BY MANYI ENO, Co-Opinions Editor
On Tuesday, March 18, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a meeting to discuss a number of topics including student elections for next year’s members.
The meeting was held on the fourth floor of the library in Camp Younts.
The biggest topic discussed in the meeting was about executive offices and requirements to hold office on SGA.
To be elected into an executive office, a student must have at least a 3.5 GPA. To be appointed into the executive office, a student must have a 3.0 GPA.
SGA President Sam Thomas explained that in the February meeting, the members discussed possibilities of raising the standards for students who are elected without SGA experience.
The members discussed making changes to the way that elections were handled. For example, to be appointed to executive, instead of gaining a 2/3 majority vote, candidates must gain all senators in their favor.
If the run is unopposed, students can get appointed by the senate. If opposed, they must run for candidacy.
SGA Vice President Kat Knarr explained that her biggest issue with the elections was that executive office will always be filled with the same members in the appointed system.
“That kind of destroys the fact that this is a student elected body,” she said.
The edits and suggestions will be made and voted on via email between the members.
Other topics discussed in the meeting were:
• Touch-ups to be made in Jenkins Lobby and one more work call that should finish the job.
• The budget: any Piedmont club or organization that have not received its money and SGA voted for it to receive money should contact Sam Thomas so that SGA can get the money to it.
• SGA also discussed the volleyball court, as SGA has not talked to Natalie Crawford about it since she decided to wait until they find someone to maintain it. They are also waiting on the product order.
• Brandon Callahan is gathering information and research about the Leadership Training Day and seniors living off campus.
• The protocol for the Compass Program. A rough draft of the program distributed to members as they discussed the possibility to do a competition with a panel of judges regarding Compass Program potential projects: first place gets $500 in scholarships and second place gets $250. SGA also discussed the possibility of students’ inclusion into the panel. SGA is waiting for approval. It was also discussed to present the proposal with professors for support.
SGA’s next meeting will be held on April 2 at 1 p.m. on the fourth floor of the library in Camp Younts.