We all know that student governments exist, and most educational institutions have them. However, what exactly role they serve is typically up for debate among the various constituencies which run for elected office, as well as within university administrations.
Primary purposes for student government include:
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To provide programs, services, and activities for the student body.
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To provide educational benefits to students through positions and programs which develop leadership, professional, academic, or vocational skills.
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To serve as the official representative for students, and advocate on their behalf to campus, local, state, and national officials.
In each student government, different levels of support exist for each. In a High School ASB, for instance, most priority will be given to purpose 1: presenting activities like dances, rallies, and the like. Correspondingly, its power is relatively weak as the ASB isn't really a voice for anything but school spirit and having a good time.
In contrast, some university student governments can spend an inordinate amount of time on purpose 3: spending most of the time fighting for causes both on and off campus. This only reaches the most politically motivated of students, and makes student officers hard pressed to come up with anything concrete the student government does.
A truly healthy student government must try to balance programmatic and advocacy efforts, so that the organization is relevant to all the students it represents and to decision-makers who have the power to affect the student body. The second purpose is a natural consequence of providing the other functions at a college or university campus. Each organization wants to develop the best leaders and students it can, so that the organization remains relevant over time. While the future of the student government is rarely on students minds (especially undergraduate and law, as short-timers), developing for the future means that your legacy will be one that leaves benefits for future generations of students. And we all want a legacy, right?
