SGA officers set priorities, prepare for year ahead
Despite low turnout, new elects look to increase
campus-wide interaction and strengthened relationships Lindsay Porter / Copy Editor
Have you seen Chris Morse?
If things go as planned for the newly-elected Student
Government Association president, his face will be
reoccurring at sports games, organization meetings and
community events campus-wide. And if the other three incoming
executive officers have their way, they’ll be right
there beside him.
“I want to have an SGA that is more student-oriented.
A big part of that is being visible,” Morse said as
final election results were being tallied Feb. 25. “And
we’re also focused on getting people to know
who’s elected.”
With a mere 506 total ballots cast over two days in the
recent election, Morse has his work cut out for him. Last
year’s election drew in 1,007 voters—nearly
double this year’s turnout.
“I was disappointed with the turnout, but seeing as
how there were many uncontested positions low voter turnout
isn’t too much of a surprise,” said Mark
Gustafson, current SGA president. SGA adviser Jana Lynn
Patterson echoed Gustafson’s sentiments, citing the
number of uncontested senate positions as a large factor in
the lack of student participation. Each of the executive,
senior and junior class officers ran unopposed. The only
contested races were those of sophomore class president, vice
president and two senator spots, which Michael Bumbry, Jen
Budd, Clifton Johnson and Bethany Massman won, respectively.
With vacant spots for secretary, treasurer and one senator
for the class of 2006, in addition to open academic council
seats for education/Physical Therapy & Health, Physical
Education and Leisure Sports Management, communications,
math/science (2) and business (2), opportunities for student
involvement have presented themselves in the form of SGA.
“I think it’s disheartening how many positions
were left vacant after the elections,” Gustafson said.
Morse said he’s committed to filling the voids.
“One of our obstacles will be filling the openings on
the senate. We have to fill them with the best people we
can,” he said.
Shelby Peterson, executive vice president-elect, Cheryl
Borden, secretary-elect, and Bob Koons, treasurer-elect, all
said one of their top priorities is to strengthen ties
between students and the university as well as those between
students and SGA.
“I have a concern for separation between SGA and
student organizations,” Morse said.
Peterson explained the potential for divide.
“We are kind of put in an inferior position because we
decide on funding, but SGA really isn’t just an
organization for the elected elite,” she said.
“Instead of (organizations) coming to us, we should go
to them,” Morse said. “We support them
financially, why not support them personally?”
Koons said one of his top priorities is to make sure
students know what he’s there for.
“I want to increase accessibility (to SGA
representatives), and let people know we’re there to
help them,” he said.
The other executive-elects have started devising agendas as
well. Peterson said she wants to increase the responsibility
of SGA senators and hold them more accountable to the
organization as a whole. She’s also working to broaden
the reach of the Acorn Society, an enterprising
student-giving circle that began with the class of 2006.
Koons said the Acorn Society is a student fundraising
initiative designed to “develop a sense of giving
back” for students past and present. The money raised
last year provided three textbook grants for students. Future
donations will go toward study abroad grants, among other
programs.
Beginning her own enterprising plans, Borden said
she’s anxious to get started on Homecoming
preparations, which will be one of her primary
responsibilities as secretary.
“I have lots of ideas,” she said. “I want
it to be bigger and better than before.”
Morse and the other new officers will be sworn into office
at the annual Organizational Awards and Inaugural Ceremony
March 17.
Gustafson said he’s proud of the things he and the
organization have accomplished this year and has confidence
in the abilities of the incoming officers..
“SGA is a great organization and can do great things
for this community. The (university) administration looks to
SGA as a source for student opinion so it’s important
for students to voice their opinion through the right
avenues,” Gustafson said.
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