SGA plans for new year

The Student Government Association will focus on four major initiatives in the coming weeks: Sept. 11, 2001, memorial activities, voter registration, SGA elections and publicity for the HOV parking lot.

Student body president Tom Culligan said that beyond SGA’s current project of registering students to vote, it will continue its information station in Taylor Hall room 203.

"Any student can walk in at any time during the day and find out how to register, how to vote and who the candidates are," Culligan said.

Memorial services also will be held in remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Hopefully this year will take a positive spin," Culligan said. "We want to know how [the terrorist attacks] unified the campus.

"This will be our last year hosting memorial events," he added. "This year’s seniors will be the last class here at JMU during the terrorist attacks."

The SGA also will work to increase publicity of the HOV parking lot available to commuters with two or more passengers.

Additionally, election registration packets for SGA senators and representatives are available via the SGA Web site, sga.jmu.edu.

Senior Alka Franceschi, vice president of student affairs, is organizing the purchase and distribution of the Purple Out Homecoming T-shirts. "I am hoping to have more Purple Out T-shirts available, with a better way of handing them out," she said.

The popular shirts are distributed during the Homecoming pep rally and distribution has been problematic, Franceschi said.

Senior JohnAlex Golden, vice president of Administrative Affairs, will begin appointing student members to university committees in two weeks. The positions to the media board, which makes policy decisions affecting student publications, parking advisory and several academic committees, will be filled following an application process.

"We’re looking for committed students who are passionate about the positions they’re applying to," Golden said.

Applications will be available Aug. 31 for all appointment positions via the SGA Web site. Golden said that the positions require "a lot of time and energy to ensure the best possible results from these committees." Representatives will report periodically to the SGA.