Senators were busy discussing issues and finding ways to better Ball State University during Wednesday's Student Government Association meeting.
This week, the Senate members mainly met in their caucuses and committees. Below is a breakdown of what happened.
Caucus reports:
On Campus: Chairwoman Beth Cahill said everybody in the caucus brought ideas to research. One idea included working with the Campus Alliance slate members on their platform item about getting more heat lamps on campus. Other ideas included increasing the number of emergency buttons in smoking areas, adding more maps of smoking areas around campus and adding thank you signs around smoking areas for using them, she said. The caucus members also discussed getting more disposal cans in the smoking areas, making the top level of the parking garage by the Woodworth and Park complexes for visitors and putting motion sensor lights in smoking areas.
Off Campus: Chairwoman Aly Tennant said the caucus was still working on getting the roads in the Village paved. The caucus members also are working on trying to get a bus to go down Riverside Avenue by the fraternity houses.
Organizational: Chairman Marco Pretell-Vazquez said students should support those who perform in Thursday's Air Jam for Homecoming.
At Large: Chairwoman Michelle Voss said the issue of writing with chalk on campus has been a problem lately so she and the caucus members wanted to look into getting chalk approved.
Committee reports:
Academic Affairs: Chairwoman Mallory Winkler said the committee was going to stop pursuing the idea of having 4.3 added to the grade point scale for students who earn an A+ in a class. She said the committee members also wanted to look more into going green by putting the Web links of supplementary classwork material on Blackboard. They also want to look into putting midterm grades for all undergraduate students online, not just freshmen.
Community/Environmental Affairs: Secretary Marco Pretell-Vazquez said campus cleanup would be on Nov. 8. The committee also is working on legislation to make a double-sided printing policy because it would save the university paper and money, he said.
Diversity and Multicultural Affairs: Chairwoman Brandi Terry said the members were finding ways to promote diversity and multiculturalism. A few ideas included having a dance in Irving Gym or combining it with multicultural night at Late Nite. They also thought of having a music festival or having a movie festival combined with the music festival.
Governmental Affairs and Student Awareness: Whip Daniel Morton said SGA would meet at 3 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Atrium. The committee members also want to add a drop box in the Atrium for students to submit ideas for SGA, he said.
Student Safety: Chairwoman Michelle Voss said the committee members would look into trimming bushes on Neely Avenue. They also want to look into publicizing Charlie's Charter more. Voss said during sorority recruitment some women were walking on campus at night by themselves, which could have been an issue for them or other people walking around campus late at night. She said besides publicizing the service, they would look into getting it scheduled for regular pickups at late-night events.
Student Services: Chairwoman Nicole Akey said the committee members would work with the On Campus Committee on the smoking ideas. The Student Services members also would look into getting trash picked up more often on weekends.
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
