It’s a woman’s world this year in the Student Government Association with the first recorded all women cabinet in the organization’s history.
When choosing her cabinet for her year as Loyola’s SGA president, Makayla Hawkins didn’t intend to make history.
But this wasn’t an intentional milestone to reach. According to Hawkins, when picking out this year’s cabinet, she and vice president Sydney Randall selected the positions purely based on resumé.
But it just so happened they selected the first all women cabinet since 2012, as far back as SGA records go.
“We never had the intention of picking an all female cabinet. It was who could do the job the best, who had the most qualifications. And it just so happened to be an all women’s cabinet,” Randall said.
Randall said there are stereotypes that form around cabinets with different types of members and what they will accomplish. There were stereotypes of an all women’s cabinet being petty, drama-filled, and a mess, but Randall said that wasn’t much of a problem for them.
Rather, Randall said they found something special.
“I like that we can confide in each other. And it might not just be because it’s a female cabinet. But it also really helps to know that you have people that relate to you and that are like you,” Randall said.
But that something special doesn’t end there. Equity and inclusion officer Stephanie Oblena said it was an empowering experience for her to be a part of this cabinet.
“It’s such a special thing to be able to share your work and collaborate with women, especially in a patriarchal society, where we don’t really get to take up the big positions. Even if this is on the smaller front and smaller scale, this is something that means something to us,” Oblena said.
Although the milestone is a special one to reach, Hawkins said the university still has a lot of work to do.
“Although I think it’s cool that we’re the first all-women cabinet, I also think it’s sad that we’re the first one so far,” Hawkins said.
Chief of staff Mia Vitello said Loyola’s upper administration and board of trustees aren’t very diverse. She said SGA having diversity not only in gender, but in race and culture as well, shows how well they reflect the student body and the university should take a note.
“If the representatives for the student body are able to do this,” Vitello said. “There’s no reason why that can’t be reflected in the upper administration of our university.”
Randall said the university can continue to increase this diversity and reach milestones through faculty and upper administration positions without looking to check a diversity box if they stick to their Jesuit values.
As this cabinet’s year term comes to an end, Randall said she hopes they and future cabinets have one common goal: to leave Loyola better than you found it.
