Originally written for SCOOP Magazine, published May 2018

Eight. That’s the number of female student body presidents that the University of Tennessee has had since its inception 99 years ago. While the organization has grown and changed throughout the years, so, too, have the times.

Senior college scholars student, Morgan Hartgrove, is that eighth woman who gets to tackle the issues during this incredibly tumultuous time for women.

However, Hartgrove says she has been fortunate because she has not had to face any of the discrimination that has been dominating the media since late 2017. That does not mean it’s something that she has been allowed to ignore.

“I just came back from a conference with all of the SEC student body presidents and their student government associations, and there are only three female presidents,” Hartgrove said, “so, when it comes to female representation, I don’t really see that.”

Hartgrove cites the hiring of Beverly Davenport, the university’s first female chancellor as a major step in the right direction to representing women and their leadership. Still, Hartgrove also made it known that the men, especially the different campus organization presidents and the university administrators, have been nothing but wonderful and respectful during her reign.

“I know that I’m so fortunate,” Hartgrove said. “And this is exactly how it should be, you know. Female should not struggle when it comes to being in these roles.”

As Hartgrove’s time with SGA comes to an end, she wants all future female leaders to stop second guessing themselves and take a leap of faith. She said it was something she had to do in order to run, in order to win, and in order to become the person she is today.

“I can guarantee my male counterparts weren’t wondering if they would do well,” she said. “They were wondering if they would win.”