The Student Government Association’s (SGA) Tuesday, Sept. 10 meeting approached a variety of concerns, including professors’ use of Canvas, the university’s new Learning Management System and parking issues across campus.
The meeting began with a presentation from the Digital Education Collaborative (DEC). Director of the DEC Jenny Quarles, who described the DEC as the “instructional technology unit for campus,” told the Senate that the collaborative is now separate from Information Technology Services. She said if students have any questions about Instructure’s Canvas, concerns about campus technology or would like for something to change, they should contact the DEC.
Quarles also stated the information that only 749 out of the university’s 1,500 courses are published on campus. She said some of these classes may not be published because they are small or independent studies, but these numbers are still large. She asked for the SGA’s support in reaching out to the faculty to see if they would be willing to use Canvas.
Executive Senator Jessica Darst suggested that the DEC use Orca TV to advertise the DEC’s services.
SGA President Haley Vest suggested that the SGA host freshmen elections and proposed SGA constitutional amendments on Canvas.
Vest swore in six new senators: Queen Burrell, Joe Gills, Eamon Brockenbrough, John McCullough, Jacob Harvey and Ellen Kensy. Katelyn Walker was sworn in as assistant webmaster.
The Senate then went into open forum. Senator O’Neishea Edmonds noted that pot holes she previously noticed in Lancer Park have been filled in and voiced h appreciation.
There was also a discussion on whether or not the amenities, such as swimming pools and common areas, in Longwood-managed apartment communities (with the exception of the Lancer Park P.O.D., which is open to all students) should be open to all students. Some senators pointed out that people pay different rates to live in certain communities, and it may not be fair to allow everyone to access them all.
There were also discussions about parking. One concern was the fact that some employees who work at the Small Business Development Center on West Third Street tend to park on Griffin Boulevard. Another senator stated that there is additional commuter and faculty parking behind the Farmville United Methodist Church.
The fact that Dorrill Dining Hall (D-Hall) no longer provides to-go cups in the main dining area is in order to save money and be ecofriendly, according to Vest. This has caught the attention of many students.
Vest suggested that the SGA or another campus organization consider selling re-usable thermoses at D- Hall to students.
Another senator noticed that a police officer wrote a parking ticket for a car that already had a previously issued ticket on top of it. The senator was concerned about this, but Vest said some people leave an old ticket on a car as strategy to avoid get- ting new tickets. Historian Paige Rollins suggested that a text message system that alerts students when they receive a ticket be implemented.
An open forum suggestion was added to possibly have one-hour walk in times at the Health & Wellness Center once or twice a week.
There were also concerns that in Lankford Student Union’s Lancer Café there continues to not be an option for water from the soda machines.
Vest mentioned that next Tuesday, Sept. 17 is not only the Involvement Fair, but Constitution Day as well. Next to the SGA booth, there will be a Constitution Day booth with a temporary free speech wall for students to voice their opinions on Sec- ond Amendment rights and gun control. The fair will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Brock Commons.
SGA Treasurer Alex Julian brought forth several al- locations from the Student Finance Committee (SFC). Motions to allocate $228 to Honor Board for the year; $219.99 to BSA for an upcoming dance; $110.88 to Theta Chi fraternity to fund the hotel room for a campus- wide event speaker; $508.61 to the Chess Club and $1,200 to SGA for a brown leather couch for their office.
There was a motion to allocate $420 to the Longwood University Emergency Response Team for a landline phone. However, no LUERT representative was present at the meeting. The motion failed.
The final allocation of $7,500 was to Mortar Board. According to Senator Ronnie Brown, the funds Mortar Board received from the SGA last semester for Oktoberfest agency fees were not marked to clarify that the money was for this academic year and went into the reserve ac- count.
The SGA allocated the money from the SGA reserves account.
Pierson also announced the news that the 250 freshmen with parking passes must move to a new parking lot at Lancer Park by Friday, Sept. 13.
There will be no SGA meet- ing next week due to the Involvement Fair. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
