2008 Woodie Awards
SGA President addresses student issues, questions
Ivry Karamitros
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Forum
After the series of events that occurred after the SGA student-led Chapel last week, I feel it is necessary to address the concerns of our student body.
I would like to address the concern regarding the way that SBU and SGA spend money. SGA has limited control over the physical appearance of facilities and buildings at SBU. We are only able to present concerns to the administration of SBU when we are made aware of leaky ceilings, broken fountains, dorm conditions, etc. These issues have been addressed by SGA to our administration.
The fountain will be fixed when the weather permits. The bell tower has been fixed. The mold problem in Leslie was addressed, and our ladies currently have mold-free renovated rooms.
My point is this: SGA can only make issues regarding the status of facilities and buildings aware to our administration and ask for them to take action. These situations are under their control and under their job description. They have access to the funds to maintain and renovate our campus facilities; SGA does not.
The money that SGA has access to pertains to the student activity fee. Every student pays this fee when they come to SBU. The fee is $45 dollars per semester. Most of this money is what the University Activities Council uses to fund events like concerts, Mozarkian, The Omnibus, the Pizza Bash, Assassins, free food events, contests, coffee house shows, Homecoming, Courtwarming, individual student organizations, etc.
These are just a few of the many things that the student activity fee budget goes toward.
Decisions considering SBU policy and rules are also not up to SGA. Many of those decisions are made by other leadership entities (the executive cabinet, academic colleges, trustees, Student Life). SGA listens to what students think, and we communicate these concerns to the appropriate department individuals and committees. In turn, we communicate the decisions made by these individuals and committees to the student body.
Ultimately, the single most important way for students to communicate their concerns to the appropriate leaders is through SGA.
I would like to address the concern regarding the way that SBU and SGA spend money. SGA has limited control over the physical appearance of facilities and buildings at SBU. We are only able to present concerns to the administration of SBU when we are made aware of leaky ceilings, broken fountains, dorm conditions, etc. These issues have been addressed by SGA to our administration.
The fountain will be fixed when the weather permits. The bell tower has been fixed. The mold problem in Leslie was addressed, and our ladies currently have mold-free renovated rooms.
My point is this: SGA can only make issues regarding the status of facilities and buildings aware to our administration and ask for them to take action. These situations are under their control and under their job description. They have access to the funds to maintain and renovate our campus facilities; SGA does not.
The money that SGA has access to pertains to the student activity fee. Every student pays this fee when they come to SBU. The fee is $45 dollars per semester. Most of this money is what the University Activities Council uses to fund events like concerts, Mozarkian, The Omnibus, the Pizza Bash, Assassins, free food events, contests, coffee house shows, Homecoming, Courtwarming, individual student organizations, etc.
These are just a few of the many things that the student activity fee budget goes toward.
Decisions considering SBU policy and rules are also not up to SGA. Many of those decisions are made by other leadership entities (the executive cabinet, academic colleges, trustees, Student Life). SGA listens to what students think, and we communicate these concerns to the appropriate department individuals and committees. In turn, we communicate the decisions made by these individuals and committees to the student body.
Ultimately, the single most important way for students to communicate their concerns to the appropriate leaders is through SGA.
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