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| SGA hopes to boost reputation, activity |
by Justin
Boulmay
Staff Writer |
Even before his election
as a senator for Newland Residence Hall, Hunter B. Palmer, a sophomore
political science major, had been involved with the Student Government
Association.
Last year Palmer presented legislation, which was approved, calling
for construction designs for on-campus projects to better accommodate
disabled students.
“An elected position comes with a great burden of responsibility,”
Palmer said. “I hope to be someone to communicate well with
[students]…and bring their concerns back to the [SGA].”
Palmer is one of nearly 80 students who won seats on the senate,
a decrease from the 96 participants from last year’s election.
Director of Internal Affairs Callie J. Hargett said that despite
the lower numbers, the group is one of quality.
“I think [the senators] really want to make a difference,”
she said.
Each senator is required to hold at least one office hour per week,
plus attend the weekly staff and committee meetings, Vice President
Lauren N. Linville said. Any senator who has more than three absences
will be asked to resign, but can reapply for the senate the following
semester.
Hargett said she’s hoping this year will provide an opportunity
to boost the reputation of SGA, which she said has not been taken
seriously in past years.
Last year, 78 percent of 71 students polled by The Appalachian said
they did not know the name of one of their representatives. When
asked how much they knew about SGA, 42 percent said they knew nothing,
and 38 percent said they knew very little.
Senators are expected to hear concerns of students and represent
them in the senate, Linville said.
If students do not feel their senators, whether in their residence
halls or off-campus, are communicating with them, they can email
the SGA, she said
“We’re really trying to get our name out on campus…and
in Boone,” Hargett said. Part of that effort comes from the
“Operation: Outreach” program, designed to keep senators
and their constituents in touch through email.
Senators are expected to reach out to the community by participating
in service projects, Hargett said.
Of the many senators who were elected, only a small handful of the
group participated in the senate in previous years.
Those select few are expected to help with the newcomers, Hargett
said, who she said are “resources for new senators.”
Senators met together for the first time at a training session last
Tuesday night, where they were given a glimpse of what would be
expected of them for the coming academic year, and an opportunity
to sign up for SGA committees.
“There’s clearly lots of work to do,” Director of
Student Affairs, Emily L. McDermott, said that evening to the group.
“There’s also limitless fun to be had.” |
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