Six students went through Senate Selections during the SGA’s meeting Tuesday.
Andrew Baert, Jennifer Malone, Nika Patel, Lashonda Cody, Daniel Hatcher and Dale Neumann all went through Selections and were approved as new Senators of the SGA.
Several pieces of legislation were brought forth for consideration from the Senate.
Sen. Ethan Flynn propsoed lowering quorum, the number of members required to be present to conduct business, from two-thirds to only a majority.
His reasoning was that the Senate meetings could not be called to order because quorum was not met. Flynn said that the Senators who made SGA a priority would be on time. Quorum is met regardless; however, the meeting is not started on time.
Flynn said that if the Senators could not make SGA a priority, that the constituents could take it up with their representatives.
“If people aren’t going to make it a priority, it shouldn’t keep us from being productive,” said Sen. Brandi Garner.
Some Senators felt that would serve no purpose, except to make things easier on the senators.
“It’s not here to make it simpler for us,” Neumann said referring to quorum, “It’s here to make it simpler for students.”
Flynn’s amendment was voted down.
Another piece of legislation by Flynn was passed, however. It changed the election procedures in the SGA Code of Laws.
A third piece of legislation by Sen. Tiffany Porter tried to make the SGA more accessible to non-traditional students.
It would appoint someone to review the operations of the SGA and find out what would entice non-traditional students to become more involved with the SGA.
“I just wanted to see a bridge built between non-traditional and traditional students,” Porter said.
The bill passed with little to no opposition.
Finally, a fourth piece of legislation was passed that the secretary of state will put together a program for Veteran’s Day to honor the Veterans.
Sen. Sunny Ricker was also moved from the Parking, Traffic and Safety Committee to the 606 Appropriations Committee after being recommended by Vice President Aaron Caton.
President Jennifer Berry also spoke to the SGA briefly about issues concerning both students and the SGA.
She advised the SGA to be careful with their decisions regarding next week’s 606 funding session due to the university’s budget crisis.
She also dispelled rumors and hearsay about alleged departmental cuts.
“It is a problem,” she said. “It’s nothing to take lightly.

Author