By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
The Online Student Government Association (OSGA) met for the first time this school year on Monday. The meeting served as an informational session for prospective members as well as a progress update on OSGA.
Before this year, OSGA was part of the on-campus Student Government Association.
“So this is our first full academic year as a separate entity which is bringing so many amazing things for online learning,” OSGA President Heather Flick said.
Flick is now attending FHSU Cabinet meetings as well as the Presidents Roundtable meetings, which include the Faculty and Staff Senate Presidents, SGA President, OSGA President and FHSU President Tisa Mason. On Wednesday, she attended the Kansas Board of Regents meeting virtually.
Public Relations Officer Eileen Moore has been on OSGA for three years and said it is an exciting year since OSGA is now separate. Moore has been attending Faculty Senate meetings as a representative for OSGA.
“I don’t even have words to communicate the difference, starting today, actually being recognized as an online community as our own government,” Moore said.
OSGA Committees were introduced, starting with Senate Affairs. Senate Affairs studies the internal operations of the senate, such as OSGA’s Constitution and other senate practices.
“We have a lot of work to do this semester, so if you join me we’ll learn a lot together,” Senate Affairs Chair Benjamin Keliojor said.
Student Relations Chair Kurt George said interaction will be a focus of his committee this year.
“Unless the professor has set it up where you have group projects, you could go through an entire semester, never speaking to the professor, never speaking to any other students, and you just feel like you are isolated,” George said.
To accomplish this, George and his committee are looking for a way to create a “virtual student union” as a gathering place for online students to meet outside of a formal Zoom.
The third committee is Equity and Inclusion. Flick noted that due to legislative policies, the title of the committee may change this year, but the purpose will remain the same.
“The purpose of that committee is truly just modeling a growth mindset in inequality issues and just kind of supporting marginalized groups,” Flick said.
If the name were to change, it would go through the Senate Affairs Committee and then be changed through an amendment to the organization’s constitution.
“There’s never any unilateral decisions being made,” Flick said. “It’s all a joint effort.”
Some goals for OSGA as a whole include making office hours available for online students as well as providing course syllabi within course descriptions, which OSGA was working towards last year.
“If it’s going to entail 300 pages of reading and four tests a week, you may not feel like that’s going to be doable for you, or maybe, you’ll take one class instead of three or four” Flick said.
Flick does not want prospective members to be overwhelmed by the time commitment. Regular Senate Meetings will be about 45 minutes or less and Committee Meetings 30 minutes or less. Each senator is asked to join one committee.
“We want you to choose a committee that sparks interest in you, something that you’re passionate about, “ Flick said.
Those interested in becoming an OSGA senator must fill out a Google Form before the October 21 meeting and if the applicant meets the Senate Requirements, they will be sworn in during the October meeting.
“We really seriously hope you consider joining us,” Moore said. “We’re going to need all hands on deck.”