The focus of the first Student Government Association meeting was the fall 2012 SGA election. Recently elected Student Body President Ryan Bouray called this meeting to order. Director of Student Life Cynthia Thompson reported that there are currently 18 applications filed for this year’s election, the most that the SGA has seen.
There are presently nine senator positions open to represent the following areas of the student body – Senator: Education and Human Services with one application, Senator: Transfer Students with three applications, Senator: Undergraduate Students with three applications, Senator: Freshman Students with five applications, Senator: Online Students with two applications, Senator: Graduate Students with one application, Senator: Peoria Campus with zero applications and two Senators-at-Large with three applications. The election will be held Wed. Sept. 19 and Thurs. Sept. 20.
“[The applications] need to be confirmed and certified so that they meet our qualifications,” said Thompson. “We have never had so many applicants for these positions, so this is very exciting.”
The Executive Board members present at the meeting wished all applicants luck in the upcoming election, as they are looking forward to a successful campaigning season.
Following the SGA election agenda item, the meeting went into a closed session to discuss the appointment of two new members to the Executive Board. Riley Quinlan was appointed External Vice President and Charles Laegeler was appointed Parliamentarian.
Bouray addressed the town hall meeting that took place on Aug. 27, and thanked those who came out. Bouray said that the meeting helped the board, “get a feel for some of the issues on campus that we can try to tackle this upcoming year.”
Bouray also said that the Executive Board met with Chancellor Koch in regards to continuing meetings with her and the student body. The next event will be “Chimichangas with the Chancellor,” with the details to be determined.
Concerns were brought to the attention of Internal Vice President Shonda White in regards to the emergency “blue poles” on campus. She proposed that a night walk take place in order to look at all the lights on campus and potentially add new lights in places on campus where they are needed.
Treasurer Jamaal Hollins proposed a plan to offer more information to the public on the expenditures for the SGA. He said that he is working to, “publicly show our expense records to show what the money has been going towards.”
Student Representative to the Board of Trustees John Tienken addressed the issue of the status of parking on the East Side of campus.
“Between 40-50% of the [parking] spots have been taken up by construction, and unfortunately it seems like parking will begin to be enforced starting tonight (Sun. Sept. 10, 2012),” Tienken said. “There aren’t enough spots per the amount of tags that have been sold,” he continued.
Co-sponsorship between the SGA, Volunteer Center, College Republicans, College Democrats and the Black Male Collegiate Society has been proposed for a voter registration event. The Executive Board hopes to hold absentee voting, register to vote, and a possible debate between College Republicans and College Democrats. In addition, appearances from local political candidates are in the workings. The event will feature food and a DJ through the approved funding.
For additional information or to get in contact with your SGA visit uis.edu/sga or email [email protected].
