SGA discusses Emergency Absence Policy, Student Voter Empowerment Act, and More

This past Thursday in the Lane Center’s Atkinson room Frostburg State’s Student Government Association held its second meeting for the spring 2020 semester. This senate meeting was eventful with news about the progression of bills and two funding packets passing.

The senate meeting began with a debrief in regards to the Can We Just Talk meeting which was hosted this previous Tuesday. This was an event encouraging students to talk about concerns they have about the university of Frostburg at-large. Some of the complaints which were addressed at the meeting include: these meetings happening more frequently, diversifying campus police, updating Bobcat Connect, addressing definitions of diversity with first-year student ORIE classes, and fostering Bobcat pride. 

The FrostburgFirst Survey was next on the evening’s agenda. The survey received 140 responses with requests for more bars, clubs, outdoor music, and institutions open later at night.

SGA elections will begin on Feb. 27. Each SGA representative must receive at least 50 signatures for the constituency which they are running for. SGA representative positions are available for anyone who wishes to run.

On April 25, the Relay for Life will be occurring. This event fundraises for the American Cancer Society and other organizations of the like. 

The Student Voter Empowerment Act of 2020 was next on the agenda. The purpose of this act is to increase student involvement in the voting process. As described by Vice President Forest in the first SGA Senate Agenda meeting this semester, “It would change a lot of mandates for the State Institutions. That’s not just System Institutions that include St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Morgan State, as well. It’s an attempt to increase student voter participation, student voter turnout, student voter engagement. Things like that. Some of the things it would do would require the State Board of Elections to establish a polling place at the University. It would require the University to allow students to miss class on Primary and General Election days to vote.”

In regards to the SGA emergency absence policy, Vice President Forest said, “the emergency absence policy finally passed out of the faulty concerns committee last Wednesday. It’s been a two-year process. However, in the process of negotiating what that looks like when we came out, it now has a faculty handbook copy of that and a catalog copy. It now has to go through two additional committees.”

University Advisory Council reports Guild 124 is going to become a collaborative workplace, the new residence hall will be completed after commencement, the University’s policy regarding teacher-student relation is under examination, and the Brownsville Memorial plaque has been brought to the desk of President Nowaczyk.

Two student organizations requested funding during the meeting. Iota Phi Theta requested funding in the amount of $2,559.48 for their annual Stroll Competition which will be hosted on March 6th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in ARMAH. Kappa Alpha Psi requested funding in the amount of $2,385 to host and set up their annual Shimmy Like A Nupe event on March 11th at 6:30 p.m. in LUC ARMAH. Both funding packets passed unanimously.