Melisa Gurkan '23.5SGA Feb Senator; Speaker of the General Assembly
I got to know everyone in my Feb class pretty quickly. From the positivity I received during my campaigning, I was sure I wanted to speak for Febs and knew I was making genuine connections with the 85 other first year Febs. With the amazing conversations I’ve already had with my class, there’s no doubt that I will be able to have more discussions about how the SGA can make the campus better. Do we need tissues in the classrooms when everyone’s beginning to get sick? What about providing presentations about SGA meetings every so often to show the student body what the SGA discusses each week? We pass several resolutions and are in constant communication with faculty but I’m aware that perceptions about the SGA need to be strengthened. I want to take initiative to bridge the gap between SGA and the student body.
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Major: Undeclared Interests: Mischords; Windsurfing; Dance; Baking; Cooking; Scrolling through Pinterest |
Mistaya Smith '21.5SGA Feb Senator
I joined SGA to make sure that all members of the community, particularly Febs, feel welcomed and heard on campus. I work to turn student’s concerns and ideas into improved realities and am currently working towards this goal by assuring that all students feel a part of the classroom in remote learning. I recently worked with the Co-chair of Community Council to passed two bills, one listing ways to make remote learning more accessible and equitable and a second requesting that Middlebury hire teaching assistants to help with remote learning in the future. My current goals, therefore, include working with the administration and faculty to enforce these bills come fall.
Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia
Major: Geography; Political Science Interests: Running; Hiking; Reading; Gardening; Sharing these things with friends and family Previous SGA Positions: Feb Senator; Senate Appeals Committee; Sophomore Committee |
