The Student Government Association Senate meeting got under way this past Tuesday without Vice President Jennifer Berry. Berry, who was unable to attend because she was out of town, was replaced for the day by Senate Pro-tempore Christopher Ziegler.
First, two guest speakers from the Sherrod Library. Rita Scher, Dean of Libraries and Jean Flanigan from the Library Media Center were there to present information on Read ETSU, a new program introduced to encourage recreational reading.
The program, consisting of donated paperback books, allows students to borrow the books without having to check them out. Students can then read the books at their leisure, without having to worry about a due date. It is hoped that this program will encourage reading, and anyone wishing to donate books may do so at the Sherrod Library circulation desk.
The program has already been implemented on the first floor of the library and will grow as resources permit. Both speakers requested that SGA help sponsor the purchase of a bookrack to be placed in the Culp Center.
After resolving a short debate over quorum, SGA then moved to the issue of selections. According to the SGA Constitution, all vacant seats in the Senate may be filled through the selections process. Of the 32 available seats, only 19 were filled prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
The process involves an applicant going through a committee interview where they are scored based on a set criterion. Then, the applicant appears before the Senate where the body may question the prospective member.
Finally, based upon both committee recommendations and the applicant’s interview, the Senate votes whether or not to approve the applicant.
If a majority of the Senate votes in the affirmative, the applicant then becomes a Senator. Seven applicants were slated to be interviewed except Joey Collins who did not attend.
The Senate confirmed the other six applicants, including John Cottongin, Will Perkins, Andy Farmer, Priya Ponnapula, John Rode and Yasmeen Ahmed. Both the applicants and the Senate Review committee were then sworn in by Chief Justice Adam Moore.
The Senate Review committee, which handles all accusations of violations of law or policy by senators, judicial or executive members of SGA, is required under SGA law to be sworn in a second time before they may sit on the committee.
Lastly, both the Ziegler Bill to restructure 606 and the Lane Bill to remove the senate clerk’s position were voted on.
During the period of discussion, Ziegler said that the purpose of the 606 bill was to “streamline the process and take out the redundancies.”
“We’re trying to make it a little easier for all people involved,” he said. Both bills passed, each one with a vote of 17-0-1.
The Senate made several announcements, including one concerning the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature. Elizabeth Johnston, secretary of the interior, said that anyone interested in attending TISL needed to see her immediately and that all legislation is due by Thursday.
The TISL conference, held every year in Nashville, is comprised of students from colleges around the state.
Meeting in a mock legislature, the participants present legislation which has the potential to come before the actual state legislature.

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