The Student Government Association discussed its agenda for the semester as well as some new additions to the campus during its first two meetings of the spring 2012 semester.
The agenda items and new campus additions represent changes to the university that have the potential to improve the quality of students’ experiences at IU Southeast.
Matt Owen, political science junior and SGA senate chair, opened the discussion by emphasizing his desire for the organization to become more accountable to the students it serves.
“All members will be required to make preliminary progress reports to the SGA,” Owen said, “and a full senate report when the assignment is completed.”
Senators will be assigned to investigate the emergency procedures in place on campus to deal with situations such as active shooters and tornadoes. The senators will decide how information regarding those procedures can best be disseminated to the student body.
Cyber-bullying will also be a topic of investigation after Josh Kornberg, communications senior and SGA president, expressed his concerns about cyber-bullying on campus.
“What resources are there?” Kornberg said. “Where do victims turn?”
Kornberg said he intends to investigate those questions and publicize his findings to the student body.
Owen announced that senators would also be assigned to investigate the amenities for resident students in order to determine what the residents believe could be improved about campus housing and what amenities are missing from campus.
Kornberg announced IU Southeast has gained final approval for a sixth residence hall on campus.
“We should have a ground-breaking [for the residence hall] this spring,” Kornberg said.
The university administration has also granted approval for the culture path proposed in an SGA bill passed during the fall 2011 semester to be constructed. The path is now being added to the campus master plan, although dates for implementing the culture path have not yet been announced.
Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of Student Affairs and SGA faculty adviser, also announced a new advantage available to all students and faculty members — IU Southeast is offering free memberships to the Frazier History Museum.
Interested students and faculty members can pick up a brief application for the free membership in the Student Activities Office, located in University Center South, room 155.
Kornberg proceeded to give an update on the syllabus policy bill that would require professors to make course syllabuses available to students before they register for a given class.
The bill is being reviewed by the Recruitment and Retention external committee of the Faculty Senate.
“The committee has expressed some approval for the bill,” Kornberg said, “but is requesting some amendments be made to it.”
Should the bill be accepted by the committee, it would then need to be ratified by the Faculty Senate before it can be implemented.
Also high on the agenda are the restructuring plans for the SGA.
Stephon Moore, journalism and political science freshman and SGA press secretary, announced he is organizing a town hall style meeting on Feb. 7 to discuss the two proposed restructuring plans with the student body, listen to concerns about the bills and answer any questions students may have about the plans.
“These plans are open for discussion and change,” Moore said. “The ultimate objective is to best serve the students. Looking inward at SGA, we decided there has to be a better way to represent students. We want a process that has a more accurate representation for students.”
The town hall meeting is important because the student body will have to vote to amend the SGA Constitution before one of the restructuring plans can go into effect.
The SGA is also considering a final agenda item, while it would involve participation in a drive to register voters for the primary and general elections.
Emphasizing the importance of voter registration and participation, Milton Lukins, a Ron Paul campaign volunteer, explained how the process of adding candidates to the primary ballot works in Indiana.
“Students should familiarize themselves [with the primary process] because it’s different in every state.” Lukins said. “There is no automatic access to the ballot.”
By AMANDA BROWN
Staff
anb4@umail.iu.edu
