This week, the Student Government Association met in the Metzger Hall conference room, overlooking students studying on Metzger lawn. Senators gathered to vote on two proposals and hear from two guests.
SURVEY RESULTS
Senators looked over the results of last week’s survey regarding two proposals. Hart Hall won the contest for largest percentage of responses with 26% of their population having taken the survey. Results were similar across all of the dorms. Most students expressed support to pass the Celebration of Scholarship and Research proposal in full. Also, the majority of students said their senators should pass the Spring Symposium proposal either in full or partial, rather than deny it completely. As a bonus vote, senators passed in full the open comment suggestion on one Stewart Hall student’s survey, which would have neither an online nor a paper newsletter, but instead have Stewart senator Nathan Jensen read the newsletter out loud at the end of SGA hour one day.
CELEBRATION OF SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH
With those results in mind, senators engaged in a discussion regarding last week’s CSR proposal for $253.39 to go toward scholarships for some students who participate in the event. Jensen motioned to pass the proposal in full, seconded by Blackstone senator Blake Saathoff. The proposal was passed in full.
SPRING SYMPOSIUM
The next vote was over the Spring Symposium proposal, which asked for $1,000 to buy food for Student Enrichment and Intercultural Diversity’s Navigating Interracial Relationships discussion on Feb. 24. Senators debated for half an hour over whether to pass it in full or in part based on the attendance of former events. Saathoff finally moved to pass it in full, seconded by Jensen. All remaining senators agreed as long as leftover funds are returned to SGA.
STUDENT GROUP UPDATES
Abraham Lee from the Student Veterans of America Biola Chapter requested assistance from SGA, seeking ways to involve their group in more student events and encourage more students to interact with the Veteran Center. President Renee Waller and vice president Seth Gladysz assured Lee that SGA will offer any assistance needed to help the new group get their footing.
Chocolate Chat affinity group intern Elisia Sanchez also visited to update senate on the state of the affinity group and provide insight into the value of affinity groups. Her presentation is the first in a series of presentations by affinity group interns to keep senators connected to student groups on campus.
OTHER UPDATES
Gladysz informed senators that after looking at student feedback, it was decided that the newsletter forms will be split by dorm. The Bluff, the Block, Stewart Hall, Sigma Hall and Off-Campus Community members will receive their weekly newsletters online, while Blackstone, Horton, Hart, Hope and Alpha Halls will continue to receive physical copies posted around the dorm.
