Jack Shea and Kaylee Grace
Photo Courtesy of Kaylee Grace
BY JACK SHEA AND KAYLEE GRACE
[Editor’s note: Jack Shea and Kaylee Grace are running for 2025-26 SGA executive president and SGA executive vice president. They are challenging incumbents Emma Gavazzi and Ben Vitale.]
We are concerned about the recent decision by the Student Government Association to prevent chartered clubs from endorsing candidates for public office or SGA positions. This ruling limits free speech and reduces the opportunity for students to share opinions and engage in meaningful discussions. Student organizations are key to campus life, and this decision strips them of the ability to express their views and get involved in the democratic process.
Clubs are vital components of our campus community — groups of students passionate about various causes, ideas and activities. These organizations foster a sense of belonging and civic responsibility and should be able to express their collective voice and endorse the candidates they support. Restricting this ability diminishes the diverse range of viewpoints and diminishes the democratic spirit of our campus.
What’s especially troubling about this decision is how it was made — without sufficient thought or consultation with the broader student body. It’s reasonable that students are pushing back against this ruling, especially when the SGA should be a body that represents and listens to the voices of all students. Too often, decisions like these are made without considering their impact on the people they affect. The reality is that SGA should be taken seriously, and this ruling undermines that credibility. These are not just policies; they have real consequences on students’ ability to participate in their community.
Even more concerning is the notion that students could be restrained from mentioning their club affiliations when making personal endorsements. While it’s fair to prevent individuals from speaking on behalf of a club without authorization, students should be free to identify themselves as members when expressing personal views. That is not an organizational endorsement — it’s a reflection of personal identity.
Student media outlets, such as WSBU 88.3 FM The Buzz and The Bona Venture, play a crucial role in fostering an informed student body. Journalists should not be bound by heavy-handed restrictions. They should be able to report, analyze and discuss the SGA elections without fear of crossing arbitrary lines. Limiting student media’s ability to offer opinions hinders transparency and weakens the free exchange of ideas.
We are also deeply troubled by the suggestion that clubs may face financial consequences for failing to comply with this ruling. Resorting to financial threats against student organizations is not the answer. There are undoubtedly more collaborative, fair-minded solutions that could be implemented without punishing clubs financially.
The core of the issue here is simple: students deserve the right to freely express their opinions, both as individuals and through the organizations they belong to. This decision by the SGA limits that freedom and discourages active participation in our campus community. Bonaventure should be where students are encouraged to engage, share ideas and speak openly without fear of restrictions.
If we want to maintain a campus that values openness and student involvement, we must ensure that all voices, both personal and collective, are heard and respected.
