veritas Teaching Award, aligning with the college’s climate policy and distancing from Vulcan’s harmful environmental record. The award is now funded by a special anonymous donor.
This year, resolutions in progress include a proposal for dual diplomas for double majors, addressing the current limitation where students must choose one degree to display. Additionally, SGA is working to expand the AI policy to apply to departmental use rather than just the Student Government. These, along with any other resolutions, will have to be voted on by the SGA body and approved by the President’s Cabinet before they are implemented.
Administration and Campus Transparency
President Zak reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparency and values-based leadership. Office hours, forums, and town halls remain open channels for student input. Dr. Porcena emphasized: “We have not changed our values, our policies, or the way we run this community.” Staff and faculty surveys at the end of last semester reflected appreciation for the administration’s efforts to protect and support the campus community.
Following these remarks from President Zak and Dr. Porcena, the conversation shifted from broad institutional policy to concerns in student life, centering attention on the residence halls and how they are managed. Isa Duggen, a sophomore, approached the microphone and delivered a critique of Residence Life, calling out a perceived lack of transparency, deflected responsibility, and incongruence between the cost of attendance and the quality of campus housing.
From the audience, the newly appointed Residence Life director, Lynn Arthur, spoke up. Arthur explained that she had chosen to attend so she could be made aware of any concerns students may have, as she had been on campus for only seven days. She spoke with clear urgency about rebuilding communication and trust. She acknowledged that Residence Life cannot immediately solve every issue but pledged to serve as students’ representative and advocate. Her presence and tone worked to comfort students who felt that the office of Residence Life had been inadequate and inspired confidence that the office is moving in a positive direction.
The Bottom Line
Across topics, the throughline was clear: SGA and the administration are aligning to meet campus needs through concrete policy, infrastructure, and partnerships. Policy efforts include the college’s new ethical AI guidelines and proposed changes to expand AI rules to departmental use, as well as SGA-led initiatives like the leftover meal-swipe proposal and the Remind app system to reduce food waste. Infrastructure priorities range from lighting the main walkway to improve nighttime safety to repairing and redesigning pathways and ramps for better accessibility. Community partnerships will connect Agnes Scott with Decatur through First Fridays outreach and strengthened co-sponsorships that fund events serving the whole student body. Keep an eye out for the next SGA town hall on November 13th from 5:30-6:30 pm in Frannie Graves Auditorium, and don’t forget to use the anonymous student concerns form if you have feedback or questions (Student concerns form). As Jadhav said: “SGA members are dedicated to improving student life one concern at a time and will continue to do their best to advocate for student voices.”