SGA kicks off summer sessions

By: Nasreen Iqbal Staff writer

Posted: 6/18/09

The Student Government Association kicked off the summer with its first Student Senate meeting yesterday in the Administration building board room at 2pm. Funded mainly by student service fees, SGA individuals are elected by the student body to provide a connection between students and administrators.

SGA vice president Jamaal Sanders began the meeting by discussing the budget that has been given to the Senate upon request in order to help meet several priorities over the summer.

Out of the $18,374 that was given to the SGA for its summer session, the Senate voted to contribute $5,000 to the New Student program at UNT.

"The $5,000 will go to helping offset the cost of planners for new UNT students," said Senator Meghan Hudec referring to what has become an annual tradition for the SGA. Senator Joel Arredondo said the SGA contributes a portion of their budget each year to planners that are given in a packet of supplies to new UNT students.

The remaining amount will go towards the salaries of a few selected members and to any necessities the SGA may encounter throughout the summer.

Arredondo additionally introduced a bill to increase the number of elected SGA senators from 40 to 45. Arredondo, who authored the bill, said the decision to do so came after the emergence of the new College of Journalism which is entitled to representation in the Senate starting in the fall.

However, if the bill is not enacted, an already existing senator may be replaced in the fall if more senate seats are not created.

"This bill was designed so that no elected senator looses their seat," Arredondo said. "It cannot hurt NT in any way. It will just help students have a larger voice on campus."

Because the bill calls for a change to the SGA's constitution, its passing is dependent upon permission from the student body. The senate has therefore decided to allot August 31 through September 11 2009 for the student body to vote for or against the bill.

"I am really excited, I have never worked on the summer senate before," Hudec said. "Hopefully we'll be able to pass some legislation this summer that will prove beneficial in the fall."

SGA's newly appointed speaker of the senate, Drew Robertson agrees.

"The summer session really helps us get a head start on the upcoming year," Robertson said. Robertson, who was previously an SGA freshman intern, served his first day as a sitting senator when he was also appointed as speaker of the senate by his fellow senators.

"I feel honored to have been selected for the position," Robertson said. "It's very cool for me to be a part of an organization that is active and really represents the student body."

SGA's next meeting will be in the Greek Life office in the Union on June 24 and is open to any student, faculty or community member.