BY CORIE LYNN
The Student Government Association held their weekly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20. Because many of the Senators and Executive Staff members spent several days at the Kansas State Capital for Higher Education Day and meetings for the Kansas Board of Regents, much of the discussion Thursday night centered on giving updates from these events.
Both President DeMers and Legislative Affairs Director Wisely relayed their experience in Topeka during their reports, both stating that they saw plenty of support from the state legislators for higher educational funding and mental health funding. In addition to this, DeMers stated that many people informed him that “Fort Hays is the staple” for Kansas high education.
This week’s Higher Education Day saw university representatives asking legislators to support KBOR’s recommended $50 million budget. According to DeMers, while many legislators were supportive of funding, many also stated that this number is unattainable and that the governor has recommended $12 million instead.
Despite this, DeMers said that he and Vice President Musgrove would “advocate to keep [tuition at FHSU] flat or decrease it.”
Also in his report, DeMers informed the Senate that he met with university Administration and Finance to discuss the Shooting Sports Club, which requested $95,000 in allocations funding this year. According to DeMers, this team has grown beyond that of a student organization, in part because it recruits students. Because of the scope of the organization, the SGA is seeking to have the university pick up the organization.
Vice President Musgrove spent his week working on allocations. According to him, the total amount requested by student organizations was $915,000.
LAD Wisely’s report focused on updates from Higher Education Day, but she also informed the Senate that she had a meeting the previous week regarding election forms and they could be executed this coming election season.
Administrative Assistant Cunningham spent her week preparing for both the Big Event and Sexual Assault Awareness Week. The latter, in partnership with Title IX, the Kelly Center and the Global Leadership Project, will spend a week in April bringing awareness to sexual assault. The events thus planned for the week include “Walk a Mile” and tabling for the Live Safe app.
Only three committees gave reports during the meeting. The Appropriations Committee has several bills up for first and second readings, the Legislative and Political Action Committee is continuing its by-law reviews and has interviews planned and the Student Relations & Involvement Committee discussed with DeMers ways to meet with other campus organizations.
With the conclusion of reports, the Senate moved into Open Forum. During this time, one senator mentioned that his constituents in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences were concerned that their art lab fees were not included in tuition when they believed this should be the case.
In addition, Dr. Clounch spoke on the Live Safe app that the campus is utilizing for student safety on campus. Prior to the meeting, she had handed out cards and flyers with information on the app functions and recent updates.
Later, Dr. Clounch explained that a previous SGA administration had heard of the app and asked for its use on the FHSU campus. It allows users to view campus buildings, to watch others walk home and call 911 in case of emergency.
“It’s one way that students can have another level of safety involved,” she said.
Continuing the topic of campus safety, DeMers informed that the Chief of University Police put in a request to install more cameras on campus. The placement of cameras at present is sporadic.
Following the Open Forum, six new bills were up for first reading while five bills and one waiver were up for second reading. Votes on three of these bills, each appropriating funds to students, were postponed as representatives for each bill were not present.
The waiver as well as the bills for the appointment of a new senator and appropriating funds to Alpha Gamma Delta all passed.
Following Old Business, the Student Senate meeting concluded. It will reconvene Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.