SGA Brief Aug. 30, 2016

In this week’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, a new senate bill was approved by the senate. The bill involved the Graduate Student Association (GSA) as well as Resident and Commuter Life (RCL).

In the bill, both the GSA and RCL are allowed to receive lump sum allocations and become exempt from certain Student Finance Committee (SFC) spending policies and per diems. The bill adds how GSA will receive $5 per graduate credit hour enrolled where student fees are generated. In addition, $1,000 will be guaranteed to the GSA that will be given at the start of the year for programming. These funds will be used for events as well as opportunities for the GSA. 

The bill also exempted GSA from the per diem rules, which limits how much they can be reimbursed for travel. Treasurer Dustyn Hall said per diem state regulations prohibited the university from paying over 32 cents per mile when reimbursing travel costs like gas or bus rentals.

Hall revised that section of the bill to follow state laws to reflect the 32-cent limitation, finalizing the bill. The finished version was then passed by the SGA.

Vice President of Student Affairs Tim Pierson disclosed to the SGA that a lot of the construction on campus was on the master plan and wasn't primarily for the upcoming vice presidential debate, but moved up because of the event. These projects include the new entrance sign on the end of campus as well as the Willett Plaza.

Senator Rebecca Doody added that due to the construction taking place on the side entrance on Willett Hall, one of the crowns that is associated with Princeps has been painted over. She asked if there was a plan in place to keep the seven crowns on campus.

SGA President Dillon Yonker answered the question raised by Doody. He said that in years past, students were able to vote for a new location of the crown to keep the tradition alive.

Much discussion surfaced in the SGA when it came to the shock that many senators had experienced when trying to swipe in a guest at Dorrill Dining Hall with either a Block 40 or Block 80 plan. Beginning this year, those with a Block 40 or Block 80 plan can no longer use their meal swipes as guest swipes at the dining hall. Many senators spoke, appalled with the action by dining services and felt frustrated. The senators said dining services failed to inform students about the new policy.

Newly-appointed Executive Senator Kevin Napier said his main issue with the change was the lack of knowledge he had of the implementation of the new policy.

Secretary Sarah Kensy voiced concern with some students approaching her with complaints about construction workers allegedly "cat-calling" them and made the students uncomfortable.

Pierson added the issue has been brought up in prior years and will be addressed again. Pierson said the problem has previously resulted in the relieving of the work done by those companies.

Historian Maribeth Stotler-Watkins said she felt alarmed by the fact that there aren't any blue emergency call poles in front of the library anymore and felt the issue needs to be addressed.

Junior Class President Praise Nyambiya shared with the SGA how he has heard several complaints about students having issues with hit-and-runs, particularly in the residential parking lots on the outskirts of campus. Nyambiya said, in addition to the hit-and-run issue, the parking lots themselves are inadequate compared to the other lots that are often utilized by faculty because the ones used by students are on gravel lots rather than concrete. He felt that students pay a large sum of money to use an inadequate parking spot.

There will be no SGA meeting on Sept. 6, but SGA will resume on Sept. 13 in the Martinelli Board Room located in the Maugans Alumni Center at 3:45 p.m.

President Dillon Yonker swears in the new members of SGA.

President Dillon Yonker (right) and the executive board read about the new bill that was passed for GSA.