Points already completed:
Tailgate Central
Lunch on Board
News from the Nest
Freshman 115
Pothole of the Month
Phone Charging Stations
Self-Injury/Suicide Prevention
Diversity Day
Diversity Exposure
Sexual Assault Education
Bird Feeder
Scheumann Shuttle
Dining Times
Scholarships
Cardinal Cup
Remaining points:
Alumni Leader Reunion
Muncie Volunteer Day
Extended Add/Drop Period
SafeZone Training
International Student Relations
Blue Loop Extension
Atlas has already come close to completing 15 out of 21 platform points since the beginning of the semester.
Student Government Association President Jack Hesser said 15 of his slate’s platform points are either complete, such as extended dining hours and the installation of a phone charging station, or at least 85 percent complete. He said Atlas’ progress is due to the preparation they did before they were elected.
“The reason we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve been able to is the work the slate put into these platform points before elections,” Hesser said. “There was so much homework done ahead of time that we knew who to contact and were able to overcome obstacles.”
The slate has also completed nine other initiatives in addition to the 15 platform points, such as the Cardinal Project, when students gathered on the football field after the first home game and took a group photo. Kevin Carey, assistant director of student life, said many of Atlas’ platform points will continue after this semester.
“Each slate focuses on a different timeline for how they implement their platform points,” Carey said in an email. “The exciting concept of this slate's platform is that some of the points will reoccur or continue in the spring. They should be extremely proud of the work they have done.”
Kathryn Powell, a sophomore history and natural resource and environmental management major, said she is impressed by how much SGA has already been able to do. She said she has more faith in SGA’s effectiveness.
“I think that’s pretty amazing, and I’m more confident in the fact that they can actually get things done because the stereotype is the government never gets things done,” Powell said.
Powell said the slate’s platform point regarding sexual assault was extremely important and is pleased with how it has been addressed. SGA designated funds for residence halls to provide sexual assault awareness programs this semester. However, she believes other areas could use some improvement, such as the phone charging station in the Atrium.
“[I’d like to see] a better location,” Powell said. “Like the one in the [L.A. Pittenger] Student Center where you can, like, lock your phone in it because you can’t just sit your phone in the Atrium.”
SGA will continue to work on completing its remaining six platform points, such as the extension of the duration of the Blue Loop and hosting an alumni leader reunion, which will take place on Feb. 9, 2016.
Last year's SGA slate accomplished seven out of their 17 platform points by the end of the Fall 2014 semester, or about 41 percent.
Hesser said every SGA slate has success in different areas, but his slate is further along than he had predicted.
“I think that so far we’ve been able to be ahead of where we anticipated,” Hesser said. “So far we’ve been doing well in our platform points, but there are other things we want to improve on.”
Hesser said completing the platform points so quickly allows the slate to focus on the Student Senate, the body of students who create and vote on legislation. He said he plans to devote more time to working with the senators once all the platform points are done.
“I’m really excited to work with the senators, and a really big focus for me, personally, is to focus on our strategic plan,” Hesser said. “I really want to work with the senators to kind of figure out ‘Okay, how can we set a really good strategic plan?’”
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