By Jeff Schlueter
Kareem Balance was walking through campus on a typical Thursday afternoon when something unexpected caught his eye: a Student Government Association (SGA) event. The sight of students in discussion, red, white, and blue decorations, and an acquaintance, SGA member Jonathan Callaghan, dressed in a suit sparked his curiosity. Until then, he didn’t realize Cape Cod Community College even had a Student Government.
“I just literally didn’t even know that 4Cs had Student Government,” Balance said. “I saw this red, white, and blue stuff. I was curious. I saw somebody dressed up in a really nice suit coat. What’s this all about? Like, a student government meet and greet? I came in just to get some more information since I didn’t even know that.”
As he listened, Balance was surprised to learn students were actively advocating for campus issues. He appreciated their efforts.
“I really appreciate the fact that there are students who have decided to step up to advocate for students. Oftentimes, I think that in a big organization like a college, the individuals don’t necessarily always feel like they have a voice. I myself don’t always feel like I am heard when I have an issue unless I make a big enough stink, and it gets to someone high.”
That realization changed his perspective. How many other students, he wondered, were unaware of these opportunities? How many voices were missing simply because students didn’t know where to bring their concerns?
For Balance, part of the problem was communication. Like many students, he admitted that he doesn’t check his email regularly.
“I don’t keep a super close eye on my email, just because I’m not super familiar with Outlook, nor am I super comfortable with it. Typically, I’ll check my email if my professor…or anyone tells me they’re going to send me something. But I do like the app called Handshake.” He added that he prefers Gmail.
The conversation between Callaghan, Balance, and SGA Treasurer Brendon DaSilva raised a larger issue: DaSilva agreed that if important opportunities like SGA aren’t reaching students effectively, participation suffers. Balance also pointed out that relying on email alone may not be enough to engage students in campus life.
The brainstorming between DaSilva and Balance contributed to the discussion: Could text alerts, social media or face-to-face engagement make a difference? The men all agreed that by improving communication and visibility, 4Cs could empower more students to take part in shaping their college experience.
DaSilva encouraged other students to get involved, emphasizing that his role in SGA is preparing him for “overall readiness for life” and a promising future. Everyone agreed that having SGA participation on their résumés will help them stand out and improve their career prospects for years to come.
