The Student Government Association presented a survey to students during Quad City and the results were surprising.
At the senate meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19 each committee chair person stood up during committee reports and gave updates on the survey results from Quad City. Most of these results seemed like they would have been obvious answers.
Questions posed were things like, “Do you believe that we have great representation of diversity on campus?,” “Do you want longer hours for On the Fly?,” “Would you prefer a letter grade listed for your midterm grade instead of S/U for 100 and 200 level courses?” and “Should students who are 21+ with a concealed carry permit be allowed to carry [guns] on campus?”
The results of the concealed carry question led to a majority opinion of yes with 80 students, or 49% of students who voted. However, 47% of students, 77 people, voted no. The other 4% of votes were undecided. It is important to note that these surveys were not scientific and results were counted by the SGA senators who proposed the questions.
Also during the senate meeting, Dr. David Barber, associate professor of history, spoke about the faculty’s work on a new mission statement. He urged students to get involved with the strategic planning process and to push UTM as more than the surrounding universities. He claims that the current UTM mission statement does not set the Skyhawks apart from other universities and that without doing real world thinking and discussion, we will never be set apart. He speculated that the average college student cannot name basic government officials and that this lack of education is part of the bigger problems of our society.
Barber outlined for students the main emphasis that he hopes to see in the new UTM mission statement which calls attention to literature, history, philosophy, art, science and math. The mission statement he proposed and called for student support of is the same that The Pacer printed in a recent column written by Communications Professor, Dr. Arthur Hunt.
SGA President Jordan Long also brought forth an executive order honoring the life of Holly Bobo on her 27 birthday, which she would have celebrated on Oct. 12, 2017. This document can be found in the SGA office after it is printed and ready for presentation.
UTM is certainly at a transition period. As more information develops on mission statements, concealed carry laws and more, follow The Pacer to get recent information.
The senate meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
Every student is a member of SGA and is encouraged to attend senate meetings. The next senate meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2, in the University Center’s Legislative Chamber, Room 111. Questions can be directed to student body president, Jordan Long, at sga1@utm.edu.
