SGA Online Story

The Student Senate passed four resolution bills on Tuesday. These bills do not take any action, but show JMU students support certain causes and encourage action.

All bills passed will affect what the Student Government Association members will speak about with legislators on the Virginia General Assembly trip.

The first bill passed was an environment resolution submitted by junior senator Lucy Hutchinson.

"Universities across the country have been thinking a lot about alternative energy, and it’s really making a huge push now," said sophomore Alex Porteous, president of Environmental Business Club. "This bill just shows that we, too, are thinking about alternative energy at JMU."

"I think we should support this bill for three reasons:, one because it’s good for the environment, two because it would increase JMU status in the community and lastly because of the cost."

The second bill passed was on absentee ballot reform submitted by sophomore senator Stephanie Genco and freshman senator Sarah Lunsford. "Stephanie and I decided to write this bill because we think that this is an issue that affects JMU students and it is our duty, as SGA senators, to act in the best interest of the student body," Lunsford said. "The majority of students who voted in the last election voted using absentee ballots. Although most people did not have a problem with it, some students complained that they did not get their ballots in time for the election."

This bill would allow voters to request absentee ballots online directly from their county’s Board of Elections. "Being able to apply for an absentee ballot online would simplify and shorten the process, making it possible for as many registered voters to vote as possible," Lunsford said. "It would also make the process of getting an absentee ballot easier for everyone."

The third bill passed was financial aid, submitted by freshman Lee Brooks and sophomore Jen Murphy. This bill states that the SGA ask the Virginia Legislation to support a Student Financial Security Fund to help keep financial aid for college students at the current level.

The last bill passed was concerned with the cost of textbooks, submitted by sophomore Allison Flores and freshman Lucy Axton. This bill says that members of SGA should discuss with legislators a way to fund the budget that allows funds to help students with the cost of textbooks. "Paying $800 for a semester’s worth of textbooks is just too much and really unnecessary," Axton said.