Appalachian State University Student Government Association

Off-Campus Senator, Frances Ramos

sgaofficer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:17:51 +0000

Hello Mountaineers! My name is Frances Ramos. I am a senior majoring in Economics and minoring in Mathematics. First and foremost, I would like to apologize that you have not seen any blogs from myself for this school year. I have been extremely busy with legislations this past fall semester. With that said, I would like to share with all of you what I have worked on and what I am currently working on for your behalf. Before that, I would like to share with you my experience with SGA, and as well, the Appalachian community. I have been a Senator for four years, and have served on a wide variety of committees. I currently serve in Legislative Operations and a member of the Judicial Board. I am also the Community Service Chair for my business fraternity Phi Beta Lambda. Without further ado, I would like to share with all of you my work last semester. The first bill introduced and passed for the 45^th Senate meeting was with regards to the 10-University Funded Organizations seats. Along with this, I also amended the Student Government Association Constitution. The process of researching, writing, and passing this legislation not only through Senate, but also through the student body, and as well, the administration was very lengthy. Together with a few fellow Senators with previous experience with elections and familiarity with the By-Laws, we made amendments to the By-Laws to address loopholes and gray areas. I also had the privilege to set forth the dates for 2012 Student Body Elections. The last thing I worked on was the implementation of a Supervisor Evaluation, which piloted at the end of fall semester.

Because I am a member of the Judicial Board, which requires extra time, I am less likely to write as much bills as I did last semester, however, I do want to ensure that you all know I am here to hear your voice, work with you, and for you. I am working on two bills along with other Senators regarding handicap transportation around campus, and also on-campus housing for student-parents. If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions, please do email me at ramosfs@appstate.edu. I would love to hear from you.

Cone Hall Senator, Carson Cook

sgaofficer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:06:47 +0000

Hello Everyone!

Fellow Cone Senator Adam Ezell and I have been trying to get a card swipe at the back door so we may have several places to enter. After discussing the issue with the coordinator Ryan Heins we have came to the conclusion that for our situation currently (the construction having to knock down the flight of stairs that led directly to the front) we shouldn’t invest so much money into something that would take months to implement so the card swipe wouldn’t be in till next year anyways. Next year it will be a lot easier to get to the front door because there will be several new walkways. However, this could turn into a future project if the residents living there next year still see a need for the card swipe.

I am currently working on a few other pieces of legislation, but they are in the beginning stages so hopefully by my next blog post I will have tons of great updates.

Thanks

-Carson Cook

Newland Hall Senator, Steven Hatley

sgaofficer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:02:11 +0000

Good Day todos,

My name is Steven Hatley, and I represent the great residence hall that we all know as Newland. Currently, I am working on a piece of legislation that will greatly enhance our education on campus. What this is are midterm evaluations. I want each student to be able to have a say in their education. So far the only evaluations that are conducted are at the end of this semester. I want that to change. I want students to be able to evaluate their professors during the semester. So far, the faculty senate is willing to hear our proposal on March 20, 2012. The current Student Body President will present this idea; however, I will be there to answer questions about the bill. In other news, I am patiently awaiting an invitation to sit on the academic policy committee. I signed up to proudly represent the students last month so I cannot wait to lend my service for that. Like always, I am meeting with eager students to hear their concerns. If you have not had a chance to come to one of my forums please do. I hope more senators do this to reach out to the student body. This is a great honor to represent each and every one of you. Stay warm and good luck.

Sincerely,

Senator Steven Hatley

Vice President, Mattie Hardin

sgaofficer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:59:03 +0000

Greetings Mountaineers!

I hope this update finds everyone doing well and enjoying the Spring semester thus far. Things have surely taken off in the SGA office in the short month that we have been back. It has been my goal to encourage all Senators to seek out your input in the legislation that they are writing. I am sure all will agree with me, especially after reading the blogs and having countless conversations, they are all doing a great job!

After working diligently on the Fees and Tuition Committees last semester, recommendations have been made to the Board of Governors. However, University System President Thomas Ross has created an alternative plan for all 17 universities in the system. This would actually lower Appalachian’s tuition to 9.3%. The Board of Governors approved Ross’ proposal. This is great news for all of us.

One of the other big projects that Lauren and I have been working tediously on, along with Senator Frances Ramos, is the 10 UFO Senate Seat addition. After the referendum passed, we were quick to meet with Student Development to extend more information for our final approval by the Chancellor. We should be hearing a response relatively soon! I know I am really excited to see this project come to fruition!

While the 10 additional seats will expand SGA’s effectiveness immensely, there is always room for improvement. I currently have been having conversations with administration and am doing some research to continue in our work to increase our effectiveness through representation. While my idea is not something that can feasibly happen this year, I intend to leave a strong foundation for the next president and vice president.

Other than all of the above, the elections for next year’s administration is just around the corner. The declaration period is February 20-24. You can turn in your form to CSIL. In the mean time, I have begun to assemble our Judicial and Elections Boards with high hopes of making the process run as smoothly as possible! Cross your fingers!

As always, my door is always open if you need any assistance! You can also contact me anytime via email athardinml@appstate.edu.

