All-woman team of student body officers makes TCU history

By Leslie Fields

Published Sep 17, 2020

Liliana Ogden swears in as the newly elected Student Body Vice President for SGA. (Heesoo Yang/Staff Photographer)

For the first time in SGA’s 107 year history, the student body officer seats are held by women. Video by Leslie Fields

For the first time in 107 years, all three of the Student Government Association’s student body officers are female.

Paige Shiring is student body president, Liliana Ogden is student body vice president, and Gabby Douthitt is student body treasurer.

The female leadership was extended to the SGA House of Representatives when Vivian Noyd was elected as speaker of the House.

“This is exciting for many reasons,” Noyd said. “I think having an all-female group of student body officers is really incredible; you truly have three of the most dedicated and passionate women advocating and serving students.”

This election is exciting for the new officers, but Ogden said it also brings feelings of dispirit.

“Considering it has been 107 years and this is the first time it has been an all-female board of Student Body Officers is insane,” Ogden said. “It is really exciting for us, but it is also disheartening that it took us this long to get here.”

Douthitt said this female force contributes to the efforts of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus.

“With women in the leadership positions, it creates such a cool opportunity to bring in different perspectives on campus,” Douthitt said. “I think women have such an interesting and different kind of passion and heart for the work they do, and that is going to bring a really interesting style of work to the offices we hold in SGA.”

*Statements from the Student Body Officers upon winning the election. (Photos courtesy of @tcusga Instagram*)

Adding to the excitement around the new officers was the connection that all three share.

“Having three women that are not only incredible and accomplished leaders in their own right is exciting, but what is even more exciting is that they are all really good friends,” Noyd said. “As a student body, we will get to see the benefit of having people being able to collaborate easily towards a unified goal.”

Ogden said the three women have great relationships with each other, which is going to expedite their success.

“We all have great relationships, and we are all very driven and focused,” Ogden said. “We all have passions that intertwine and align.”

Ogden’s campaign slogan was “Action Starts Now,” and she has plans to advocate for all students.

“My slogan has driven my entire campaign platform, and it is what I will continue to fight for,” Ogden said.

As for Douthitt, she is working toward equitable organization funding, officer availability, financial transparency and lifetime financial awareness as treasurer.

“I am really excited about what I am working toward this year,” Douthitt said.