Lack of Interest Leaves SGA Cabinet Seats Open
Natalie Lester, O&B Editor
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
The SGA cabinet positions of Secretary of the Student Body, Chief Justice, and Secretary of Public Relations remain open following the cancellation of a January election.
"We will be working […] on trying to recruit more students into SGA as the numbers are a little low right now," President Andrew Ingalls said.
The previously scheduled election was cancelled because of a lack of qualified applicants.
"We are now moving in to a time of appointment," Ingalls said. "The good news is that we will have a full cabinet soon but the bad news is, according to the SGA Constitution, if we appoint a cabinet member they cannot be a voting member of Senate."
At the time of print, names being considered for appointment were unavailable.
A general lack of awareness and knowledge about SGA may be an underlying factor for such a decrease in interest.
Ingalls maintains his confidence in his legislation, which has included an attempt at increased communication between the government and student body. Ingalls and his staff have produced two newsletters last semester.
"As of right now, only two issues have been released and we are waiting for the feedback and to gauge the popularity of it and what we can do to improve it," Ingalls said.
Each member of SGA has also been encouraged to choose a pet project, which is an issue on campus they feel needs to be changed, and attempt to solve it. The newsletter appears to be the only one of these projects seen through to completion. Several others including additions to the student weight room and individual keys to the laundry room at Appalachian Commons were turned away for budget reasons.
"The SGA budget is not a department budget," Ingalls explained. "When we want to get something done, we have to appeal (through legislation) to the department of the school that it would affect. For example, when we wanted to expand Library hours, we had to get the library to approve the legislation. At this time the Library, as well as many other departments, do not have the resources to provide for some of the legislation we come up with and therefore it cannot be implemented."
The President stays hopeful about the additions to the weight room, but noted that funds were still not established. "The weight room repairs are on their way, but we are trying to find outside funds for renovations," Ingalls said.
According to the handbook, SGA "seeks to promote the welfare of every student and to create an opportunity for students to practice leadership and assist in determining the policies that shape their college experience." Despite budget setbacks and few accomplishments to list, Ingalls said he is proud of what he has accomplished thus far in his term as SGA President.
"One of my main goals in becoming SGA President was to improve communication between the students and the administration," Ingalls said. "I feel like this has been accomplished not only with the newsletter, but also with the success of the forums that we had last semester. Many students came and talked with teachers from each branch of the Academic Departments."
"We will be working […] on trying to recruit more students into SGA as the numbers are a little low right now," President Andrew Ingalls said.
The previously scheduled election was cancelled because of a lack of qualified applicants.
"We are now moving in to a time of appointment," Ingalls said. "The good news is that we will have a full cabinet soon but the bad news is, according to the SGA Constitution, if we appoint a cabinet member they cannot be a voting member of Senate."
At the time of print, names being considered for appointment were unavailable.
A general lack of awareness and knowledge about SGA may be an underlying factor for such a decrease in interest.
Ingalls maintains his confidence in his legislation, which has included an attempt at increased communication between the government and student body. Ingalls and his staff have produced two newsletters last semester.
"As of right now, only two issues have been released and we are waiting for the feedback and to gauge the popularity of it and what we can do to improve it," Ingalls said.
Each member of SGA has also been encouraged to choose a pet project, which is an issue on campus they feel needs to be changed, and attempt to solve it. The newsletter appears to be the only one of these projects seen through to completion. Several others including additions to the student weight room and individual keys to the laundry room at Appalachian Commons were turned away for budget reasons.
"The SGA budget is not a department budget," Ingalls explained. "When we want to get something done, we have to appeal (through legislation) to the department of the school that it would affect. For example, when we wanted to expand Library hours, we had to get the library to approve the legislation. At this time the Library, as well as many other departments, do not have the resources to provide for some of the legislation we come up with and therefore it cannot be implemented."
The President stays hopeful about the additions to the weight room, but noted that funds were still not established. "The weight room repairs are on their way, but we are trying to find outside funds for renovations," Ingalls said.
According to the handbook, SGA "seeks to promote the welfare of every student and to create an opportunity for students to practice leadership and assist in determining the policies that shape their college experience." Despite budget setbacks and few accomplishments to list, Ingalls said he is proud of what he has accomplished thus far in his term as SGA President.
"One of my main goals in becoming SGA President was to improve communication between the students and the administration," Ingalls said. "I feel like this has been accomplished not only with the newsletter, but also with the success of the forums that we had last semester. Many students came and talked with teachers from each branch of the Academic Departments."
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