SGA Update: New Amendments, Annual Awards, and a COVID-19 Vaccine Announcement

Guest Contributor, Henry Quesenberry

On Wednesday Mar. 10, the Student Government Association (SGA) unanimously passed two bills and voted on the annual SGA Awards. Updates to the college’s access to the COVID-19 vaccines were also discussed.

Senator Mckenzie Joyce presented the first bill which ratified the amendments made to the Greek Life Constitution passed by the Greek Council on Feb. 21.

SGA Commissioner Joseph Johnson presented the final bill that ratified amendments to the Student Government Constitution, including the formation of six new executive offices within the SGA, and increasing the number of senators from 16 to 20, a number that will now be based on class status rather than housing.
Additionally, another amendment that would have allowed yearly stipends for Senators and Executives was voted out to provide more adequate discussion in the future.

Dean Ryan Bowyer also provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine at the meeting, saying that any student (on or off campus) with comorbidities (where more than one disease or condition is present in the same person at the same time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will be able to sign up to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for free.

Dean Bowyer also stated that if 75 to 90 percent of students receive the vaccine a change in school policies regarding COVID-19 could come soon.

Area Coordinator Brandon Bassham then presented the plans for the Student Organization Portal which will allow easier access for students and organizations to reserve meeting spaces around campus.

The members of the Senate then voted on the SGA Awards, the winners of which will be announced soon.