The Student Government Association (SGA) of Oklahoma Christian University is a long-standing tradition, consisting of a group of students who advocate for the needs of the student body.
In the past years, the SGA has provided students with a plethora of new activities and acts as a force for positive change on campus. The SGA is the main reason for Oklahoma Christian’s recycling initiative, along with other unique opportunities for students such as multicultural events to cultivate an inclusive environment among students from diverse backgrounds.
The SGA also largely supports Oklahoma Christian athletics and works hard to increase student attendance at games by providing free pizza and prizes. Finals resort, intramural cookouts, Eagles in Paradise and Date Week are evidence of just a few more wonderful activities the SGA organizes for the student body.
While the SGA may have concerns other than providing free pizza, this is primarily how the student body perceives the organization.
The mission statement of the SGA, according to its website, claims its job is to serve “as a representative voice for the student body,” and it “works to enhance the student experience through 13 committees.”
The SGA regularly holds meetings, and the minutes for each meeting are accessible through their website. The minutes for each meeting reveal students and the SGA officials voicing serious concerns for specific issues on campus. For the past few years, one of those issues has been the Ethos program.
The Ethos program is Oklahoma Christian’s current model for spiritual life, which replaced the traditional chapel attendance system in the fall of 2014. Ethos allows students to continue attending daily chapel, but the program also provides other options for students to earn “Kudos,” or chapel requirements.
Students are required to reach 65 Kudos each semester (one Kudo per school day), unless they are eligible for a reduction. Should a student fail to meet their minimum Ethos requirements, there are three options for disciplinary action: 1) placing a student on disciplinary probation, 2) placing a hold on the student’s account, preventing the student from registering or obtaining a transcript or 3) the student can pay a fine up to $350.
Students have voiced complaints repeatedly concerning the Ethos program, specifically the strict disciplinary actions involved if one does not meet their Kudo requirement. Some students argue the reduction requirements are too difficult to attain, while others believe the Kudo system should be completely remodeled.
Regardless of their reasons, students are still wrestling with the program as a whole.
This issue was listed on the SGA meeting minutes for at least two meetings last semester alone. As student advocates, the SGA has promised students to push for changes in the Ethos system. Changes which, unfortunately, have never come to fruition.
Since the Ethos program was initiated in 2014, students have presented their problems to the SGA, and each year since, the SGA has promised reform. Reading through the handbook and talking to current students makes it evident these promises have not been kept.
As a Christian university, Oklahoma Christian should certainly have an emphasis on spiritual life. Completely removing chapel would undoubtedly strike at the very core of what this university stands for.
Yet, if the students are asking for change, then change needs to occur. The SGA cannot continue pushing the Ethos complaints to the side for the next group of executive officers. The complaints were pushed aside the past four years.
Which group of SGA officers will step up to the plate and face this issue head on? Will it be this year? Next year? Five years from now?
Pizza parties are great, but the SGA’s main priority should be advocating for student needs. Clearly, students are asking for change in the Ethos program, and empty promises are not going to cut it.
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