Student Government prides itself on two things: we have a mandate to be the Voice of the Student Body and we are one unified organization working towards our goal to secure a powerful and focused voice for all students. Though we have not always been a unified body, we have always been the Voice of the Student Body. As a member of the EMU Student Government, you represent the organization and its goals.
When President McKenny formed the Student Council in 1913, his mandate was clear: be the representative body of the Will of the Student Body to the administration. Since our creation, we have strived to best voice the Will of the Students. Student Government is not like other organizations. Our membership is the Student Body, we answer to the Student Body, the Student Body elects us to represent them. No other organization, department, or entity can say they speak on behalf of all students, as Student Government has the great honor and great responsibility to do so.
Student Government cannot pick and choose who they represent or which segment of the Student Body to speak for. Student Government must be all inclusive and must strive to represent everyone. As a member of Student Government, you take an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the rights and interests of the Student Body. The organization alone cannot do these things; it is up to you as a student leader to represent the Student Body and protect their rights and interests.
To best represent the students, and to advance our mission, Student Government works under a system where the whole organization works as one body. The Senate does not stand separately from the Executive Board; they are intertwined into one branch and work together to get things done. Many organizations and departments on campus are organized “top down”—we are not. Student Government is organized so that everyone is on the same level, and everyone has a job to do. Directors are not superior to Senators or vice versa. We work together to put Students First .