SGA Executive Council reforms goals
By Alex Hilton, contributing writer
Posted on January 18, 2006

Tuesday’s SGA Senate meeting was filled with new bills, the Executive Council’s reforming goals and a debate over the color of the SGA’s new T-shirts.

The senate first heard from junior Stacy Fuller, student representative on the Board of Visitors, about the recent BOV meeting.

“It is unlikely anything will happen in Congress,” Fuller said in response to whether or not the Title IX decision would be discussed again.
 
Fuller also mentioned the possibility of SRI International, the largest non-profit research institute in the world, having a branch in Harrisonburg.
 
“This would be a big deal for all science majors and have a huge impact on the state and our area,” Fuller said.

Two contingency bills were also brought up for debate, both of which were approved.

The first, Intervarsity, a Christian fellowship organization on campus, asked for $960 to attend a convention.

“We are asking for half the funding it takes to send eight executive members to attend this convention,” said an Overtones representative. “While we’re there, we’ll assess things that were done over the last semester, hear from Intervarsity leaders from other colleges, and learn to do things better as a team.”

Sophomore Jess Landis said, “This is a great opportunity because we will be supporting this group at their convention, and we are all about supporting groups.”

Coed a cappella group The Overtones requested $1,800 to record a new CD.

Overtones treasurer, junior Pete Haenlein, said, “We have some big events coming up, and due to time constraints, we don’t have enough money to fund the CD.
”  
Landis supported the group’s request for funds.

“Our a cappella groups are one of our most prized features,” Landis said. “The CD will publicize this group as well as JMU.”

SGA submitted several lobbying bills for debate before presenting them before the general assembly in Richmond on Jan. 17.

One, the base adequacy bill, aims to require enough professors and classes for all Virginia students. 

“The bill is for Virginia to pay the level of money students need.  They still come short a lot, about $5 million short at JMU. If they come close to the base adequacy, then that would help our school a lot,” said Senator Jamie Lockhart (Jr.).

The absentee ballot reform bill would make it easier for voters to get their absentee ballots. The bill moves to registering for the ballot via the Internet.

“Students should not be punished for being away from home and not being able to vote,” Senator Heather Shuttleworth (So.) said.  “Students need to know that their vote is important.”

According to a survey conducted by SGA, nearly all respondents said they would seek an online ballot.  “We are the future, they need to reach out to the younger as well,” Shuttleworth said.

The Executive Council, led by Student Body President Brandon Eickel (Jr.), came up with three things to work on as SGA, and three things they would like to work on in their executive position.

“The first thing we need to improve on in senate is improving communication to the rest of the campus outside of SGA,” Eickel said.
 
To do this, there are various ideas in the works, such as an SGA public relations campaign in February and an SGA newsletter that would come out electronically.   

“Hopefully students will be motivated to attend a senate meeting then,” Eickel said.

Communication is also being improved within the senate, including such features as a Blackboard Web site, more executive office hours and oral and written reports at senate. 

“The more ways we give you information, the more ways you will be informed,” said junior Trisha Farley, executive assistant for the SGA.

Eickel also cited fostering relationships and person accountability as two other goals for the senate to work on.

“It is largely up to you as senators to find out what kind of things the people really want, and then to bring those ideas as bills to senate,” he said.

Each Executive Council member then reported on his or her individual goals.

“I would like to take a few more minutes to keep everyone in the loop and be seen so that I can give my support. I want to make reports more thorough and communicate things that not everyone might be aware of,” Eickel said. 

Junior Lee Brooks, vice president of administrative affairs, is striving to stay in touch with students.  “Please come to me if you need anything,” Brooks said.

“I want to organize the most effective and expansive Take Your Professor to Lunch Day, and look at other university’s SGA Web sites to improve our own,” he added.

Senior Aimee Cipicchio, vice president of student affairs, wants to “create a specific timeline for the student grad speaker and scholarships for this semester.”

“I would like to work more closely with class councils and senate committees to create events together.  Getting involved with each other’s committees programs will really help each other out,” Cipicchio said.

Executive Treasurer Robert Burden (Jr.), is planning a second Funding Information Night with higher attendance.

“There will be money left over in the contingency pot to be promoted, as well as next year’s fiscal program grants.  I would also like to get Madison Equality FEB status,” Burden said.