By Tory Hyde
UA student Price McGiffert recently was elected Student Government Association president. McGiffert is a junior majoring in civil engineering on the STEM Path to the MBA. We interviewed him about what he plans to do in office.
What do you hope to achieve as SGA president?
Price McGiffert: During my term as SGA president, I hope to create a long-lasting relationship with the student body so that our students know that SGA works for them and that they can come to us to voice their concerns. The safety of our students is imperative to me, which is why I included several safety aspects in my platform that I plan on accomplishing during my time. Overall, I want to achieve student-driven projects that will create a meaningful impact on our campus for years to come.
How do you plan to achieve these things?
PM: The only way to accomplish my goals for the year is to work diligently and to collaborate with as many people as I can and never stop working to better our community. Making my vision for our campus a reality is going to take a team effort, and working with the countless intelligent and driven individuals on our campus is one of the things I’m most excited about.
What are your duties as SGA president?
PM: The SGA president is held responsible for voicing student concerns and creating change to help make student lives better on and off campus during their career at The University of Alabama. My campaign was built around the theme that we, as a community of students, are better together, and I can’t wait to tackle the issues and create solutions for our students as a collective body.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future (as in your career)?
PM: “My goals are really to continue the work that my family has been involved with in Tuscaloosa through construction and real estate businesses and to continue to be an advocate for the state of Alabama and people in general by pursuing a career in politics.”
How do you balance school and being SGA president?
PM: “Planners and calendars. I write everything down, keep a running list of reminders and to-do list items, and have multiple digital calendars to make sure I’m on top of what I need to be doing. It can be overwhelming at times with a full course load in addition to managing my responsibilities in SGA, but I have learned that being organized is truly the key to the balancing act.”
What are some challenges or unexpected responsibilities you have encountered while in office?
PM: “One of the most challenging aspects has been separating my time so that it can be used in the most effective way possible. I want to sit in on every committee meeting and serve as many people as I can. So, keeping track of my time and managing it effectively is something that has proven to be a bit of a challenge.”
What’s your favorite part of your job?
PM: “We have a truly incredible student body at The University of Alabama. My favorite part of being involved in SGA is the ability to meet so many impressive and diverse students who come from all over. I love hearing about everyone’s journey to The University of Alabama and getting to know them on a personal level.”
What’s your favorite thing about the University?
PM: “The fact that we are such a large institution but it still feels like home. I can’t walk to class or go to grab lunch without running into someone I know, and, for me, that makes UA so much more personable. Our campus has this innate ability to envelop you as a person and help guide you to where you want to go in life. It’s something that I don’t think you can find anywhere else.”