At the first Student Government Association meeting on Tuesday evening, both cabinet and senate members were sworn in and welcomed by veteran members.
Chris Carroll, vice president of the SGA, opened the meeting promptly at 4 p.m. Ashley Bowser was then sworn in as senate parliamentarian. Fourteen additional students were sworn into the senate after Bowser.
After last year, there were many open seats on the SGA because no candidates ran for those slots representing some of ETSU’s colleges.
The senate is elected by the presidential appointment, which only takes place after an SGA election where there are vacant seats on the SGA senate.
“We have selected the cream of the crop of ETSU students,” said Carroll. “I think this will be a really fun year.”
Joy Fulkerson, coordinator of community service and Greek life, discussed this year’s ETSU Gives Back fundraiser. ETSU Gives Back is a joint effort between students, faculty and staff that raises money for various non-profit organizations.
Fulkerson suggested an athletic activity, such as a volleyball game, where students and faculty team up against each other. The SGA could charge admission to raise money for the campaign, she said.
“That would allow for some positive interaction between faculty and staff members, and in charging admission we could raise money towards our campaign goal,” Fulkerson said in a phone interview.
She also pitched the idea of having student “champions,” or people who would advocate the campaign to their peers.
“There are faculty and staff members who are serving as champions of the campaign,” Fulkerson said. “Those are for students who are willing to share their story about their interaction or involvement with a non-profit agency that these funds go to. (A champion is) someone who will ask their peers to give as well, and champion for the campaign around campus. We are asking for students to serve that way as well.”
The SGA senate will further the discussion of champions at the next meeting. The senate training session for new members will take place today at 4 p.m.
SGA meetings are every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Culp Center’s Forum room.

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