BY CORIE LYNN
After spending the semester meeting via Zoom, the FHSU Student Government Association hosted its first in-person meeting Thursday. The evening was spent with a guest speaker and discussing how the university was responding to the alleged hate crime reported on campus earlier that day.
Gina Smith, director of the Kelly Center, was invited to speak at the meeting to remind students of the services available, both in terms of academics and mental health.
Smith reviewed resources, such as online self-screenings, personal counseling and testing services with the student senators. She also introduced them to the groups that meet once a week to discuss topics such as depression or COVID-19 fatigue.
During her presentation, Smith took the senators through the Kelly Center website, showing the group where to find each resource. She reminded them that now more than ever students need the organization and the help the center provides.
While focusing on mental health, the Kelly Center also assists in academic services, has toiletries on hand and helps disperse money to students through the Student Emergency Assistance Fund.
Before concluding her discussion, Smith told the students the Kelly Center’s “main goal is to support you.”
Following the discussion, the meeting moved into reports, beginning with the executive staff members.
President Haley Reiter reported she spent her week preparing for the night’s in-person meeting while thanking the Memorial Union staff for making the social-distanced meeting possible. She also stated she helped award $100 of the Student Emergency Assistance fund to one student.
In his report, Vice President Bryson Homman told the student senators he met with the Memorial Union Policy Board and the group was beginning to review and update building policies.
Then, in reference to the alleged hate crime reported on campus that day, he reminded the senators to be kind to one another and that “[w]e are all in difficult times, no matter who you are.”
The other executive reports came from Legislative Affairs Director Crystal Rojas and Community Relations Director Jayden Siebert.
Rojas reported she met with her counterparts at other universities to update one another on SGA and campus activities.
In addition, she reminded the students there is less than a week left to register to vote and that “actually showing up and doing it [on Election Day] is important as well.”
Before concluding her report, Rojas encouraged the student senators to remind others that free legal counseling is available through the SGA, and a student-monitored debate will be Monday evening on campus.
In a shorter report, Siebert informed the student senators that the Spring’s Big Event committee has been formed and would meet to lay the groundwork for the service event.
Three committees gave brief reports following the executive staff.
The Legislative and Political Action Committee met, as did the Senate Affairs Committee. The General Education Committee met as well, discussing and approving three courses while not approving a world geography course.
Following the reports, the SGA swore in two new senators then moved into Open Forum, which focused on two topics.
The first discussion during this time began with Sen. Will Barfield, who asked SGA Advisor and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Teresa Clounch how the FHSU administration was addressing the aforementioned hate crime.
“We have limited information,” Clounch said, “and are still gathering information.”
Following up, Barfield asked whether campus security cameras could be used to further investigate.
According to Clounch, security cameras are not everywhere on campus and only store a limited amount of footage. More information on when and where the crime took place is needed for cameras to be utilized for investigation.
Students with information on the crime are asked to contact the university police. Those seeking to speak confidentially on the crime are asked to contact Clounch at (785) 628-4276 or Amy Schaffer at (785) 628-4175.
The second topic of Open Forum came from Sen. Katelyn Modlin, who asked whether there was a report on how the spring semester would unfold as she had heard rumors about Spring Break being removed.
“We are reviewing what the semester will look like,” Clounch said.
At present, she explained, plans are still being made and have yet to be solidified. Clounch did state that students must keep an eye on their email as that is where they will see information from the university.
With the conclusion of Open Forum, the Student Senate read one new bill that proposed a line item change in the Shooting Sports Club funding and passed an old bill to install a new student senator to represent the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
The FHSU Student Government Association will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18.