Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Rotunda Online
The Rotunda
Tuesday, February 25, 2025

SGA Adresses Campus Issues

The Student Government

Association’s (SGA) board meeting started with a quick move to approve the general meeting’s agenda for the day. Following the motion, the Student Government’s Role Award was presented to Senator Constance Garner, for her hard work and recognition in her position’s role of calling attention to, and addressing the issues around campus.

President Joseph Gills then began with the swearing in of new senator members and their new positions.

The Open Forum began with Secretary Jacob Harvey addressing how textbooks are becoming increasingly expensive, and some courses will drop the standard textbook and often switch texts. This is becoming a problem for those who have already bought the required textbooks.

The My Student Body (MSB) module was then brought up on formatting issues. Complaints were discussed, due to the module asking for a social security number, making students hesitant. The modules were said to be “time extensive, teaching the wrong things. [The]questions are irrelevant on education.”

Senators agreed that student feedback entails that some do not feel the modules are the best way to go about the situation. President Gills asks senators for a collective, “‘solid’ student complaint” and grievances to bring to further discuss My Student Body in detail. Complaints on the course will most likely become “a huge mess for the registrar’s office,” another senator pointed out.

This causes issues for other class courses for students and graduate students, due to the amount of time consuming the specific tests on the sexual violence, drugs and alcohol modules. Dr. Tim Pierson then spoke saying, “I’ll make a few comments on My Student

Body, this is not only a Longwood requirement. I hear that, it’s frustrating. We did sign a contract with MSB.” Consequentially, the time spent on these tasks takes too much time.

“Student leaders, in particular, are ahead of the curve on that, and we will look at the feedback, required that all modules are to be done by Oct. 1,” Dr. Pierson finished.

Next, Senator Natalie Joseph addressed campus issues; beginning with an inappropriate image spread across the Farmville Area Bus (FAB) bus stop near the Admissions Office. Joseph described it as “a bad representation on campus,” and something should be done about it.

“As a resident of Lancer Park, it is hard to get the FAB schedule. It would be more convenient if the schedule was at every bus stop, instead of every other stop,” said Joseph. President Gills mentioned that when broken up into committees, problems concerning FAB, as well as Lancer Park resident complaints, would be detailed.

Gills then added in committee,

“we will discuss mission statements, as well as Office of Diversity,”to get students aware of issues, and help get conditions addressed.

Treasurer Jessica Darst explains, “I know I’ve mentioned this before…[about] getting those clocks fixed,” in regards to the classroom and dining hall clocks displaying the wrong time is, as Darst mentions, “a little infuriating.”

Another residential campus complaint, and inquiry, would be to install safety mirrors near the Longwood Village. Residents are also wondering if a sidewalk or bike path ranging from campus to the village would be a possibility.

Gills mentioned that Residential and Communter Life (RCL)

Representative, Savannah Barnett, brought up the issue for more of “a solid answer to transportation to Lancer Village.”

Another campus issue was called to attention, regarding parking, Conduct Board

Representative, John “Archer” Minor, said that the freshman parking lot has no emergency pole close by.. Senator Chelsea Carrol also discussed parking issues; graduate student parking

and commuter student parking passes should be differentiated, “[the] passes are the same color, even after the [parking] office informed us that the color would be different.”

Another senator wanted to commend a group of students for being aware of a potential dangerous situation that occurred, a situation in which these individuals prevented a possible fatality from almost happening this past weekend.

Senator Constance Garner then explained that a few students at commuter parking, in front of Curry/Frazer, asked if they could park in the commuter lot. They asked the desk aid, following this, a police officer came into the building and began confronting the desk aid. Garner heard the story, stating it was “really unprofessional to me,” that an officer yelled at the desk aid. President Gills asked to find out the officer’s name, as well as Dr. Pierson adding, it is important “to get the time and date,” of the occurrence.

Gills then moved through the agenda, stating “looks great to have a full senate.” As mentioned, new senate members will be broken into committee roles.

Gills also added a reminder that the Involvement Fair will be next TuesdaySept. 16, 2014. The SGA board will still meet, “just move to take care of important business,” said Gills. Also, to promote Constitution Day, and “register as

many students as possible…[and] pay attention for dates,” added Gills. Towards the end of the agenda, Gills noted that Longwood should “develop [a] relationship with the town of Farmville… to know our concerns, and what we need to address.”

Gills added that the freshman elections are underway, and to “encourage freshman to vote for class members in SGA.”

Darst moved to allocate money to the Longwood Gaming Club for “Star Wars capture--theflag.” A representative said it will be “very similar RGC event, but star wars themed.” Darst mentioned the club is “asking for water, glow sticks and packaging tape.” Motion was moved to approve the Longwood Gaming Club event.

Darst then moved to allocate money to SGA stating, “we need name tags,$121 for name tags, as well as name tags for the Board of Visitors.” The motion was moved to allocate $141.25 to the board meeting members, SGA and the motion passed.

Dr. Pierson spoke in closing thoughts, “I am impressed with issues you are bringing up and addressing in open forum, a lot of these issues we’re running into are issues that intersect with the town.” Dr. Pierson added to engage Longwood in-town issues. “We need to see progress on these type of things.” Darst then called for a motion that was passed to close the forum.