By CORIE LYNN
Originally scheduled to meet on campus, the FHSU Student Government Association hosted its first meeting of the semester via Zoom because of the rise in Ellis County COVID-19 cases.
The first meeting, on Thursday evening, saw the inclusion of new members of the SGA and a new executive staff led by President Haley Reiter and Vice President Bryson Homman. All senators were sworn in shortly after the start of the meeting.
Reiter began her first executive report by reminding the senators of the importance of their offices.
“This year, more than ever,” she said, “we need student voices, student representatives to make sure information is passed along and that our students’ needs are being met.”
Also in her report, Reiter informed the senators the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, which was utilized the previous Spring as the coronavirus pandemic began, will once again be available to students in need.
She will meet with Kelly Center staff each week to allocate funds that are “meant to help keep students in school.”
Following her report, each executive staff member — Homman, Treasurer David Schulte, Legislative Affairs Director Crystal Rojas, Community Relations Director Jayden Siebert and Administrative Assistant Anthony Ventura — gave a short report consisting of a personal introduction and an introduction to their position.
In his report, Homman also informed the Student Senate that the Tiger Gold on Friday Committee met to discuss rebranding and benefits. In addition, he explained the purpose of the Open Forum position of the meeting and reminded the senators that the SGA freshman and KAMS elections were approaching.
Following the executive reports, each committee gave a short report, all of which stated the committee discussed their responsibilities and elected vice chairs.
A student member of the General Education Committee did report, however, that the committee is meeting and already reviewing courses. This week they focused on two music courses.
Serving as faculty advisors for the SGA, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Joey Linn and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Teresa Clounch were present at the night’s meeting, as was university Provost Dr. Jill Arensdorf.
All three were ready to speak on FHSU’s plan to combat COVID-19 and answer students’ questions during the open forum. Linn began by addressing the students.
“I do want to say it’s extremely awesome and exciting to have students back on campus.There’s been a lot of planning, a lot of meetings going into it,” Linn said, “[…] We’re working hard to try to understand KDHE, Ellis County Health and information changes, sometimes by the minute, hourly, daily and weekly.”
He then confirmed that, as of Thursday morning, 25 students had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Student Health Center and that 48 of the 881 saliva tests sent in by FHSU faculty, staff and students came back positive.
During the Open Forum, Linn, Arensdorf and Clounch addressed topics such as how testing works on campus, what factors the university assesses as it plans for the coming semester, and what isolating and quarantining looks like for students.
“Please know that we’re all in this together,” Linn said. “Every single one of us are in this together. If we make a mistake, by gosh, we’re going to tell you. We’re not hiding a thing. We’re trying to get through it. We’re trying to stay open. We’re trying to make it the best collegiate experience at Fort Hays State University.”
With the conclusion of the Open Forum, the Student Senate passed the bill instating its new executive staff members then moved into announcements.
Senators announced that Hays Medical Center is hiring screeners, the Tri Sigma sorority will host a virtual bubble zone and that students should register to vote in time for the November election.
Reiter also informed the Student Senate that it would continue to meet via Zoom through the month of September, then re-evaluate in-person meetings at the beginning of October.
The next SGA meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 3.