BY RAEGAN NEUFELD
The Fort Hays Student Government Association has hit the ground running this semester, introducing and adopting a number of bills and resolutions at just their second meeting of 2023.
During new business on Thursday, a bill concerning the Legislative and Political Action committee fee review schedule was read for the first time. Originated by Legislative Affairs Director Ella Burrows, the bill would change the review period from bi-annual to annual for entities that receive money from student fees. Vice President Austin Ruff listed the following organizations while reading the bill.
- Athletic Bands
- Campus Intramurals
- Tiger Debs
- Tiger Media Network
- Student Government Association
- Civic Engagement
- Athletics
- Food and Hunger Initiatives
- Parking
- Public Safety and Awareness
- Health and Wellness Services
- Student Engagement
- Educational Opportunity Fund
- Memorial Union
- Wellness Center
If the bill is adopted following its second reading at the next meeting, it would take effect starting in the Fall 2023 semester.
Another fee review bill specifically for an emergency fee review for Health and Wellness Services was also introduced. If adopted at the next meeting, the bill would take effect immediately.
“[The bill] is in reference to some Health and Wellness Services budgeting issues,” Burrows explained. “[President Stanley and I] met with David Bollig, who’s the director of Health and Wellness Services, and he expressed some concerns about their current financial situation. This is just to kind of address those concerns.”
Once past new business, the senators voted on a resolution to change the alma mater from “From the Plains of Western Kansas” to “Song for Fort Hays.”
“The man who wrote [“From the Plains of Western Kansas”] worked here for three years, whereas “Song for Fort Hays” was written by Donald Stout, who was here for over 30 years and directed the choir,” Sen. Logan Erichsen said. “At football games, it’s the song that’s played and requested. That’s the one that’s commonplace. It’s played at graduation along with the alma mater.”
No further discussion was needed after Erichsen’s explanation, and the senators approved the resolution.
Aside from the bills and resolutions, Sen. Mickey Mason gave an update on the Faculty Senate, whose meetings he has been attending. According to Mason, two major focuses of the January 24 meeting were the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences reorganization being approved and a statewide report done by the rpk Group. The rpk Group was hired by the Kansas Board of Regents to review academic programs of all the KBOR schools.
“We’re in good standing,” Mason said.
Other announcements:
- On February 10, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., the intern coordinator for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran will be in the SGA office to talk with students about internship opportunities.
- The Big Event has been scheduled for April 22.
The next SGA meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on February 9 in the Black and Gold Room.