Rogers Clements was officially sworn in on Monday as the Student Government Association President for the 2013-2014 year. The executive officers and new senators for next year were sworn in as well. Meagan Black was appointed as the parliamentarian. Dr. Pease-Hernandez was approved as the faculty advisor for next year.
Senator Courtney Lee was elected as the Speaker for the Senate. “I really want us as a whole to worry about what our constituents need,” Lee explained. “I want to hear what you [the Senate] have to say because that’s what I feel the Speaker should be.”
James Garrity, Alex Merida, and Baylee Childress were elected to the Board of Cooperative Activities for 2012-2013 year.
President Cheryl J. Norton was in attendance for the meeting, thanking the new board for taking on the leadership and responsibility of the position. “Together, I know we can all make a difference,” Norton said. It was Norton’s first time attending an SGA meeting and she said she was happy to have selected this one to attend. She thanked the previous members for their support of her and encouraged those graduating to return to Slippery Rock.
In addition to the leadership transition, SGA attended to many regular business items. The Student Government Association passed a motion to purchase a sign for the SGA Pavilion for up to $1,800 this Monday. The motion was tabled at the last meeting because when purchasing an item costing over $500, SGA requires three bids from outside producers. SGA President Dave Wolfe explained that the bid presented had already been put out by the University and was the lowest offer. The money will come out of the budgetary reserves. “It’s just a nice touch to add to get it recognized as the SGA Pavilion.” Wolfe added.
Rental cars from “Hertz” car rental were approved to be brought to campus starting in the fall.
“It’s very similar to a zip car,” SRSGA Business Manager Cathy George explained, adding that there would be no membership fee for students.
Future SGA President Robert Clements said he felt it would be a “great service for students.” The idea is that the cars could be used for any students needs or could be utilized by a club or organization if needed.
Students wishing to rent out the car would need to pay either an hourly fee or a half or full day charge. George explained that the cars would be signed out by signing up online and the costs would cover “the gas, the car, the insurance, everything.” The car rental service will be provided at no cost to the Student Government Association for a trial period.
SOAR, the Knitting and Crocheting Club, and the Chess Club were all new organizations approved by SGA.
SOAR stands for Students for Outdoor Activities and Recreation, an organization seeking to bring together all of the outdoor and recreational activities together and hold social events and activities for all students at the ski lodge and on-campus.
The Knitting and Crocheting Club will be an organization for people to who knit and crochet or wish to learn to do so to have the opportunity to grow and develop their skills.
The Chess Club was described by Ben Zeiger, founder of Chess Club, as a club about “playing chess” Zeiger wants to put Slippery Rock on the chess playing map. The group is open to anyone who wants to learn to play chess. The group also plans to look into “laser chess.”
The first SGA meeting of the fall semester will be Monday, August 26 at 8:45 p.m. in the theater of the Robert M. Smith Student Center.
