Ball State’s Student Government Association (SGA) met Oct. 30. To start the meeting, they welcomed second-year sports reporting and production double major Aasha Watkins, who applied for the College of Communication, Information and Media (CCIM) collegiate senate seat.
Watkins’ said the main reason she wanted to be in SGA is because she wants to put CCIM “on the spot.”
“CCIM has done amazing within the last few years that I've been here [in] providing workshops, networking opportunities, [and having] alumni come back … to provide those one-on-one conversations with students,”she said. “I want to represent [the] CCIM to show we have that in our college.”
Watkins' history in CCIM starts with her first year at Ball State as a Sports Link reporter. During her second year, she became the president of the4 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Part of Watkins’ desire to be a part of SGA stems from her high school experience in her school’s student government as the first Black female president.
The experience taught her leadership and communication skills that she wants to utilize and to “be the voice [for students] at the end of the day, [while] not tak[ing] away the voice.”
An initiative Watkins wants to do is an event called “Bridging the Gap” which would be a safe space for students to speak out about their concerns and desires relating to their locality and lifestyles, while getting the resources they need. .
Watkins was voted into the senate 31- 0 with two absentations.
Following her induction, the Student Services Committee had a budget request for safe sex bingo. This event would collaborate with Ball State’s Health Promotion and Advocacy Office (HPA) to teach students about safe sex practicesThe event will be held on Nov. 11 from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the atrium.
The budget request consisted of $256.42, which would go toward adult sex toys. However, this request caused much discussion in the senate, as a few senators opposed the idea
Sen. Noah Clark explained that this has been an annual recurring. He said this is a way for people to learn about how to be safe while experimenting with new things.
To counter Clark’s statement, Sen. Charles Mandzaiara made it clear he was against this request.
“Approving this purchase [does not] reflect any of the values of this institution, and not only that, this action will be blatantly offensive to the vast majority of students within the university, and particularly parents of students who fund most of our tuition.”
Mandzaiara made a point to say that none of the items have to do with the practice of safe sex.
After time ran out during the regular discussion, the senate voted to extend the discussion for five more minutes.
The discussion continued with Chief Administrator Hunter Case, as he talked about how he has run this event for three years. Still, he acknowledged the fact it is a different request.
“Obviously this is a very unusual budget request. But , as it [has been] said many times, this has happened for several years” Case said.
Case also mentioned how the point of this bingo is to promote awareness about safe sex. He also made it clear that even if the students win a prize, that doesn't mean they have to take it. Case said HPA will provide condoms and other safety items for the event, as well.
The senate then voted on another five minute extension for the discussion. During that time, they discussed topics such as how the event allows students to try new things safely, as well as how all families could react differently to events like this.
Mandzaiara then made his final statement about this request and where he stands.
“It's that we as a student government organization are going out and buying [sex toys] and distributing them,” he said.
Treasurer Casey Rockel said after all the requests cleared, SGA still has around $9000 left in the budget.
After the extra ten minutes of discussion, the budget request was approved by the senate 26 - 2 and with five abstentions.
Following the request approval was executive reports. President Noah Poole talked about how the buses were a huge success during Ball State’s Homecoming week. With the success of having over 600 riders, he said SGA will be working with Transportation Services to get more routes made.
“With this information in mind, we'll be working [with] athletics and [will] collaborate with them for future bus schedules that will not only be financed by SGA” Poole said.
Poole also talked about how he and Vice President Brenna Large are going to talk to the Muncie Central High School student government sometime next week.
Rockel started his report by explaining to the senate how much SGA has left in the senate discretionary fund. Rockel had graphs to show visuals of it.
“After the five budget requests [have] passed, including senator events, you have 31.39% that has been spent. So that being said, you have $9,001.03 left to be spent,” he said.
With no new or unfinished business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting open to the public is on Nov 6. at 3:15 p.m. in the L.A Pittenger Student Center.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
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