Legislating and Leading on Student Basic Needs: College Student Government Efforts Toward Inclusion

ABSTRACT

As colleges and universities respond to students’ basic needs, structures and resources such as food pantries, emergency scholarships, housing access, transportation accommodations, mental and physical health efforts, and more become mechanisms for support. One additional structure to respond to and support students’ basic needs is a campus student government. Student governments often act as the voice of the student body to administrators and community members (Goodman 2021; Goodman and Licata‐Hoang 2023; Miller et al. 2006; Patrick 2023; Templeton et al. 2018), and addresses various issues associated with students’ needs (Goodman et al. 2021; Houze 2021). From campaigning to governing, student government leaders across the United States focus intently on how their advocacy efforts can support student access to fundamental necessities (Goodman et al. 2023). This article illuminates student governments’ role in addressing students’ basic needs. Institutions are called on to listen to and support student government leaders through legislation in the form of decision‐making, and leadership in the form of student leaders’ work and advocacy efforts.