My Davidson | A Student Blog Leading With Integrity: A Spotlight on Davidson’s Student Government Association

Student Body President-elect Maya Rajeh ’27 shares how Davidson College’s Student Government Association (SGA) drives campus change—from sustainability and dining improvements to the inaugural Celebration of Honor Week. Learn how Davidson students turn feedback into action within our close-knit liberal arts community.

“I went to a tiny high school—my graduating class was 11 people! As I was touring colleges, I knew I wanted a small, liberal arts school to continue experiencing close relationships with my classmates and professors. My campus tour at Davidson was pivotal—I had a phenomenal tour guide, Annie, who spent an extra hour with me after the tour. She took me to Nummit, showed me her dorm room, and answered my many questions! Her kindness stood out to me, and seeing her interact with friends and peers around campus made me want to be part of this community.”

As a first-year at Davidson, I knew I wanted to give back to a community that already gave so much to me. My high school’s student council was not as robust as Davidson’s Student Government Association (SGA), but I put my name on the ballot for first-year senator and viewed it as an opportunity for leadership growth.

In my first term, I served on two SGA committees: Food & Housing Committee and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. I contributed to projects involving the expansion of dining options in Vail Commons and Davis Café, promoting sustainable move-in/move-out processes, and organizing our first Diversity Week programming. Seeing the incredible work that our group of dedicated senators brought to fruition led me to run for Vice President going into my sophomore year.

What makes SGA so special is that we take student feedback and turn it into real change. I’ve often sat in Nummit and been approached by students who have excellent ideas for the future. From there, I discuss the topic with the Senate and the relevant committee, then propose the idea to the administration. Seeing SGA’s relationship with administration thrive as an open and respectful collaboration underscores how Davidson students are truly valuable community members. Delivering results that better the academic and social student experience remains the most rewarding aspect of the role.

In my term as VP, it became evident that students wanted to celebrate the Honor Code more during the school year, as opposed to highlighting it at the start and end of school years. After all, the Code is a cornerstone of Davidon’s culture and it’s crucial to promote that culture in our everyday lives as students - especially with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence and other tools that may present challenges to upholding the Code. With this in mind, I spearheaded Davidson’s first Celebration of Honor Week alongside the SGA President, Connor Hines.

Celebration of Honor Week was a smashing success! We invited three Davidson alumni – John Kuykendall ’59 (Davidson College’s 15th President), Mary Tabb Mack ’84 (retired CEO at Wells Fargo), and Boris Henderson ’01 (Davidson Athletics Hall of Famer and community advocate)—to speak as panelists about what the Honor Code means to them in their daily lives. Each panelist could speak to different campus involvements and different careers, offering unique perspectives as to how the Honor Code applies to daily life. For example, as a student, Kuykendall served as SGA President, where he worked to create the Honor Council that we know today. The event involved reflection on the role of honor, trust, and integrity in our community. In addition to the panel, the SGA collaborated with the Honor Council to organize a Mock Hearing and a ‘Meet the Honor Council’ event.

Celebration of Honor Week stands as my most meaningful accomplishment on SGA so far, and truly captures the impact of our work. It was a series of events that brought together current and past Davidson students, as well as faculty and town members, in a way that few campus events do. It was also an active response to the student body’s desires and was the first time the SGA and Honor Council teamed up to such a large degree.

At the end of the day, SGA’s success emerges from collaborative efforts between the Senate, other student organizations, and administration. I appreciate how SGA is designed to include students of differing passions and commitment capacity—we welcome Davidson students to all of our weekly general body meetings and committee meetings, meaning you don’t have to be an elected member to get involved in our projects. The Davidson community is treasured, and I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to its growth!