The Student Government Association held its fourth Senate meeting of the semester on Thursday, March 17, at 9 p.m.
The meeting was live streamed via online service Perriscope. Perriscope is created by the makers of Twitter and is available for download in the iTunes App Store and on Google Play.
Two amendments to the SGA Constitution were passed during the old business section of the meeting.
The first amendment discussed will modify the SGA constitution to allow the following positions to run for executive office: Chief of Staff, Speaker of the Senate and Athletic Liaison. This amendment was passed and will go into effect immediately.
The second amendment relates to the language behind the budget and finance duties, and how they are presented currently in the SGA Constitution. These duties are currently being effectively managed by the advisor of SGA, John Abel, so the amendment to the constitution is repairing the language to reflect the current standing.
An amendment regarding textbook scholarships was presented and tabled at the senate meeting. If passed, the amendment would place a cap of $500 on scholarships granted from the Student Government Association. This amendment, which will be discussed at the next senate and voted on, is intended to create a common policy among the three governing bodies of the school (the Undergraduate Alumni Council, the Student Activities Council and SGA) in regards to a cap on scholarships.
The assembly agreed on a resolution which condemns the cutting of diversity funding within the UT system. A recent bill passed in committee by the Tennessee state legislature created cuts to diversity programs in the system. This legislation would have a trickle down effect on UTC and UTM. The legislation will be presented on the floor for further vote in the near future. Watch the Pacer for developing stories on this issue.
Zack Brukketta, Anabelle Cormia and Clay Dunivan resigned from SGA, and Doug Marshall was voted in as a senator for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Alyssa Counce was also voted in as a senator for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.
In the new business section of the meeting, the Soar in Four resolution was voted on again. The Pacer previously reported that this bill had been passed in the Feb. 25 senate meeting. That meeting was then called under judicial review, where after hearing debate and reviewing minutes, the student court decided to invalidate the bill.
The Soar in Four bill was then sent back through committee and came to senate again for a final vote on Thursday, March 17. The bill was once again passed and the final decision will be made by the Board of Trustees over the entire UT System when they meet at UTM on April 1.
UTM’s Interim Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith spoke to those present in the meeting specifically regarding the Soar in Four resolution.
“I came here for one purpose: to move the institution forward,” said Dr. Smith. “I will not betray that commitment to you at all.”
Various announcements were presented during the meeting, including an upcoming Letter Writing event for Chi Omega and a 5K Color Run for the Shake Club and benefiting the Special Olympics.
SGA Senate meetings are held every other Thursday in the University Center’s Legislative Chamber, Room 111. Any questions can be directed to SGA President Rachael Wolters at racwolt@ut.utm.edu.
So glad the Soar in Four passed! Chancellor Smith is doing a great job!