The Student Government Association plans to improve the appearance of the campus by the spring of 2001.
On Nov. 28, SGA allocated $12,000 of 606 funds for the purchase of 30 benches. The new benches will replace the current debilitated benches.
“My feeling is, if it is student money, the students should be ableto enjoy what their money is spent on,” said SGA President Derreck Whitson.
“There is a lot of campus beautification taking place and we are doing our part in that respect.”
The environmentally friendly benches will be purchased from Earth Care Products of Western North Carolina and are made from recycled milk jugs, said Whitson.
The color of the benches is yet to be decided.
“We hope that all of the benches will be replaced before spring so they can be enjoyed,” he said.
In other news, it is uncertain as to whether students will receive discount cards by next semester.
According to Title I, Sections 101 through 103 of the Code of Laws, SGA has the responsibility of distributing student discount cards.
During their last meeting of the semester on Nov. 28, SGA had not reached a resolution.
“The bottom line is we cannot afford the cards because the companies cannot supply the cards for the amount ($275) we have allocated,” said Whitson.
“We have looked into many alternative avenues and have been unable to find any solution.”
SGA can allocate a larger amount of funds for next year to ensure the cards will be created, he said.
However, SGA still wants to determine if the discount cards are in demand.
“We want to know if this is something students even want or will use or if it is outdated and needs to be replaced,” Whitson said. “I encourage students to call or come by the SGA office and let us know what they want.”
In other matters:
SGA passed SSR-00-002 by a vote of 17-0-0 on Nov. 14 in an effort to find out students’ opinions on the current grading system used by ETSU.
The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Daniel Burgner Jr. and allows SGA to include a question on the election ballot.
The referendum will ask students if they are in favor of replacing the current plus/minus grading system with a non-plus/minus grade system.
“A change in the grading scale without plus and minus would benefit students, especially those on the lower end of the scale,” Burgner said.
“We need to find out if students would be in favor of that and this is the best way to get good feedback.”
Sen. Priya Ponnapula said, “This is a good way to get students to the polls and to find out if things need to be changed with our grading scale.”
During the Nov. 28 meeting, $14,167.75 in Chapter 606 funding was appropriated to four ETSU organizations. Those included are Alpha Sigma Iota, Exercise Science Club, SGA, and Student National Medical Association.
On Nov. 21, Sen. Freddie Nsapo was appointed as Parking, Traffic,and Safety chair.
Sen. Kit Coomer resigned from SGA.
On Nov. 28, Lia Pun-Chuen was approved as SGA Associate Justice.
Whitson discussed the SGA giving away a trip to Cancun for spring break.
He said it will be a way to increase student participation in campus events becaue they will be able to register to win at different events.
“We have not yet found a company to donate a trip so the project is still in the works,” he said.

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