SGA wraps up the semester with senate seats

The SGA filled two open seats Tuesday during their last meeting of the semester.

Shain Finley was elected to fill the College of Engineering seat. SGA President Ryan Beaird and SGA Vice president Quan Poole recommended Finley for the seat during discussion while the two candidates waited outside the room.

"I'll do everything in my power to adequately represent the College of Engineering; It feels excellent to be a new senator," Finley said. "The guy I was running against seemed more experienced in the engineering aspect; I was a little worried about that."

Jeffry Parcel, a mechanical engineering major from Mountain Home, was elected to fill the Department of Military Science seat. He was accepted by acclimation under a new procedure announced earlier in the meeting. Now if there is only one candidate for a spot on the senate, it will be asked if anyone has any objections to accepting that person by acclimation. If there are no objections, the person will be accepted without a nay or yay vote. If there is an objection, a traditional vote will be necessary. There were no objections to Parcel's acceptance by acclimation.

"It feels great to be a new senator," Parcel said. "I don't know fully what to expect yet."

The new senators were sworn in before the meeting adjourned.

The University College senate seat and the International senate seats were not filled. Since these seats have been on the floor for two meetings, they will become senator-at-large seats at the next meeting, meaning students outside those colleges can fill them.

The senate was informed that committee appointments will be made over the summer. Committees are formed to address specific issues the student body is concerned about and include projects and publicity, cultural diversity, student services, Academic Affairs, campus environment, and attendance review.

Sonali Gera, cultural diversity director, briefly mentioned the Cinco De Mayo Arts and Music Festival. The festival will be held May 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Bernard's Auditorium. A dance will take place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Live music, salsa dancing demonstrations and lessons, food, arts and crafts, activities for children, and contests will be featured at these events. Interested parties may call Gera at 870-530-3336.

Another event mentioned at the meeting was the Village (formerly known as Indian Village) Spring Fest. This event will be April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include face painting, inflatable games, a family photo booth, and electronic games. There will also be popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones for participants to indulge in.

Poole briefly cited how the Earth Day Celebration Tuesday went. Dan Howard, vice chancellor for academic affairs and research, spoke at the event. Jason Henson, a graduate student in the environmental science class, explained what types of items were recycled. Red Wolf items were given out.

"Thanks to everyone who came out to the Earth Day celebration today," Poole said. "Hopefully we'll have recycling in full effect this upcoming year, and that will help make the campus more 'green.'"

A block party for on-campus residents will take place at NorthPark Quads Monday. The residence hall groundbreaking will be held at 1:30 p.m. May 9.