The Student Government Association (SGA) addressed a variety of topics during the Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting, including a referendum to support the undergraduate diploma printing process and longer hours for Longwood- managed apartment community facilities.
This week’s open forum began with discussion about students’ search for jobs. Senator Joe Gills said students have had trouble finding jobs both on campus and in the Farmville area, and wondered if some of the facilities and grounds keeping positions could be offered to students.
President Haley Vest said that the university is a major employer to Farmville citizens and it could be harmful if those jobs were offered to students as well. However, she said job offers of those kinds might be possible as the university grows.
Executive Senator Adam Fletcher asked if there could possibly be a Redbox movie kiosk on campus. Vest said she would look into this option. Senator O’Neishea Edmonds mentioned that Longwood Village residents are working to get the gym to open earlier by extending desk aid hours. She suggested that Lancer Park residents could write a petition
for earlier gym hours as well. Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) Representative Tristan Cunningham said if the gym was open later, there would most likely need to be more desk aids, which would create more student jobs. Vest suggested that Cunningham work on a poll for Lancer Park and Village residents.
For Vest’s executive report, she announced that more than five percent of the campus population registered to vote through TurboVote.
Longwood had the highest percentage of students sign up through the system.
Vest also showed interest in having a Town Council SGA representative.
Gills said there is a need for a name for the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), academic research and inquiry.
He said there will be prizes in the form of Lancer CA$H. The name is set to be chosen by Thanksgiving.
Student Services Committee chair Haley Socha said the Parking Office is looking into putting an additional crosswalk outside Cox Parking Lot for safety reasons. They are in contact with the Town Manager’s office.
Socha said the issue of the lack of trash cans in women’s restroom stalls is also being addressed, but will apparently take a while.
Vest moved to approve a referendum to maintain the current undergraduate diploma printing process (students’ degrees are listed but their majors are not). The Senate approved the motion.
Treasurer Alex Julian then brought forward several allocations on behalf of the Student Finance Committee (SFC).
The Senate approved the motion to allocate $7,000 to SGA, National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Student Diversity and Inclusion Council, and SEAL for a keynote speaker, as well as accommodations for other diversity and inclusion social injustice speakers. The funds were allocated from the EPAA account.
The Senate then approved a motion to allocate $2,346.25 to the Residential and Commuter Life Advisory Board for a commuter luncheon, the annual Campus Safety Walk and trunk-or-treat event.
The SGA also allocated $444.22 to the Longwood Association for Teachers of English for a conference in Williamsburg.
While an $8,150 allocation for Lancer Productions’ Late Night Event and Issues in Awareness went through SFC, an organization representative was not present and a motion to move on was approved.
The Senate then approved a $520.34 allocation to Longwood Outdoor Club for paintball and camping trips.
Students, faculty and staff interested in seeing how the SGA works can attend the next SGA meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in the BC rooms of Lankford Student Union.
