In a two-hour-long Student Government Association meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, SGA senators hashed out plans for legislation that would designate smoking “huts” on campus.
Discussion of the smoking ban began when senior Olivia Karavatakis, a construction major, said, “I represent the student body for the College of Business and Technology. Today we are voting on the smoking ban legislation.”
Legislation SSR-003-08 is a resolution to allow ETSU students to use tobacco in designated “huts” on campus. The discussion led to a debate which was moderated by SGA Vice President Chris Carroll.
The legislation proposed that ETSU purchase “huts,” where smokers on campus can go to be able to light up.
Some arguments were that students are not going to be willing to walk so they can smoke, while other stances were that students who want to follow the rules should be given some kind of leeway instead of having to walk to their car.
The legislation was defeated by a vote of eight in favor, 19 against.
Also at the meeting, Dr. Rebecca Pyles, dean of the Honors College, and Maria Costa, director of International Programs and Services, came to inform SGA about the International Education Steering Committee.
The committee was made to enhance international education at ETSU, including student participation in study abroad opportunities. “We’ve spent the last year deciding how to integrate study abroad programs that are relative to each major,” Pyles said.
There were questions from the senate concerning international distinctions, language competency and how each program will decipher this so to make the international distinction relative to each major.
There was also a reminder about the BUC fund meeting on Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. in meeting room 6, and a quick discussion about the spring concert update and questionable choices of musical acts.
Meagan England reminded everyone that the booklets for homecoming are due this Friday and asked to make sure if a book is turned in that all the correct pages are filled out.
SGA senators and officers seemed optimistic about the work that has been done by SGA so far this semester.
“The point of the senate is to have equal representation from each college,” said senior English major Katie Hubbard. “We are supposed to talk to the people in our colleges and then come back and report their opinions to SGA.”
“I’m really excited about this school year,” said SGA President TJ Mitchell, “This is the best senate so far and the students are being represented very well.”
Megan Fuller, a computer science major and senior, said, “We have a lot of new senators and I’m really surprised how well they are following parliamentary procedure.

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