Continue to keep up the great work!

Mattie Hardin
Vice President

Director of International and Environmental Affairs, Jake Cox

sgaofficer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:56:00 +0000

Hello Mountaineers!

Back again, and this semester I have been working on more than ever! Having already successfully accomplished our Environmental Forum, I feel as though myself and my committee members can move forward more effectively at addressing some of your concerns. Some things that we have picked up to start working on have included skateboarding on campus, renewing the yellow bike initiative, introducing legislation encouraging more agriculturally intended practices on campus, as well as on areas like Camp Broadstone.

Moving forward, my next large project will involve Earth Day in cooperation with the Office of Sustainability. I will be sending out more updates as I move forward, but look forward to an exciting day filled with informational booths, sustainable demonstrations, as well as a possible concert!

As always, feel free to contact me with any issues or concerns that you may have. I am always available for a new face and idea and would love to know what new ways I can involve myself more with my campus community as a Student Government official.

Stay black and gold Boone,

Jake Cox
Director of International and Environmental Affairs

APPS Senator, Amanda Jacobson

sgaofficer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:09:17 +0000

This is my first semester working in SGA. I am one of the new UFO Senators representing Appalachian Popular Programming Society and I am currently the Films Chairperson within APPS. I have been working on the Campus Outreach Committee and I have been working with my constituency on finding out on how they believe SGA can help APPS. One of the main concerns was on getting the word out on what APPS is about and for students to understand that we are a division of student programs and paid through student fees and our events and seven councils are open for anyone to join.

Off-Campus Senator, Steven Powell

sgaofficer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:19:36 +0000

Hello this is Steven Powell with my first blog entry. I have been a part of the Student Government Association for two weeks now and I am really starting to enjoy seeing the democratic process at work first hand. The senate meetings are engaging from beginning to end, and I enjoy the whole new area of cognitive thought that comes with working with this sect of likeminded individuals. My extent of senate involvement at this point does not go any further than the senate meetings and the Environmental Forum, though the forum did spark an idea for my first piece of legislation for which I feel very confident about. The piece is in regards to an old idea that now only travels in whispers, a concept of sustainable sharing that I feel simply screams Boone. The cognitive wheels are now constantly turning, with a passion to see a feasible, cost efficient, and practical bike sharing network in our town. At this point that is where I stand with SGA but I hope to add drastic expansion in my involvement in this organization.

Off-Campus Senator, Laura Leblanc

sgaofficer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:16:29 +0000

Hey everyone! I hope everyone has adjusted well to their new classes. Recently, I’ve heard a lot of talk about smoking on campus. We all know there’s a rule where we have to stay 50ft away from any building when smoking, but this rule is rarely ever enforced. Because of this, I’ve started looking into writing an awareness piece to bring attention to the amount of cigarettes littering our campus. I feel as if this will make people think twice before tossing their cigarette on the ground when there’s a cigarette dispenser only 10ft away.

Off-Campus Senator, Stephanie Radman

sgaofficer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:13:58 +0000

This month I am working to help the Recreation Management graduates get their graduation traditions reinstated. For 20 years they have worn climbing rope as their tassel and four years they have gone to graduation barefoot. I am also working with a few other senators to bring awareness to the cigarette problem on campus. Our goal is to clean up our campus of cigarette butts.

Off-Campus Senator, Ben Davis

sgaofficer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:09:13 +0000

Being a freshman I am completely new to a lot of things about college, and basking in the freedom that is living separate from parents, I am realizing I have a lot to learn. In high school I regarded the student government as somewhat of a joke. I knew that they were hand selected by teachers, and all in all had little power in regards to the school. Not to mention a budget of next to nothing. Disgruntled, I chose the worst path, apathy.

Upon coming to college I again took an indifferent stance towards Appalachian’s student government, just another organization looking good and adding to their resume. I was then put on probation for skateboarding. To me, this did not seem fair. Why should I be criminalized for doing something I love, while not harming anyone else in any other way? From this rose emotions of exasperation, confusion, and mistrust. I decided to challenge it, not from a conduct point of view, but go directly to the rule, law, or what have you, that I so greatly wished to see abolished. I was advised to contact SGA.

I did not immediately see SGA as my most plausible option; I was considering more along the lines of a rebellion. Coupled with my previously mentioned animosity towards student governments I more or less drug myself into the SGA office in hopes of some meaningful alternative before all out war. I discussed in adamant detail my plans, and to my surprise, especially around the subject of skateboarding, I was met with complete unbridled support.

I was initially very confused on how SGA could help me. But through careful explanation I grasped the process of surveys, meetings, legislation, voting, and more meetings. It occurred to me then that SGA was so much more than some dinky student government in high school, this was a real organization with merit, funding, power of change, and passion. I wanted in.

By filling out a petition, I was able to become a senator. Doing so, even for a short time, had engaged me in campus life and has encouraged me in different an unexpected ways. I am currently working on legislation for the validation of skateboarding on campus, and with help, I’m sure skateboarders will be cruising around campus without anyone telling them that they are wrong to do so.