Opinion
The Clarion
February 28, 2005
SGA accomplishments abound this year
By Michael Cohen
SGA President
With the current SGA Executive
Board’s year of service winding to a
close (on March 16th to be exact), it’s
natural to expect a variety of press
releases covering our term. Of course,
as 1 am serving in the roles of both
President and Press Secretary, 1 am
afforded the opportunity to spread
completely favorable pro-SGA
propaganda to the masses. There are
many noteworthy achievements that
deserve some attention when reflect
ing upon the successes and hard work
of this year’s SGA Senators and
Executive Officers.
Among our crowning achieve
ments this past year was the restruc
turing of the SGA’s fiscal management.
Budgetary developments have
provided for a much stronger system
of financial responsibility and will
allow the SGA to make significant
appeals for additional funding in the
future. So what does this mean? Well
basically, students can now come to
SGA meetings seeking more money for
a wider variety of interests and
pursuits, because we’ve worked to
make such funds available.
Through our increased participa
tion in shared governance this year,
we have also had direct input into
most of the policies and plans that
affect and will continue to affect our
campus. Student representatives have
served on nearly all faculty and staff
committees and have joined in making
recommendations and decisions on all
sorts of prospects, such as on the
structure of core requirements, the
future of Boshamer Gym, the renova
tion of academic and residential
buildings, and the residential visitation
policy, etc.
The SGA also successfully
managed several special projects for
the year ^achievements which began
to follow almost immediately after the
power transition of Spring ’04. Some
key accomplishments have included the
development of the student ceremony
for presentation of honors and awards
to members of the faculty, staff, and
student body, the improvement of
recycling and trash facilities on campus,
and the hosting of the first formal
student charity banquet event just two
weeks ago.
While many of the SGA’s goals
were accomplished this year, some are
still underway or are in the proposal
stage. Presently, the SGA is research
ing the costs of a new campus ID
system and will be allocating money to
help fund its purchase. In the future,
the proposed IDs could possibly serve
as ATM cards, discount cards to local
businesses, campus building access
keys, and room keys in addition to their
current uses as library and meal cards.
Research is also underway for the
purchase of a poster-maker that would
provide the SGA and the CAB with a
valuable resource for advertising.
Posters advertising student activities
and athletic games and meets could
significantly increase event awareness,
turnout, and support.
SGA has also made arrangements
to purchase an 80 by 40 foot event tent.
The tent, which comes complete with
windowed-walls and a price-tag of just
over $5,800, will save an estimated
$1,800 per use and will allow many
groups to host several more activities
on campus for members of the college
and of the surrounding communities.
As for the future of the SGA, we
have been working hard to develop an
overhaul of the existing structure. The
structure proposal is available for
viewing in the SGA public folder and
should allow the student government to
function in a significantly more efficient
manner. If logic follows, a more efficient
government would mean greater control
and productivity.
Much of the SGA’s success has been
due to the committed and hardworking
faculty, staff, and students of this fine
institution. The SGA thanks you for your
contributions to Brevard College and for your
continued support of the Student Govern
ment Association. Oh, and on a final note, I
might add that your bribery window of
opportunity is closing quickly. With only
three short weeks left before the transition of
officers, your chance to pay your way in to
favorable legislation is closing! Please
remember: my PO Box is 5076, and I do
accept checks and foreign currency.
Play
continued from page 5
sense of boredom and confusion. Each
character seemed down to earth and was
easy to understand and relate to, which was
the main appeal of the show. Each character
was for the most part well performed by the
actors. The only drawback in the acting was
the fact that two actors were still reading
from the script, which was inappropriate
since opening night was one day away.
The set was very simple: a flat platform,
a few pieces of furniture, and Power Point
backgrounds. The set’s simplicity worked
well because it did not distract from each
character’s story. Sound and lighting were
also excellent, especially during the helicop
ter and ending scenes. While the costumes
were sensible and plain, 1 think it would have
been more interesting if the characters had
worn ’90s fashions.
“The Laramie Project” was an overall
success. The work that went into this
production is evident from the few actors
and actresses who took on several roles.
The play came out as a smashing success
with the work and determination of those
who stuck with it and made the show a
reality.