In this week’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, Director of Office of Student Research Dr. Crystal Anderson, presented two upcoming research programs the Office of Student Research will be conducting.The programs include the Spring Presentation of Undergraduate Research (SPUR) and Collaborative Interdisciplinary Tutorials for Employment (CITE).
Anderson said research is not just science-specific and confined to a lab. She wanted to break the stigma of research being only for science-specific topics or certain students. According to Anderson, the goal of the Office of Student Research is to take a student’s interests and passions and turn it into research, whether it’s for a classroom assignment or not. SPUR will be held on April 24, 2018. It is solely a digital event open to all students to submit a presentation of their research to be published on various platforms.
According to Anderson, CITE gives students the opportunity to develop practical research skills for future employment through engaging in collaborative research. The program is a partnership between the Office of Student Research and Citizen Leadership and Social Justice this spring. Students will receive a $1,800 stipend, or salary, for the process of conducting research and getting that research published.
Anderson also stated that the Office of Student Research will stay in the library upon the opening of the new Student Success Center, but she hopes the space in the new Success Center is utilized for research.
During the orders of the day, SGA Advisor and Dean for Student Engagement Cheryl Steele briefly discussed cultural education and the importance of keeping cultural sensitivity in mind, especially during Halloween. Steele explained students should make sure not to dress up in costumes that parody certain cultures, because it is insensitive to those who are part of those cultures.
Historian Emily Moran gave information on Ride to the Polls, taking place on Nov. 7 for the Virginia General Election. Volunteers will be standing in front of Jarman Auditorium, where students can be picked up and transported to voting polls. The ride times are 9-11 a.m. and 1-7 p.m.
The next SGA meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 3:45 p.m. in the Martinelli Board Room in the Maugans Alumni Center.
