Ball State’s Student Government Association (SGA) held its weekly meeting Feb. 17 as a hybrid meeting with the option of in-person or Zoom. At the meeting, senators voted on a budget request and introduced two amendments.
The budget request was proposed by the at-large caucus for “COVID bags” that will be delivered to students in quarantine. The bags will include hand sanitizer, tissues, chapstick, toothpaste and deodorant.
The SGA senate approved the budget request, 30-0.
Senators also looked at two new amendments, one about removing the executive slate and one about establishing a survey committee.
The first amendment senators looked at proposes to remove the executive slate and have candidates run on separate tickets. There would be presidential, vice presidential, chief administrator and treasurer tickets.
Miryam Bevelle, one of the senators who wrote the amendment, said this amendment would increase voter turnout in elections and update the election system.
“It’s really hard to put together four like-minded people to run,” Bevelle said. “I know previous years can attest to that.”
Senators debated over the wording in the amendment and came to the conclusion that there was too much information in the amendment for it to be discussed and voted on by the next senate meeting. Vice President Jordyn Blythe proposed that the amendment be tabled and discussed at a later date.
“I think a lot of senators are currently lost right now, in terms of what this does and what it changes,” said Senator Trent McKenzie.
The amendment was tabled by a vote of 29-1, with one abstention.
The second amendment proposed the creation of a survey committee. The new survey committee would look over surveys students send in to give feedback to the senate. This amendment would also update the duties of the president pro tempore to oversee this committee.
Senators will vote on this amendment on March 3.
Because of the study day next Wednesday, Feb. 24, SGA will not be holding a senate meeting. Their next meeting will be March 3 over Zoom, with the following week as an optional in-person meeting.
Contact Maya Wilkins with comments at mrwilkins@bsu.edu or on Twitter @mayawilkinss.
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