The Student Government Association continued to be plagued by the student discount card issue during the Nov. 7 meeting.
According to Title I, Sections 101 through 103 of the Code of Laws, SGA has the responsibility of developing and distributing student discount cards.
SGA encountered problems last year when the company with which they contracted failed to deliver the cards.
“Last year, businesses spent money for cards that were never created by the company we used,” said Sen. Chris Ziegler said.
SGA has several options with which to resolve the issue. A committee was created to consider the best resolution.
One option is for them to hire another company to create the cards.
However, they have been given limited funds this year.
“We have only been allocated $275. That is only one-sixth of what we need,” Sen. Priya Ponnapula said.
Another option that has been considered is for SGA to replace the discount cards with the ID cards that students already have and combine the two.
However, SSB-00-005 that proposed replacing the discount card with the ID card and advertising the stores that offer discounts failed to pass on Nov. 7.
“We would not be giving the students a discount card, we would just be telling them what is already available,” Sen. Jennifer Berry said.
“By stamping SGA’s name on it, it would show that we are taking credit for someone else’s project,” said SGA Vice President Jonathon Fields.
SGA may choose to delete the sections from their Constitution. In order to change and amend the Constitution.
“We can delete it from the Constitution, then we can go back and change things and amend it,” SGA President Derreck Whitson said.
“We have to ask if the discount cards are even currently benefiting the student body,” said Fields.
“We need to set up a process and be proactive before we say we are going to change things,” Whitson said. “We do not want to give students the image that we are not going to do anything.”
In other matters:
Dr. Peggy Cantrell, psychology professor and chair of the continuous improvement team, spoke to SGA on Oct. 17 concerning faculty evaluations.
“Our committee is recommending a multi-faceted evaluation of faculty by students,” she said.
“We need feedback as to how we can improve evaluations so students’ views can be heard.”
On Oct. 24, Dr. James Bowman, vice president for business and finance, visited SGA to discuss student grievances.
Several issues were brought forth including campus safety and lack of lighting, bathroom cleanliness and expansion of athletic training facilities.
“We want to hear problems and concerns and how we can help fix those problems,” he said.
During the Oct. 24 meeting, Chapter 606 funding was appropriated. Funds totaling $8028.66 were allocated to 10 ETSU organizations.
Those included are Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Phi Omega, Campus Crusade, ETSU Fit Kids, History Society, MPHSA, Phys. Ed. Club, Student Photographer Assoc-iation and Criminal Justice Graduate Society.
Whitson encouraged senators to begin a letter-writing campaign to state representatives regarding the lack of funding and its effects on them and other students.
Senator Chris Morgan resigned from SGA.
Senator David Lane was appointed chair of the Suggestions and Grievances Committee.
SGA Chief Justice Jonita Ashley was named SGA Cabinet Member of the Month.
Ziegler was named Senator of the Month.

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