By RAEGAN NEUFELD
Tiger Media Network
The Student Government Association passed several bills from the Senate Affairs Committee and heard updates on two past issues at its meeting on Thursday.
SGA President Ella Burrows gave both updates during her report, the first on Resolution 24/S/111, which passed last week. Students living on campus within two years of their high school graduation must have a meal plan, and the resolution called for the requirement to be lowered to one year. However, Burrows said she vetoed the resolution.
According to Burrows, the resolution is not needed following a meeting with Sens. Logan and Noah Erichsen, who proposed the idea, and Director of Residential Life RJ Schnack.
“We came to an agreement that we will be meeting in late August/early September to discuss different options for meal plans for the next year,” she said.
Burrows also reported that the university will install security cameras in the McMindes Hall, Victor E. Village and Tiger Village parking lots over the summer. Money for the cameras will come from the Parking Fee.
Campus safety was a topic of conversation during several SGA meetings earlier this year and has been one of the main focuses of the Presidents’ Roundtable. The University Police Department began researching the possibility of using security cameras in parking lots in September.
Additionally, the university received a $50,000 bid for residential building security cameras in December. At that time, Burrows reported the university assistant vice presidents were trying to decide if Fort Hays could fund the project alone and when it could be done. There has been no update since.
Passed bills from the Senate Affairs Committee all regard to future spring elections. Bill 24-S-135, which states, “SGA’s elections must be conducted with the utmost integrity and transparency,” adds a new section to the SGA Bylaws to further clarify the spring elections process.
While the elections will still be overseen by a committee made up of senators, the SGA advisors and director of Student Engagement will administer the process going forward. They will create the ballot on TigerLink, so no senator, executive staff member, or candidate will have access to it. The Spring Elections Committee chairperson will have access to the ballot and results when voting closes.
Other SGA news:
- The Big Event begins at 8 a.m. this Saturday, April 20.
- As a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SGA is hosting a jean decorating event at 1:30 p.m. on April 23 in the Quad. The jeans will be displayed for Denim Day.
- The Spring Open Forum is at 5 p.m. on April 24 in the Stouffer Lounge.
- SGA is also hosting Yoga on the Quad at 3 p.m. on April 25 for National Stress Awareness Month.
The next SGA meeting will be at 7 p.m. on April 25 in the Black and Gold Room.