Student Government Association (SGA) President Haley Vest swore in the freshman class representatives, as well as several upperclassmen senators and representatives, to begin the Senate’s Tuesday, Sept. 24 meeting.
Open forum commenced with a comment from Brandon Kelly, Virginia 21 representative Student Affairs representative, said that issue is currently being addressed. Executive Senator Adam Fletcher said students have asked him about SGA office hours. Fletcher said while he told the students there are no official office hours, it would be beneficial for senators to advertise when they are in the SGA office to hear students’ concerns and answer questions.
Senator O’Neishea Edmonds suggested that the SGA publish a listofpointsofcontactforparticular positions. She said this would allow students to know who to contact regarding constitutions, organizations, etc.
Kelly said he is not aware of any amnesty agreements between students and the Farmville Police Department and LUPD if a student would like to take their friend to the hospital without getting in trouble for drinking. Vice President Steven Sommer said he is working on an English 400 proposal regarding that topic and will bring it to the Senate.
Vest then began her presidential charge. She has heard positive feedback about the SGA’s involvement fair booth. Almost 100 students signed up for TurboVote, an online voter registration tool that SGA and Virginia 21 fund for students, at the fair.
Vest challenged the SGA to ask their professors if they could take a few moments out of class to inform students about TurboVote.
Socha then announced that graduate students and Lancer Park residents can now park in commuter spots on campus at 5:45 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. She said that faculty parking lots cannot be transitional parking lot for commuters or other students as requested. She added that there cannot be a Farmville Area Bus (FAB) stop at CampusWalk on 315 West Third Street due to traffic flow.
On behalf of the Student Finance Committee (SFC), Treasurer Alex Julian moved to allocate several funds. The Senate approved the motions to allocate $3,123.17 to The Rotunda for the Associate Collegiate Press/College Media Association National College Media Convention, $252 to Conduct Board for new name tags, $1,163.25 to the Blue Heat Dance Team for cheer tops and $2,515.60 to Phi Beta Lamdba for the national fall leadership conference.
The Senate also allocated $5,260 to Lancer Lunatics for a possibly annual Hallo-Woods festival, $470 to AMOR for a memory project, $979.95 to The Rotunda Studios for video equipment and $700.01 to Black Student Association for an Oktoberfest weekend event.
Lambda Pi Eta received a re- allocation of $64.08 to cover the duration of the cost for the organization’s invitation dinner last semester.
The Senate approved SFC’s motion to allocate $3,800 from the EPAA account to Phi Mu Delta Fraternity, Delta Zeta Sorority and Peer Health Educators for the Save a Life Campaign. The Senate approved the alcohol education event last semester and even signed a contract, but the event could not be pre- paid for due to policy.
Dr. Tim Pierson, vice president for Student Affairs and faculty adviser to the SGA, said the university is looking into adding more residential space on campus in the near future. After the demolition of the Cunningham Residence Halls, he said there will be more need for space.
Pierson said there will most likely be a new residential hall between Janet D. Greenwood Library and ARC Residence Hall.
Vest reported that there will be an approximately 30-minute segment at next week’s Oct. 1 meeting with Bob Beach, LUPD chief of police; Laura Rice, parking office manager and the individual in charge of the FAB schedule.
Those attending the meeting will have the opportunity to ask these individuals questions about parking and transportation. Next week’s meeting will take place in the BC rooms of Lankford Student Union.
