SGA President Jarrod Suits gained some new ideas from his visit to a meeting with other SGA leaders in the Southern Conference this past weekend.
At the meeting, which was held at UT-Chattanooga, Suits learned some ways to handle the student allocations process, commonly known as 606. The 606 process, which allocates money to student organizations, is administered by the SGA.
It has been plagued with problems in recent years that the current administration hopes to remedy.
Suits discussed how other schools handle the process, emphasizing UTC and Middle Tennessee State University as two models he hopes to use in revamping ETSU’s procedures.
One of the main changes he hopes to see implemented is broadening the committee structure. Currently one committee handles the process.
Suits hopes to see specialized committees to handle certain aspects, noting that some of the SGA’s other committees do very little during the year.
“All Senators will have a purpose,” Suits said while advocating specialized committees. He hopes to see this idea progress quickly through cooperation between the executive branch and the senate.
Changing the 606 process requires amending and altering the SGA’s constitution and code of laws. Legislation will need to be passed by the Senate before such changes can take place. The process will take time to complete, but the hopes are that the end result will make 606 more efficient.
The SGA senate will be conducting its selections process to fill empty seats. Any student who has been at ETSU for at least one semester can apply to become a senator. Potential applicants are encouraged to pick up an application from the SGA office in the Culp Center. The selections process allows the senate to vote-in new members. Applicants will be interviewed by a committee and considered before the entire senate. The first round of selections for this term will take place on Tuesday.
During the weekly meeting, Secretary of State Lacie Tullock updated the SGA on Homecoming plans. She also encouraged continued support for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, in which the SGA will have a team this year.
The SGA is taking on several other initiatives including working with the American Red Cross to help replenish supplies and meet other needs. Any individual or organization that wishes to aid in these service opportunities is encouraged to contact the SGA office.
The SGA offices are located on the bottom floor of the Culp University Center beside the auditorium. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Culp Forum and open to the public.

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