In March, both the Student Government Association (SGA) and Board of Visitors (BOV) sat down for consequential events, meetings, and hearings.
The BOV, which meets quarterly, held its March meeting on the 16th and 17th of the month. At the meeting, each Vice President of the University reported on the activities of their department. Some of these items included development in CAPS (Cam Patterson/Student Affairs), the outpacing of completed applications (Victoria Kindon/Strategic Operations), Love Your Longwood Day (Courtney Hodges/Institutional Advancement), and the progress on the Joan Perry Brock Center (Matthew McGregor/Admin. and Finance).
During that meeting, C.H.A.N.G.E. read an open letter, calling out President Taylor Reveley and the Board of Visitors for a lack of deadlines on the action plan signed by the President. In response to that open letter, both the Rector of the Board Mike Evans and Secretary of the Board Cookie Scott addressed them. Scott, who was also the first black graduate of Longwood, said “I think President Reveley has spoken very loudly that he is supportive of minority students.” Evans, in his statements, said, “We trust the leadership that Student Affairs, especially Cam [Patterson], offers in working through your list of concerns and demands.” He went on to reiterate that, “We’re happy to hear from you, but that's where the work remains.”
The Student Government Association, led by President Mackenzie Harry, welcomed President Reveley to its meeting on March 14th. He spoke on a number of issues, such as alumni satisfaction, world events, campus sexual assaults, and other topics. In regards to C.H.A.N.G.E.’s proposed Town Hall, Reveley said he hopes to, “get that in order before the semester ends.” He went on to discuss Pepsi and Coca-Cola vying for attention prior to the long-term deal with Pepsi announced on March 24th.
Other topics discussed in the SGA throughout March were Recovery Housing, SGA approval for the creation of the Free Thinkers Alliance and Muslim Students Association, 2023-24 Budget Hearings, among others.
Also in the SGA, voting for the 2023 General Elections began on March 27th. On March 23rd, Candidates for President Thai Copeland, Katya Mayer, and Meredith Foster debated in the Wilson Chamber. Among the topics discussed were Accessibility, DEI, Leadership, and holding administration accountable.
The SGA meets on Tuesdays at 3:45 p.m. in the Wilson Chamber, and the BOV next meets on June 8-10th, 2023.
