SGA calls for more involvement
Student Government to have first meeting of semester Tuesday
By Danny Gillham
Staff Reporter

Student Government Association President Brad Thompson said more support is needed from his fellow students.

Thompson, a senior radio-TV-film major, along with other SGA members will have their first meeting of the semester Tuesday. He said students need to be more involved in voting for campus issues.

“I think we have to inform people of what is going on and be more visible,” Thompson said. “I think students generally care; they just don’t know.”

SGA Vice President Andrea Reed said voter turnout in the last elections ranged from 10 to 20 percent of the student body.

Thompson said with better feedback from the students, there is a better chance of putting ideas into action.

“It’s hard to take something to the Board of Trustees and propose because it’s not a real good representation of the student body,” Thompson said. “I think a lot of people recognize what we do, it’s just getting them interested.”

Keeping in touch with student and dorm wing representatives could keep students interested and keep them coming back, said Reed, an international business and social work major.

“Retaining members is a big thing,” Reed said. “I think a lot of times if you’re just a (representative), you kind of feel disconnected from what is really going on.”

Voter disinterest leads to lack of progress, Thompson said.

During fall of 2001, a proposal was made to increase the student government fee of each student from $20 to $30, treasurer Chris Mattingly said. The bill got the majority of votes, but only 150 students voted, which wasn’t enough, he said.

Thompson said they needed about 500 votes for the increase to be considered.
Mattingly, a senior international finance major, estimated SGA’s yearly budget at $255,000, but said more could be done with a $10 per student increase.

“Just imagine another $120,000 in the budget,” Mattingly said. “It’s amazing what that type of increase could bring.”

Thompson said SGA doesn’t have any short term plans for spending the money.

Mattingly said with the budget that is in place, SGA is planning to set up a system allowing everyone to have a voice. He said it may not go in place this year, but it would be more effective.

“We want to be able to hear everyone,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly said the use of money within the SGA has been carefully managed.

“We’ve been fortunate that our program directors have been very good stewards of funds and wise with spending,” he said.

Thompson said SGA members can be more innovative spenders.

“Any good program can happen with a little money,” Thompson said. “It just takes more creativity and more work.”