The Hive Awards Show held on Thursday evening is one of Alabama State University’s newly anticipated traditions. It is a night dedicated to celebration, student recognition and Black excellence. As the official student choice awards, it allows students to nominate and vote for their peers, creating a sense of pride and ownership within the Hornet Nation. The event’s energy is unmatched, and for good reason. It is student-run, glitzy, and tailored to our culture. It is, without question, a great idea.
However, this editorial board is not quite sure why it is called the Hive Awards since Hornets do not live in hives; they live in nests. Honey bees, hive beetles, wax moths, ants and mites usually reside in hives, whereas hornets, yellow jackets, and termites live in nests. Maybe it was named after a benefactor with the last name of Hives. Be as it may, the evening was really nice, and a 180-degree improvement from last year’s award show.
But just like clockwork, habitual incompetence found its way into what should have been a flawless night. Despite boasting a budget of over $40,000, someone thought it appropriate and even wise to include the inauguration of the newly elected executive Student Government Association (SGA) officers as well as the newly elected legislative officers … at an awards show.
Stop a minute and process that.
That is right. Our newly elected SGA leaders were sworn in at the Hive Awards.
Imagine President Joseph Biden’s inauguration occurring at the Grammy Awards? Imagine President Barack Obama taking his presidential oath onstage at the BET Awards? It is laughable when you put it in that context, but at Alabama State University, it is our reality.
The inauguration of new SGA officers is something very serious and should never be mixed with a celebratory event of that nature. However, even if a pass is given for including it in the Hive Awards, there is still another serious problem. The 2024-25 Student Government Association officers took an oath to uphold their offices until April 30. With the swearing in of the new SGA officers on April 24, 2025, there are now two presidents, two vice presidents, two treasurers and two secretaries. Both are empowered because they were sworn into office long before April 30. As President Joe Biden used to say, “You cannot have two presidents at one time.”
Article II, Section 6A of the SGA Constitution states, “The official term of office for all Executive Branch elected officers shall begin on May 1. The official term shall end the following April 30.”
Check with any political science professor at Alabama State University, and this editorial board is sure they will concur, as a democratic government cannot have two officers in power at the same time, and any time you swear someone in, they are now in power.
The Hive Awards are meant to be fun, engaging and celebratory. The SGA inauguration, on the other hand, is the peaceful transfer of power, which is meant to be more solemn, presidential, professional, and grounded in tradition. Merging the two undermines both. Because of this ill-timed segment, we now have two SGA elected officers operating at once, a direct contradiction to the SGA’s Constitution and university policies.
Traditionally, the new SGA officers take over on May 1, once the current administration completes its term. This is not just custom, it is constitutional.
Yet somehow, in the presence of faculty, administrative staff, students and likely individuals who know the SGA Constitution, no one spoke up. No one paused the glitz, the glam, or the celebrity cameos to say, “This is not the time or place.” And that silence speaks volumes.
Yes, the Hive Awards are student-led, and that is part of what makes them beautiful. But there is always a university presence. Always someone who oversees. And yet, in this case, oversight turned into overstepping and ceremony turned into confusion.
As students, we should continue to support and attend events like the Hive Awards. But we must also start asking harder questions. Who is ensuring that student governance is taken seriously? And more importantly, who is holding the adults in the room accountable when common sense takes a backseat to spectacle?
