SGA Confronts Election Concerns
Brooke Burger
Editor-in-Chief
With the upcoming Student Government Association elections, the main topic of discussion at the SGA and Student Activities Board meeting Tuesday, April 8 revolved around problems encountered with the elections and the SGA Constitution.
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| Photo by Eric Bell |
| Long-Table Discussion - Students discuss topics concerning the upcoming SGA Elections and the door prizes for the upcoming Late Night Breakfast to take place during finals week. SGA will hold its final meeting for the 2007-08 term Thursday, April 24 at 12:30 in the Caucus Room of the University Center. |
Some members of the associations voiced concerns about some candidates running for office, who never attend the meetings. Members of the group also voiced concerns about the bylaws on the Student Senate, which no longer exists.
When senior Landon Grimes assumed the presidency during the fall 2007 semester, he wanted to restore the Student Senate, a program that would allow two student senators to represent students in each department on campus.
The program originally ended because of lack of student involvement and interest. Grimes spoke with some departmental heads about restoring the Student Senate program, but did not receive enough support to reinstate it.
According to the SGA homepage, the constitution has not been updated since 2002, and is, therefore, still based on the Student Senate program. During the meeting, members said the packets to apply for candidacy are confusing because most of the bylaws were established on a system the association no longer uses.
"We're seeing problems and we're fixing them as we go," said Lindsey Kight, director of Student Programs and Activities.
Due to the fast-approaching end of the filing period, Kight decided the group could not start revising the constitution until after the elections. Instead, Kight suggested that the new officers correspond over the summer to begin revisions to the constitution, including the issues with voluntary meeting attendance and the obsolete Student Senate program.
Campaigning for this semester's elections will begin April 14. Elections will take place at various places around campus April 21 - 23. Kight invited all members and candidates to stop by the voting booths to make sure they do not have any questions or concerns about the voting procedures.
The SGA and SAB also discussed plans for the Late Night Breakfast, which will take place May 1 at 9 p.m. in the John F. Gibson University Center cafeteria.
The Late Night Breakfast, set during finals week, provide students a chance to unwind and have a little fun during the stressful period of final exams. Aramark will provide the food free of charge, and members of SGA and SAB will serve the students.
The event is free and open to all current students. Kight said last year the event received a good turn out last year, and the group may have to consider moving in more tables and chairs to accommodate the anticipated large crowd for this year's Late Night Breakfast.
Students who attend will have the opportunity to win several door prizes. The group discussed several possible prizes. However, Kight had to first price each suggestion before the group can make the final selection. Prizes considered include:
- HD Plasma Television
- DVD Player
- iPod Touch (same as iPhone without the phone)
- Wal-Mart gas cards (two $100, four $50 and eight $25)
- Laptop
- Digital Camera
- Dorm-room Refrigerator
- Stereo System
- Bookstore Gift Basket
- Nintendo Wii
- Bookstore Stipend (for fall semester)
Other topics of discussion include a request for funding for Mocha Madness by Creative Society Choragus Jeffery Trotter and an update on the Phi Lambda Chi softball charity event from fraternity member Jonathan Greenlee.
Due to the upcoming elections, the group moved the next SGA and SAB meeting from the normal Tuesday meeting to Thursday, April 24 at 12:30 p.m. in the U.C. Caucus Room. All current students are invited and encouraged to attend.
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