Ball State’s Student Government Association (SGA) had its first meeting of the month Oct. 6, discussing two amendments which would grant one liaison from the Residence Hall Association (RHA) a vote in the student senate and establish the position of vice secretary for standing committee and caucuses.
The executive slate first presented an amendment to give the RHA liaison a vote in the Senate, which aims to award a representative from RHA voting privileges at all senate meetings going forward.
The amendment cites “confusion and countless incorrect vote tallies” over whether “the RHA liaison could or couldn’t vote in the student senate” as factors which necessitated the introduction of the legislation to the Senate floor.
“There should be no senator,” the legislation continues, “in the Student Senate that is without a vote, especially one that represents another governing body on campus”.
The amendment was not met with any questions from the senators.
Senator Grant Wilson authored the second amendment presented to the Senate. The amendment proposes the position of a vice secretary should be added to all committees and caucuses.
“I hope to keep things in our committees and caucuses as efficient as possible,” Wilson, chair of the student safety caucus, said. “This is a way to make it so that committees and caucuses do not get disrupted by absences.”
Senator John Wilcox pressed Wilson on the necessity of creating the new position, arguing the role could just as easily be assigned to any other elected position within each caucus and committee. Wilson argued that having a designated position holder for the task would “empower another member of the committee or caucus to fulfill this role,” making the process more “official” and “efficient”.
Senator Grayson Joslin also pressed Wilson on the amendment, asking if “filling in the minutes” was indeed the only duty of the vice secretary. Wilson confirmed this, saying “it is not a very involved role”.
At the meeting, the At-Large Caucus reaffirmed their progress on a number of projects, including a safe-sex brunch, a “Movie Night” initiative and a trick or treating event held around campus.
The Collegiate Caucus announced their College Loyalty Program, with a tentatively dated week-long event Nov. 15-19. Caucus members will make appearances in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center for two days and the Atrium for one.
The Off-Campus Caucus announced an educational campaign that would alert students to Ball State’s online resources through instructions and short tutorials.
James Braden, Off-Campus Caucus chair, also affirmed the caucus’ Muncie Street Project, to fix potholes around the city, has stalled until the city finalizes its budget.
The On-Campus Caucus announced their Halloween party project, now dubbed “Halloweekend,” was moving along smoothly, with paperwork regarding the borrowing of equipment on the cusp of being signed.
The Organizational Caucus also announced plans for a billboard to advertise the organization of the month and plans to initiate a “locker friend program,” in which you can request that another student walks with you around campus.
Treasurer Jacob Bartolotta teased the first budget request of the semester, which was for SGA funds to begin a community garden on campus.
“One of our senators has been working on a community garden for a really long time, so we’re hoping to push that through and get it approved as quickly as possible,” Bartolotta said, before assuring more details would arrive when the budget request moves to voting.
The meeting closed with a congratulation to Off-Campus Senators Asia Bennett and Desmond Reynolds being named finalist candidates for the Homecoming Court.
Contact Nathan Hill with comments at nathan.hill@bsu.edu.
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