The Crimson White Print Edition - February 8th, 2024

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SGA President recognizes successes in State of the School address
Emma Brandenburg
Contributing Writer
SGA President Collier Dobbs
gave his State of the School
address Jan. 30, highlighting
the organization's
commitment to creating
meaningful programming,
legislation and initiatives
while remaining faithful to
campaign promises.
Dobbs’ address was the
second held since the start of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dobbs said that when he
first stepped into office less
than a year ago, he wrote
down five key pillars that
would enhance student
experience.
“Our work has been guided
by collaboration, outreach,
unity, networking and
transparency. Together, we
have made great strides for
our student body, continue
to build upon the strong
foundation set before us, and
have embodied our mission
of students serving students,”
Dobbs said.
Collaboration
The SGA has publicly made
block seating one of its
top priorities.
During the 2023 football
season, Vice President for
Student Affairs Andrew
Fairburn and The Source’s
Board of Governors
successfully collaborated
with UA Athletics to allow
every mySource-registered
organization to apply for
block seating. The SGA did not
receive any appeals.
To further expand upon
the connection between UA
Athletics and campus culture,
the SGA has also partnered
with the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics.
“Organizations can now
request student-athletes
to volunteer at events to
increase engagement,’
Dobbs said.
Further collaborative
efforts consist of Saving the
Tide, a cleanup and recycling
initiative that occurs after
game day, and the selfdefense
series with the UA
Police Department, which
allows students to take up to
three classes per school year
to learn about skills to protect
themselves.
Outreach
This school year, the 112th
administration encouraged
students to get involved
in organizations around
campus, particularly with the
SGA. With the revitalization
of committees, more than
600 students applied to be
members of branches such as
engagement; diversity, equity
and inclusion; and student
affairs.
Additionally, through
the work of deputy press
secretary Reagan Wells, the
SGA has partnered with the
Tuscaloosa Public Defender’s
Office to establish an ongoing
clothing drive to benefit
defendants who do not have
access to proper attire for
court appearances.
“Members of the Executive
Council have also networked
with several other student
governments throughout the
SEC to learn from each other
about ways to improve our
operations that can best serve
our campus communities,”
Dobbs said.
Unity
In 2023, the SGA registered
2,745 students for the DEI
Passport Program, which
furthered its commitment
to establishing a sense of
belonging across campus.
The SGA also held many
fundraising events, such as
the second annual Battle of
the Bands competition held
for the Joe Espy Needs Based
Scholarship. Dobbs noted the
Financial Affairs Committee’s
allocation of $150,377 for
various student organizations.
Other unification efforts
consisted of participation
in Invisible Disabilities
Awareness Week and
advocacy for mannequin
representing an assortment of
diverse skin tones and body
types in the Supe Store.
Networking
The University made
history this year by hosting
the first-ever presidential
primary debate in Alabama.
The Republican National
Committee granted the SGA
the responsibility to allocate
50 student tickets for leaders
around campus.
“This incredible
opportunity allowed students
to engage with natural politics
increased engagement and
positively represented the
student body at this largescale
event,” Dobbs said.
Furthermore, the SGA
collaborated with the UA
Career Center to host a
Student Job Fair and created
the Crimson Character
Citizens Program, a guide that
showcases students’ civic
responsibility to the city
of Tuscaloosa.
SGA President Collier Dobbs speaks at the State of the School address on Jan. 30 in
the Student Center Ballroom. CW / Hayden Hutchison
Transparency
This past fall, the
SGA generated its first
campuswide newsletter,
which sought to inform
students about how the
organization planned to
enrich student experience.
Additional transparency
efforts consist of clarification
from both Financial Affairs
Committee and block seating,
the newly established
advisory board consisting of
students from each academic
college, and the restoration of
the SGA’s directory.
What’s next?
While Dobbs outlined
the list of accomplishments
achieved by the 112th
Administration this year, he
said that the SGA’s work is not
over yet.
Before the next election,
Dobbs and his team plan
to partner with the City of
Tuscaloosa Ambassador
Program. He also plans to
provide students with more
upfront information about
textbook costs, letting them
know how much the books
for a course cost before
enrolling, as well as establish
a fundraising initiative that
will allow students to name a
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