Student Government is essential to the operation of student organizations and student life on campus, but it often goes ignored by most students.

The last SG election gathered around 3,000 votes out of the 50,000 students who were eligible to vote, making the voter turnout less than 10%.

SG controls a large budget of $18 million, which consists of about $13 million in A&S fees collected during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

One of SG’s legislative branch’s main roles according to SG’s director of advising Bullins is to disperse this budget. For this reason, it is concerning that many students are not knowledgeable or do not participate in SG.

If more students voted in SG elections, students would have a more direct hand in allocating funds in ways they believe will be most beneficial to their fellow Bulls.

Related: USF SG presidential election unofficial results: Jadhav, Esmeraldi win

Chris Bullins, SG’s director of advising, said the SG’s funds support the Student Recreation & Wellness Center, the Marshall Student Center as well as other student success departments. 

Bullins said SG manages funds that support student organizations, including sports clubs. It also offers services such as the Student Government Computer Services in the Marshall Student Center and the SAFE Team.

The funds SG manages also impact student activities. 

Take the MSC, for example. It serves as a multipurpose space for student activity, from hosting club meetings, eating, or using the computer lab to print and access the internet.

Without this funding, students would have limited accessibility within the MSC.

Funding also goes towards student organizations, whether it be food for their meetings or travel expenses, Campus Council being primarily responsible for these funds.

And to put it in perspective, Bullins stated that 200 students were participating in SG compared to a body of 45,000, which causes SG to make up only .4% of the student body on the Tampa campus. 

Yet, they control funding for an entire student body, which would be fine if it were not for low voter turnout, suggesting parts of the student body which don’t actively interact with SG aren’t entirely taken into account.

Related: USF Student Government voting is open. Here’s why some students are voting.

Without students interacting with the SG, it could mean members of SG will be limited to their own perspective and interactions. This could make it harder to determine where the budget is best allocated, possibly overlooking students not related to any student organizations.

But if you want to more directly make an impact on SG, there are many ways to do so.

Bullins said there is a social media account that students could follow as well as a website that has access to updated information about the student government.  

Students can also attend Senate meetings, held every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in MSC 4200 or through Teams.

But voting in student elections is the most powerful way to make your voice heard. If all students were more active in SG, we could make USF a better experience for all.