BY CORIE LYNN
After years of developing the policy, Student Success Days will go into effect at Fort Hays State University.
Student Government Association President DeMers made this announcement at the organization’s weekly meeting on Thursday night. This policy ensures that students will not receive new assignments and tests in the days right before finals week.
DeMers also discussed his Tuition and Fees meeting. According to him, state higher education funding appears as if it will be around the governor’s request of $12 million, though that does not mean there will be a tuition increase at FHSU.
He concluded his evening report that Facilities Planning has agreed to remove a few parking spots from Park St. and 7th, as these spots make it difficult for cars to see oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
With Spring allocations in progress, Vice President Musgrove spent his week in hearings with student organizations to discuss their proposed budgets.
Legislative Affairs Director Wisley spent her week working on fee reviews including the results of three organizations not submitting their fee reviews. In addition, she had three conference calls with the other Kansas university LADs and discussed what moving forward with Kansas Voter Registration Day would look like.
Though Community Relations and Involvement Director Dougherty spent her week planning for “I Heart FHSU Week,” she also attended the Census Complete Committee meeting with DeMers and Student Senator Schindler. She used her report to stress the importance of students filling out the census.
According to Dougherty, each household, not including students living on campus, will receive one census form meaning that roommates will have to fill out theirs together. She also informed the Student Senate that participating in the census has an impact on community funding.
“[Participating is] super important to supporting the community,” she said.
Senator Schindler informed the Senate that, in addition to impacting the community, the census has a bearing on university funding, creating a loss of funding for each form not filled out.
Because of the importance of the census, CRD Dougherty announced that there will be an informational meeting for students to instruct them on how to fill out the form.
The final executive staff report came from Administrative Assistant Cunningham. She reported that she spent her week marketing for the Big Event as well as meeting with organizations, such as Options, to plan Sexual Assault Awareness Week campaigns.
The SGA committees have spent the past few weeks working on fee and bylaw reviews. This week, the Legislative & Political Action and Senate Affairs Committees spent this week working on these reviews. In addition to this, the LPAC is in discussion of which organizations they need to have hearings with in regard to the fee reviews.
The Appropriations Committee worked on the SGA funding guide during the week and has six bills to be read at the next meeting. The Student Relations and Involvement Committee reported that they are searching for ways to work with more student organizations in order for those students to know who is representing them.
As the deadline for Student Organizations to apply for allocations has passed, the Allocations Committee spent its week in hearings to discuss proposed budgets. Chairman Senator Becker announced that the first reading of the allocations bill will be Mar. 12 while the second reading will be Mar. 19.
With the conclusion of reports, the SGA swore in one new senator then moved into Open Forum.
Open Forum began with the senators voting on who would make up the Spring Elections Committee before turning to a discussion of campus issues.
Regarding Spring SGA Elections, the executive staff members informed the senators that none of the executive staff planned on returning to their positions the following year and answered questions from the senators about the positions.
In addition to this discussion, President DeMers informed the SGA the Chief of Police has yet to put in the request for more cameras on campus, but that he would follow up in the coming week if it is still yet to be submitted.
One senator brought forward a concern that sidewalks in front of McMindes are not being properly salted and de-iced during inclement weather. According to him, this is the responsibility of the building RAs and has caused several people to fall.
Following the Open Forum, the SGA heard two new bills and the second readings of nine bills. All nine bills passed. These bills included two which appropriated funding to two students to attend the Southwestern Psychological Association conference. Two additional bills installed two new student senators.
With the passing of these bills, the meeting adjourned. The Student Senate will reconvene Thursday, Mar. 5 at 7 p.m.