In its final meeting before next week's election, Student Government Association opened the floor Wednesday afternoon to members of all three competing slates.
The groups outlined their goals and addressed senators' concerns on certain platform points, particularly those SGA already addressed. Multiple times the slates touched upon similar issues, particularly about which organizations should be deemed worthy of SGA representation.
Cardinal Collaboration presidential candidate Nathan Meeks stressed that Ball State has more than 300 student organizations, yet fewer than 10 have seats on the organizational caucus.
He suggested more organizations be represented, and their SGA membership status should ultimately be based on each group's interest to become involved.
"Obviously, this room won't hold a representative from every organization, but with more representation we get more student voices, and we feel we would be able to draw more student input," Meeks said.
University Coalition vice presidential candidate Michelle Voss also focused on the organizational caucus, explaining how her slate would work to have more organizations seated in that committee. Off-campus caucus chair Henry Mortenson questioned why less-populated committees such as his would not be addressed first, but Voss assured him no student would go without representation.
"We definitely want to fill those (off-campus) seats first and foremost, but we also feel off-campus students would be represented through many of these organizations," Voss said.
Cardinal Impact presidential candidate Beth Cahill emphasized potential Ball State University students, proposing all university tour guides receive diversity training in order to promote the magnitude of cultural options on campus. She said such insight is typically only offered when a multicultural ambassador is requested to give the tour.
"Not every student knows to ask for a multicultural ambassador," Cardinal Impact vice presidential candidate Mandy Mills said.
Megan Veit, former Residence Hall Association president and University Coalition secretary candidate, stressed the need to increase relations between SGA and RHA.
"What we propose is to have the two organizations directly working together," Veit said, proposing SGA create a permanent Senate seat for RHA in addition to the multiple on-campus ambassadors already in SGA.
University Coalition presidential candidate Kerri Cropper also addressed concerns regarding her lack of previous SGA experience, but insisted as a slate, "we cover most of campus through our organizations."
"As a student leader on campus, I've held executive positions before that deal with parliamentary procedure, and I feel like I'd be capable of also leading SGA," Cropper said.
Cabinet members resign for campaign roles
During his report Wednesday afternoon, SGA President Frank Hood announced that five of the seven executive cabinet positions were recently vacated.
Among the five, four stepped down to assist slates in their campaign endeavors. Campus Alliance Chief of Staff Shawn Meier was among those who stepped down, as well as secretaries of justice, Samantha Adamczewski; governance, Ashley Ford; and community relations, Jacinta Yanders. Hood said Secretary of Information Technology Craig Jackson was also asked to vacate his seat after violating the predetermined attendance policy.
Hood explained that all executive SGA members are required to stay neutral during campaign season, but stressed these cabinet members were encouraged to step down since they have already accomplished all the endeavors assigned to them.
"Some people may hear resignation and think this is a bad thing, but in these four people that was not the case at all," Hood said. "They're still doing good things for the organization - in fact, their talents are being utilized in the best way possible right now."
He said it was to each slate's advantage to have the "best and brightest on campus" working for them, so he had little reluctance in letting the members move on. Upon their exit, Hood said he did not press the cabinet members on which slate they intended to join.
"From my understanding, all the cabinet members that resigned are working privately, not taking a very public role in their work," Hood said. "I thought that was fairly respectful to the people in their other organizations because they don't want to ruffle people's feathers if they don't have to."
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
