Staggered class schedule, diversity among future plans

With only half a semester to go, the Student Government Association is preparing for next year, as well as working on more projects for this current semester.

"The budget season is in full effect," said sophomore Jake Miller, SGA executive treasurer.

Junior Matt Gray, senator of the College of Arts and Letters, said that individual members of the finance committee will be meeting with the front-end budgeted groups after Spring Break. After the break, they will draw up a budget, let it sit — giving senators time to read it — and then, two weeks later, it will go to the Senate for debate.

The SGA academic affairs committee is working with the administration over the alterations of class times. Junior Ricardo Pineres, senator of Ashby Hall, said the administration is looking to stagger class times between the different campus sides of Integrated Science and Technology and the Quad.

The ISAT classes would begin on the half hour, and the Quad classes would begin on the hour. This is to help alleviate traffic and help students catch the bus, according to Pineres. The administration is asking for SGA's suggestions.

The diversity affairs committee met with President Linwood Rose earlier and reported on its discussion.

Daniel Wubah will remain as the special assistant to the president within the recently formed diversity commission, along with the entire office, according to junior Lauren Broussard, committe chair of the diversity affairs. This was formerly a temporary position.

"They are also hoping to implement some incentives for minority faculty to come [to JMU]," Broussard said.

JMU also is going to seek out the underrepresented areas, such as Tidewater, and increase the student applicant pools in these areas. In addition, Rose said he would do more to help, such as having lunches with some applicants, especially different athletes, according to Broussard.

The diversity plan is not just about recruiting, though, according to Broussard. The diversity commission also is working to help keep these students at JMU. The SGA diversity committee also agreed to help.
"We want to expand our welcoming efforts to help with the transition [from high school to college]," Broussard said.

Also, each college will have its own diversity positions so that they can respond to the needs of their college the best, according to Broussard.

SGA also discussed new business. It suspended the house rules and allowed both Constitution bills C5 and C6 to be read. C5 deals with election rules, and C6 deals with the election to the Board of Visitors. These now will sit for the next two weeks before Senate debate.

Two resolution bills unanimously were passed. The R16 Absentee Ballot Lobbying Bill allows some students to go to Richmond and lobby to make applying for an absentee ballot more efficient.

R17 Budget Lobbying Bill also allows students to lobby for "putting more money toward higher education," said sophomore Mackenzie Shimon, senator for the College of Arts and Letters.

Two finance bills also were read. F18 asks the SGA for $472.10 for the Council of Exceptional Children.

F19 asks for $300 for Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity, a professional chemistry fraternity.

In separate business, senior Jennifer Grantio, who works with Up 'til Dawn, was named the Student of the Month.

The class councils still are working to bring more speakers and events to campus. Sophomore Wesli Spencer, sophomore class president, said they are working on four more events.

Senior Seong Kim, senior class president, said they would be helping to bring a speaker to campus. The speaker will discuss diversity and stereotypes, and will be held March 22.