Initial SGA meeting kicks off a semester sure to be full of surprises
Jesse Davis
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: News
Last Wednesday the student senate of McNeese State University gathered for the first time this spring semester. The meeting was held in Baker Auditorium in Farrar Hall, which is were all meetings for the entire semester are held unless specified otherwise.
The Senate meetings are orchestrated by Senate Chair Lance Schexnider and are conducted under strict parliamentary procedure to ensure that business is handled properly.
Each member of the senate is elected by their respective organization or college and may not necessarily be the President of their organization. Any student who was not elected as a senator is welcome to attend these meetings, however their voice and vote must be channeled through their respective representative.
This week's meeting began with several guest speakers who were there to raise awareness about student disabilities and their rights as students. Dean of Students Toby Osburn conducted the speakers in order and then followed their presentation with a small test to inform the student senate the proper methods in handling situations with disabled individuals.
An example given was this: If a disabled student wanted to watch the matches from the student viewing area right next to the Ooze ball pit, how would they be able to reach the grassy area if they are wheelchair bound? The answer seemed simple enough; to lay a wooden path from the sidewalk of the quad to the section grass by the pit designated for students.
Next up was President of the Student Government Association (SGA) Tim Rye, who presented his State of McNeese Address to the senate. Rye's speech was a service announcement about major budget cuts the campus has undergone and yet to come. Rye challenged the senate to do all possible to help ease these challenges by helping draft legislation.
Graduate Assistant Jonathon Rutherford followed with the President's speech with news that several bills have already been drafted to address these budget issues. Rutherford encouraged members of the senate to author such bills and that his office will always be open to answer questions and concerns.
Rutherford presented the budget of the spring semester to the senate in the absence of Treasurer Berkley. It was estimated that over $7,000 dollars was left from the fall semester and that amount would be added to the current budget for the spring. The grand total of the senate funds available to McNeese organizations and colleges is over $23,000 dollars.
Rutherford continued by saying that though number seems large, remember that there are more conferences attended in the spring then fall, requiring a larger budget.
Three approbation bills were sent to the Finance Budget Committee for their recommendations. At the next senate meeting the senate will either approve of these bills with FBC's recommendations, or with another amount. The senate will discuss and review this bill at the next senate meeting at 4:00 in Baker Auditorium in Farrar February 3, 2010.
The Senate meetings are orchestrated by Senate Chair Lance Schexnider and are conducted under strict parliamentary procedure to ensure that business is handled properly.
Each member of the senate is elected by their respective organization or college and may not necessarily be the President of their organization. Any student who was not elected as a senator is welcome to attend these meetings, however their voice and vote must be channeled through their respective representative.
This week's meeting began with several guest speakers who were there to raise awareness about student disabilities and their rights as students. Dean of Students Toby Osburn conducted the speakers in order and then followed their presentation with a small test to inform the student senate the proper methods in handling situations with disabled individuals.
An example given was this: If a disabled student wanted to watch the matches from the student viewing area right next to the Ooze ball pit, how would they be able to reach the grassy area if they are wheelchair bound? The answer seemed simple enough; to lay a wooden path from the sidewalk of the quad to the section grass by the pit designated for students.
Next up was President of the Student Government Association (SGA) Tim Rye, who presented his State of McNeese Address to the senate. Rye's speech was a service announcement about major budget cuts the campus has undergone and yet to come. Rye challenged the senate to do all possible to help ease these challenges by helping draft legislation.
Graduate Assistant Jonathon Rutherford followed with the President's speech with news that several bills have already been drafted to address these budget issues. Rutherford encouraged members of the senate to author such bills and that his office will always be open to answer questions and concerns.
Rutherford presented the budget of the spring semester to the senate in the absence of Treasurer Berkley. It was estimated that over $7,000 dollars was left from the fall semester and that amount would be added to the current budget for the spring. The grand total of the senate funds available to McNeese organizations and colleges is over $23,000 dollars.
Rutherford continued by saying that though number seems large, remember that there are more conferences attended in the spring then fall, requiring a larger budget.
Three approbation bills were sent to the Finance Budget Committee for their recommendations. At the next senate meeting the senate will either approve of these bills with FBC's recommendations, or with another amount. The senate will discuss and review this bill at the next senate meeting at 4:00 in Baker Auditorium in Farrar February 3, 2010.
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