My name is Ray Hart.-áI am currently the Press Secretary for your Student Government Association.-áSome of you may remember me from The Cardinal Movement presidential slate from last semester.-áThere was a heated political battle between The Cardinal Movement and Team Lisec.-áIn the end, Team Lisec won. I was disappointed then to have lost the election. I am proud now to be a part of an SGA that truly cares for its students.
In years past, I would have told anyone at the drop of a hat that SGA was closed off to the "average" student. As a senior I have seen SGA grow from an organization that was secluded to what it is now.-á
I understand that many people within the student body are concerned with the executive spending within their SGA's discretionary fund. I also understand that people may think that fireworks are not worth spending vast amounts of money on.-á
But I also understand that all of this is purely taken at face value.-áSGA did purchase fireworks.-áThese were not just purchased for a celebration; they were also purchased to advertise SGA, bring pride to the students and reach out to the Muncie community. While it may seem like a quick spending of the discretionary fund, it is a responsible one that represents the students.-áIf we go beyond face value, we see that the money has been spent to solve one of SGA's largest problems: involvement.
SGA has always had a problem filling all of its seats on Student Senate - until now. Right now SGA has only one seat left to occupy before Senate is completely saturated with students.-áThis is the first time that SGA has been filled with student representatives since, well before I began my education at Ball State University in 2003.-áThe filling of Senate is a huge accomplishment for the current SGA slate.
There is a simple explanation as to why this has happened now but never has in the past. Team Lisec has focused many of its resources on expanding the most important organization on campus.
Team Lisec also plans on spending all of the money that it has allotted to itself at the beginning of its term.-á
If students have given their money to SGA, then the money should be spent on the students.-áIn the past there have been SGA executive slates that have not used their entire budget.-áWhen that happens the students' money is lost.-áThe money that SGA is allotted is used to benefit students in the now.
The money being spent is not about lights in the sky; it is about involving students with BSU, involving the Muncie community with BSU and spreading to raise awareness.
With a full Senate more power goes to the student body, the largest population affected by decisions on Ball State's campus.
On Wednesday there will be fireworks.-áThese fireworks are for members of Ball State University from the past, the present and the future. The fireworks are also a means by which we will bridge the ever-closing gap between Ball State and the Muncie community.-áThis is a new beginning for SGA.-áOnce it gains momentum there will be no limits to what it can do.
Ray Hart is a senior communications studies major and SGA press secretary. He wrote this 'Your Turn' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Ray at rchart@bsu.edu.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
