SGA votes to add graduate seats

The Student Government Association passed an executive resolution to add two senate seats for graduate students in its first meeting of the semester on Tuesday night.

The resolution was opened to questioning and debate, followed by a vote.

"As a graduate student, I really think the addition of two seats is a good idea," said graduate senator Adrian Everett during the senate debate.

SGA president Hunter Petrus added, "It will truly help the senate to be well rounded and represent all students equally."

The resolution was voted on and passed unanimously by the senators, and will now be open for the student body to vote online. The student body must vote in favor of the resolution in order for it to pass.

If ruled in favor of, the two new graduate seats will be open to be filled.

"Hopefully by the next meeting it is on the floor and open," Petrus said.

The resolution went online today at 9 a.m. at https://webapps.astate.edu. Students should visit the site, log in just as they would to vote for homecoming, and vote on the resolution.

Petrus opened the meeting with a list of things to accomplish this semester, which included student section signage in the Convo for basketball games, and an upcoming event that he called "a miniature Order of the Pack."

Petrus said the Feb. 13 event, The Coaches' Panel, will feature ASU coaches giving energetic words to encourage school spirit. Coaches will let students know either how their season is going or how they anticipate it to go.

The first 200 students at the event will receive a free Red Wolves visor.

"We are very excited about this event," Petrus said. "It will be a great opportunity for students to get excited about our spring athletics and the great success that we have had so far."

The SGA is working towards having signage posted in the student section of the Convocation Center, similar to what was put in the student section of ASU Stadium in the fall.

"We would like to have the signage and attendants so that we can fill the section with students only and get very excited and rowdy and support our Red Wolves and Lady Red Wolves Basketball teams," Petrus said.

In addition to the executive resolution that was passed, a senate resolution was read to the SGA Tuesday night. The resolution was for the addition of a park area near North Park Quads and the Honors Living-Learning Community.

It suggests that students living in that part of campus don't have a nice outdoor place to study and relax near by. The park would have tables and benches for studying, as well as barbecue grills for recreation.

Senators moved to further question and discuss the resolution at the next SGA meeting.

In other business, there were two open senate seats prior to Tuesday's meeting. The open seats were for the College of Nursing and Health Professions and a Junior senate seat.

The Junior seat was filled, and Austin Copenhaver, a Radio-TV major from Jonesboro, was sworn in. The College of Nursing and Health Professions senate seat remains open.