2008 Woodie Awards
Students speak up at SGA town hall meeting
Organization receives positive feedback despite low turn out
John Sweeney
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: News
Students shared several concerns with the Student Government Association (SGA) recently during the organization's first-ever town hall meeting.
Although there were less than 30 people present at the Jan. 17 meeting in Lowrimore Auditorium, those in attendance gave positive feedback.
"I think it turned out great," SGA President Everett "Robbie" Robinson said during a phone interview after the meeting. "We got some good suggestions."
Poor advertising for campus events, graduation ceremony concerns and few activities surrounding sporting events topped the list of student concerns regarding campus social life.
A common complaint was that the bulletin boards around campus are not enough to notify students of campus activities. Some also commented that campus organizations, including Greek life, are not given enough opportunities for advertising their events or organizations.
Students also expressed concern about commencement and the new ticket policy for graduation, which recently was put in place, as well as a desire to move the ceremony to the Florence Civic Center.
The issue of harassment from campus police was discussed during the meeting, as well.
Two concerns included parking tickets and the discouraging of students from gathering in groups larger than four people outdoors. Negative reaction to new camera polls outside dormitories also drew discussion from the audience and SGA members.
Other issues voiced by students included poor conditions in campus dormitories and apartments, specifically dirty water dripping from faucets.
Also, low meeting attendance was mentioned, in addition to the apparent lack of student participation on campus.
Robinson said SGA will take into consideration all of the issues addressed at the meeting.
"We're going to divide them up into categories," he said. "And we're going to sit down, SGA senators and officers, and discuss how we're going to handle each and every one of them."
Although there were less than 30 people present at the Jan. 17 meeting in Lowrimore Auditorium, those in attendance gave positive feedback.
"I think it turned out great," SGA President Everett "Robbie" Robinson said during a phone interview after the meeting. "We got some good suggestions."
Poor advertising for campus events, graduation ceremony concerns and few activities surrounding sporting events topped the list of student concerns regarding campus social life.
A common complaint was that the bulletin boards around campus are not enough to notify students of campus activities. Some also commented that campus organizations, including Greek life, are not given enough opportunities for advertising their events or organizations.
Students also expressed concern about commencement and the new ticket policy for graduation, which recently was put in place, as well as a desire to move the ceremony to the Florence Civic Center.
The issue of harassment from campus police was discussed during the meeting, as well.
Two concerns included parking tickets and the discouraging of students from gathering in groups larger than four people outdoors. Negative reaction to new camera polls outside dormitories also drew discussion from the audience and SGA members.
Other issues voiced by students included poor conditions in campus dormitories and apartments, specifically dirty water dripping from faucets.
Also, low meeting attendance was mentioned, in addition to the apparent lack of student participation on campus.
Robinson said SGA will take into consideration all of the issues addressed at the meeting.
"We're going to divide them up into categories," he said. "And we're going to sit down, SGA senators and officers, and discuss how we're going to handle each and every one of them."
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