As the semester winds down, SGA officers focus on bringing up possible legislation aimed at advancing the student experience. In this week’s SGA meeting, a total of seven resolutions were brought forth offering solutions to issues the constituents have expressed to the SGA representatives.
Sophomore Senator and Towers resident Keb Doak authored a policy resolution prompting the creation and use of Rockwell Towers parking passes. The passes would restrict only Towers residents with passes to be able to park in the Towers lot.
Sophomore class representatives explained the concerns they have received from constituents regarding parking and believe the passes will help alleviate some of the issues.
“There are still not enough spaces for all residents, but this will make the pool smaller,” Doak said.
The resolution was passed to continue and further communication efforts between SGA, HRL and DPS to implement the plans for this project.
Passes such as these are already used by George Page residents, and the resolution poses no costs to SGA.
More Towers parking issues were discussed as sophomore Senator Melissa Carr presented her resolution.
The resolution addressed the concern of FM&P maintenance vehicles parking in Towers, an already small space, in spaces designated for students.
Maintenance and staff have reserved parking spots that account for approximately one-sixth of the Towers parking lot and SGA passed the resolution on the basis of mutual parking respect.
“It becomes a battle between FM&P vehicle and student vehicles,” Carr said.
The resolution was passed after the SGA voted to amended the resolution to describe how the resolution will build mutual respect for parking seeing that students also take slots designated for maintenance vehicles.
Resolutions focusing on Towers residents continued to appear as sophomore Jonathan King authored a printer funding request resolution.
The SGA passed the resolution and gave $800 to help support the installation of an official pay-per-use Pepperdine print in the Towers residence.
King drafted the resolution after many students had been advocating for the need of a printer in a more convenient location other than Payson Library.
“This is a legacy, a lasting project,” King said. “It’s a good $800 spent.”
King also authored another Towers-related resolution passed in this week’s meeting.
The funding request resolution granted $750 from the SGA General Fund for an event being planned for Towers residents referred to as “SGA Dinner at the Rock.”
The monthly dinners have been a tradition this year at Towers and King wanted it to continue despite HRL’s budget.
Partnering with HRL, the SGA Sophomore Class will be hosting the Final Towers Dinner At The Rock on April 4 at 6 p.m.
“This event definitely fosters community,” Jessica Thompson, vice president of finance.
“We also plan to use this event to publicize our other events,” King said.
SGA also passed a resolution regarding the surveys that each class designs, hands out, collects and analyzes.
Senior Jordan Womack authored the resolution calling for online town hall surveys to be the default way that SGA conducts these surveys in the future. This requires that the SGA budget $200 annually for the cost of the online survey service provider.
Online surveys were tested during the final senior town hall and according to senior class representatives, it was a huge success.
Womack suggested that online surveys are not only more environmentally friendly, but also yield much more thoughtful responses from students in comparison to paper surveys handed out at town halls.
At first the resolution received some hesitation because some people may not complete it before the town hall and lose their chance at receiving a class giveaway.
Senior class representatives addressed this by explaining how they offered students the option of completing the survey in the Sandbar at the town hall.
“It’s the best thing because people take their time,” Womack said.
The senior class received more than 300 responses to the online survey.
SGA tabled two resolutions, one regarding potential extension of mail room hours, and the other giving SGA representatives access to the main parking lot when representatives are setting up for or attending an SGA event.
