By RAEGAN NEUFELD
Tiger Media Network
Student Government Association President Ella Burrows stressed the importance of addressing student concerns at last night’s SGA meeting.
She told senators that she hopes the focus of the weekly meetings will be on campus issues. Any questions senators have about the SGA bylaws should be addressed before the meeting to keep the meetings running smoothly.
“I would love to see us tackle some really big issues this year if we work together and are super transparent,” Burrows said.
To her point, Burrows gave an update on a student concern discussed at last week’s meeting, which is the lack of study spaces while Forsyth Library undergoes renovations. Sen. Audrey Rymer brought the issue to the meeting, saying there are fewer spaces available in the Memorial Union and the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Additionally, both buildings are only open until 10 p.m., while the library was open until midnight.
According to Burrows, she and Vice President Emma Day will meet with Edie McCracken, the director of the Memorial Union, to discuss keeping it and the Center for Student Success open later. She also has met with the building managers of Tomanek Hall and Rarick Hall to designate study spaces that can be available past 10 p.m.
“They are waiting on some final authorizations, but hopefully they will be able to keep Rarick open past 10 p.m. as well with some situational passes,” she said.
SGA advisor Carol Solko-Oliff encouraged the executive staff members and senators to relay information about the study spaces to their constituents, but said that library staff can also let students know. According to her, the Welcome Desk in the library – which is open to students – has received questions about other places on campus to study.
“That will be helpful for the library to know where to direct students to as well,” she said.
Similar to addressing student concerns, one of Burrows’ goals since last year has been to work together with other governing bodies on campus. Staff Senate President Bob Duffy spoke at last night’s meeting to help with this.
While he reported that the Staff Senate is off to a good start this semester, he also gave an update on the Food and Hunger Initiatives, which he co-chairs.
According to Duffy, this has been one of the most fruitful years for the Food and Hunger Initiatives garden, and their student workers now automatically qualify for work study.
“That means that money gets freed up,” he said.
As a result, Duffy said they have been able to purchase more items for the Tiger Food Pantry.
In a previous interview with Tiger Media Network, Day said she and Burrows want to work closely with the Food and Hunger Initiatives to keep the pantry well-stocked.
Other SGA News
- The intent to run forms for Freshmen and KAMS elections close at 11:59 p.m. today, September 13. Elections will be September 18 and 19. As of last night, 10 students had signed up to run for the six or seven open seats.
- The Green Event begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow (September 14) in the Quad. There are nine service projects to complete throughout the community.
The next SGA meeting will be at 7 p.m. on September 19 in the Memorial Union Black and Gold Room.