SGA Rundown: SCORR, scholarships and sharing come to the Senate

Senators ramp up involvement in BiolaShares and register to attend Biola’s annual racial reconciliation conference.

Amanda Frese and Austin Green • January 24, 2019

In their second meeting of 2019, the Student Government Association senate heard a proposal for scholarships offered by SGA, information regarding the upcoming Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation conference and details about this semester’s meal donations through BiolaShares.

Vice President of community relations Katy Hendricks submitted an internal proposal for $12,000 to provide 12 scholarships of $1,000 for students in the fall 2019 semester. Students can apply by submitting essays during the spring on an essay topic decided by Hendricks and a committee of SGA members. SGA will review the essays, and the 12 winners will be notified about the scholarships at the end of the current semester. This continues an initiative that started in 2016, according to Hendricks.

SENATORS HEAR ABOUT SCORR

SCORR events coordinator Rachel Surgalski, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, spoke to senators about the 2019 SCORR conference, which will be held from Feb. 21 to 23. The Biola-hosted conference brings speakers and attendees from across the nation and strives to facilitate conversation about racial reconciliation from a Christian viewpoint. This year’s events will include workshops and sessions with guest speakers, a large-scale worship session in different dialects and a poetry night.

The 23rd annual SCORR conference will focus on the theme “Legacy” by addressing the history of racial reconciliation through looking at the Old and New Testament, as well as different cultures. Surgalski stressed the importance of students engaging in cross-cultural conversations and relationships to cultivate love for God’s creation and his people. According to Surgalski, there will be different levels of workshops students can participate in to increase their awareness of racial identities as well as those of other socioeconomic statuses such as disabilities.

Vice President of diversity Mindy Kim announced that all SGA members will attend SCORR together on Feb. 22, and had attendees register for the conference during the meeting.

SGA INCREASES INVOLVEMENT IN BIOLASHARES

Off Campus Community senator Naomi Hidalgo and Hart Hall senator Noah Love, student representatives on Biola’s basic needs committee, gave a presentation about this semester’s BiolaShares meal donation. Donations will be accepted in the Caf from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1 and given to students in need of meals from Feb. 4 to Feb. 9. SGA is increasing their involvement this semester by also allowing students to donate meals at senators’ tables during SGA Hour.

Students can designate certain meal times to donate and can give as many meals as they would like from their plan during the week. In another change for this semester, an incentive to donate meals has been added. If a goal of 1,000 meal donations is met, either President Barry Corey or dean of Spiritual Development Todd Pickett will be dunked in Fluor Fountain.

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About the Contributors

Amanda Frese, Managing Editor

Amanda Frese is a senior journalism major who sends too many exclamation points in all of her texts and loves to make coffee. [email protected] Studying journalism at Biola University has given me so many opportunities — I don't even know where to start. I took classes on magazine writing and public affairs reporting. I interned at the Borgen Project, Pan de Vida and H3R Magazine. I studied in Quito, Ecuador for a semester. I learned about my voice not only as a journalist, but as a person, and how to connect with people. As a senior this year, looking back at my experience at Biola, I remember writing my first article for The Chimes. Thinking that my article was perfect, I submitted it and soon received copious edits from the editors who published it. The Chimes, since my first article, has taught me the importance of growing, adapting and learning from every experience. Whether it is my relationships with my roommates and friends, travelling to a place that feels unfamiliar or interviewing someone for an article, the Chimes taught me the importance of entering into these opportunities with a desire to learn. This year I am excited to be the managing editor for the Chimes. I look forward to continuing to grow as I serve the Chimes staff and the Biola community in this position.

Austin Green, Managing Editor

Austin Green is a junior journalism major who was first among his friends to predict that LeBron James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. When not focused on school or work, he enjoys watching sports, going to the beach or coffee shops, and hanging out with the guys on his dorm floor. [email protected] I laughed the first time I heard a former editor-in-chief use the line “once you join the Chimes, you never really leave.” Now in my third year here, it turns out the joke’s on me. After two years in the sports section, including last year as sports editor, I’m thrilled to be serving this year as managing editor to help build upon the legacy of such a great publication. My aspirations remain in sports journalism, but experience has deepened my love for dedicated local news reporting and its importance in communities. Much of my appreciation for that type of journalism came through working as a digital production intern for NBC Los Angeles last summer. There I helped cover stories such as the Trader Joe’s hostage crisis, the Cranston and Holy wildfires, and the Lakers’ overhaul of their iconic uniforms. I am so excited to help build this next chapter of the Chimes as we become a web-first publication with a deeper, dedicated focus on the communities in and around campus. I also contribute a print sports column, “Everything Eagles,” which provides a deeper look into Biola Athletics.