The Student Association senate set dates in Tuesday’s meeting for this spring’s officer elections. In other action during the two previous meetings, the SA asked the university to extend Thanksgiving break, to re-implement a reading day and to install central heat/air in Lloyd-Ricks.
The SA officers are fulfilling their last duties and getting ready to hand them over to who will win office just after spring break. SA senior class president and officer elections will be held March 26 and if necessary, run-off elections will be held the following Tuesday.
The senate also reviewed the violation sanctions for the yearly elections.
Also in January the Senate requested the installment of a fall break during the week of Thanksgiving or an extended weekend during all future fall semesters at MSU. Reasons documented in the proposal suggests that the students often get burned out and lose motivation in the fall without a break.
“MSU should definitely extend Thanksgiving break to allow students more time to travel home safely,” Senior Kristen Tallent said.
The SA proposed an extended weekend as an alternate if the Thanksgiving Break cannot be extended.
“I think the extended Thanksgiving break would be great but maybe it would be even better if we broke it up into several breaks,” Day student Sen. Julie Wiley said. “I would opt to break up the fall with extended weekends rather than more days off for Thanksgiving. It is such a long stretch from Labor Day in September to Thanksgiving break.”
MSU administrators including Interim President Lee, Roy Ruby, Edwin Keith, Larry Templeton and Charles Beddingfield all have the power to approve or disapprove these bills, SA Secretary Kelly Kirk said.
Along the same lines, the SA is seeking out the re-implementation of two reading days in the final exam schedule. Sen. Hunter Butler proposed the resolution that two reading days would be beneficial, one being on Sunday, to students since teachers are still assigning homework, quizzes and tests on the days leading up to semester finals. The proposal reads that “finals are the most crucial part of the semester for the students and their grades and an efficient schedule of dead days, reading days and final exams is imperative.” The bill passed in the Senate meeting and will go on to the University for approval or rejection.
Another proposal during the latest SA meeting was brought by Sen. Stephanie Baker discussing the installation of a central air conditioning and heating system in Lloyd-Ricks. The resolution states that the students in landscape architecture, interior design, nutrition, human development and family studies are all unable to comfortably do their work in such extreme temperatures. Lloyd-Ricks is one of the only buildings on campus without a central air conditioning and heating system.
“I have definitely noticed it being hot in there,” nutrition major Claire Green said. “It would be great to get a new central heating and air system to relieve the problem.”
The final matter of business discussed at Tuesday’s meeting was the idea of printing the alma mater and the fight song in the issue of the Reflector prior to all football games and on the jumbo-tron during the games.Senate believes by doing this, students will learn these school songs and promote MSU pride and spirit.
“We are looking forward to the next few months in office and are really encouraging SA elections in February,” Kirk said.