Newspapers / North Carolina School of … / Nov. 1, 2004, edition 1 / Page 5
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5 november 2004 the stentorian I ncssm What’s Up with SGA?: An Interview with our President, Heather Mohorn Annu Kashyap E very Wednesday, the elected representatives of our classes convene during common lunch to dis cuss student matters at hand. What exactly is SGA dis cussing? When a senior was asked, she replied; “I’m unaware that SGA exists, except for the minor mention ing of senior gifts and privi leges.” In conversation with a few other senior girls, a wide range of comments were given on the performance of SGA that ranged from personal statements involving the mem bers of SGA or basically no one knew what was going on. So, “What’s Up with SGA?” In late September, SGA held junior elections for four representative positions. Those students that didn’t pass the preliminary round com plained that SGA did not fol low the constitutions guide lines on campaigning. On the day of the preliminary elec tion, students were seen hand ing out pencils, buttons, and campaigning near the election table despite the fact that the SGA Constitution clearly dic tates not to. When asked about this situation, SGA President Heather Mohorn replied, “SGA is not involved with the elections; it’s the responsibility of the election committee,” even though SGA lays out the guidelines for the elections. Recent developments have included a constitutional amendment and the prepara tion for the senior gift. The amendment, first mentioned to the student body in a Monday meeting, was created to update the constitution by creating an amendment to easily amend the constitution. “Huh?” was the reaction from most of the student body upon hearing of the amendment. Additionally, the yays and the nays were clearly not efficient in polling the student body, according to senior Carter Smith. “SGA is disap pointing this year, they are amazingly unorganized. At a senior meeting, they wanted to vote on our amendments/sen ior gifts by us screaming it in the auditorium...surprisingly, it wasn't effective.” Effective or not, SGA has been on a roll this year compared to the previous year. The senior gift of the class of ’04 was renovations of the Assembly Hall. Heather explained, that because of the delay of a decision and fundraising the ’04 senior gift has yet to be completed. However, the job has been handed down to the Koffehaus crew, who will decide between a new sound system and a new lighting system. The Monday October 18th meeting was on the sub ject of the senior gift. The meeting narrowed down the options to outside renovations of the assembly hall, WUNI radio station, or an extension of the playground. Each of the choices holds their advantages. A second renovation on the assembly hall would provide “a nice little alcove in the cen ter of campus”. The WUNI radio station would unite the campus, the teachers, the par ents, and the faculty through music and conversations. The playground would be an exten sion with a jungle gym and merry-go roimd to bring out the little kids inside us. Voting on the 22nd, revealed that sen iors wanted to renovate the outside of the assembly hall as their senior gift. The senior gift is not the only event on the SGA agenda. According to Heather, “SGA has about 17 items to discuss every Wednesday.” Subjects of their discussion range from trash cans for litter across the campus, oil on the squeaking swings, a gradua tion speaker, and more events like Singled Out, debates, car nivals, and Say What Karaoke (co-sponsored by SAB). Other than social activities and school improve ments, SGA has a Student Initiative Committee in which a certain number of SGA rep resentatives collaborate with the administration including Dr. Boarman and Dr. Reidy. At this moment, the Student Initiative Committee is in con versation with the administra tion about exam exemptions, the lights out policy, the mid night internet policy, and all Hunt access. SGA is carrying out their obligations and responsi bilities successfully as the rep resentative body of our school. They are open to suggestions and welcome to criticism if any individual has a problem. An example would be the “SGA Tree.” Kevin Cromwell, director of Student Services, suggested planting a tree from SGA every year. Many stu dents were offended and felt SGA was (in Heather’s words), “planting a monument to themselves.” Instead, the Japanese maple was planted in honor of the class of 2005 in front of Bryan lobby on Sunday the 17th. In the end. Heather and other SGA members encourage input by the student body by attending the meeting every Wednesday during com mon lunch or speaking to any SGA member. In Heather’s words, “If I make a mistake tell me, encourage me; I’ll take it face to face. All I’m trying to do is make the school better, increase communication, not glory.” I OH-O ( Uij; Head To Head l. Were you satisfied with the way elections went? Comment on the distribution of candy, candidates campaigning near the ballots and candidates telling people who to vote for. Negative: - "I didn't appreciate the candi dates within five feet of the ballot box and especially the presenee of campaign posters on the table where I vote." - "I didn't feel people who put^ signs on the table where you^ voted were very honor able. Bribery is not the^ reason why people) should vote for people.) People who are elected/ for bribery may not be I as qualified as others.^ Basically people just) voted for the richest! candidate who could) buy the most candy." - "I believe that the elec tions were not run very dem-^ ocratically. When juniors^ voted to narrow down the list of candidates for junior rep, the people running the booths were not making a conscious effort to keep track of who was voting. Had I wanted to, I could have voted multiple times.” - “I felt too pressured. I would rather have ballots more secre tive.” - “It was poorly organized due to time constratints.” Survey Questions and Quotes: Positive: -"I thought the elections were done as well as they could have been" -“Yes, speeches are how peo ple decide who to vote for, if you really care who wins.’ - I think that the senior elec- t i o n went Negative: - "I'm not informed enough to have a solid opinion." - "Constitutions are estab lished to make sure we follow - “[It was] unproffessional, [and there] should have been more communication with stu dent body.” - “We should have known about It sooner.” - "[It was] confusing and somewhat unpro fessional" "The fine. Each didate had an equal opportunity to give a speech.” - “It all went fine, and I think people were voting for the right reason.” 2. Comment on the SGA Constitutional amendment and its ratification process. the ideas that were originally established. If we changed the US. Constitution every time we felt like it, our country would be in ruin. The SGA should have taken the ratifica tion process more seriously." Ammendment should have been pre sented to student body before the meeting" - "No one knew what it really did" Positive: - "It is very effective and makes SGA more active" - “The amendment is not con troversial so I don’t think it mattered how it was voted upon. It was a mistake to not take a hand vote, but the amendment was still approved.” - “I think this is silly. We’re trying to make it practical for SGA to do more, but we’re holding it up in red tape. Need I remind you that SGA is our representation to the adminis tration?” 3. What would you like to see SGA do? i- "[They] should be \more organized: the Hast meeting was not I organized. Set aside I time for doing things. iBe more active. Put [on more dances." "They should send ^newsletters to students ^about what they are doing. ^Honestly, I had no idea '^about the amendent until after it was passed." - "[They should] publicize events more - have updates posted on halls and make plans public for feedback." - "I want to see more of the general students' views, opin ions, and ideas expressed in SGA." - "Make more strict rules con cerning election policies and procedures." - “powder puff football”
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Nov. 1, 2004, edition 1
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