ETSU’s Student Government Association met Tuesday to continue with preparations for the upcoming year.
President Jarrod Suits asked the senators to help the SGA Awareness Campaign by placing flyers around the campus. He also announced some improvements to the SGA website, including an online opinion form which will allow site visitors to contact the SGA directly from the site, and attributed this new addition to Secretary of Interior James Sheffey.
In addressing concerns over procedure in the meetings, Suits stressed the importance of looking beyond the weekly meeting. “Senate meetings are just a starting point, a launching pad for actions the SGA needs to take. Our job is to establish contact with students and know their needs and concerns.”
Vice President Kayla Griffith agreed, adding that she is “excited about working with the student body while helping change the face of the SGA to become more student oriented.”
Suits also announced the SGA will be involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life again this year, adding that the SGA will have a team competing in the charity event this year. Suits said he hopes to see continued support Relay for Life from the SGA and students.
The remaining senate standing committee chairpersons and members were also approved at the meeting, and the committee chairs and Senate review committee members were subsequently given an oath of office by Chief Justice Kobelah Bennah. Senate review committee members must also sign a confidentiality statement due to the fact they can potentially view other senators’ grades.
The senate then suspended its rules of procedure so Griffith could hold a brief workshop outlining the rules of procedure for the senate to follow throughout the year.
Griffith also discussed some parts of the updated SGA constitution and code of laws received by the Senate on Tuesday and stressed the importance of knowing and following procedure as well as being familiar with the constitution and code of laws.
One of the senate’s returning members, Sen. Miranda Lane, pointed out a discrepancy in the swearing-in ceremony that took place earlier in the meeting.
She stated that the oath Bennah administered was incorrect. Lane claimed that it was not spoken verbatim from the oath set forth in the SGA’s Constitution.
“We need to follow our own rules,” Lane said. She also expressed concern over portions of the oath being unintelligible, thus making it difficult for those taking the oath to repeat it correctly.
After reviewing this claim, Attorney General Brian McCormack advised the oath be administered again to clear up any discrepancy. Lane thanked McCormack for his action, and the oath was readministered.
The SGA currently has Senate openings they hope will be filled soon. Students who like to speak their minds are encouraged to fill out an application in the SGA office in the Culp Center.

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