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Promoting the nationwide Rock the Vote effort, the Student Government Association is making it a priority to help students register for the upcoming primary and presidential elections.
Since Tuesday, Jan. 15, SGA has sponsored a Rock the Vote table in the Waves Cafe to encourage students to register to vote. Each person who registers to vote through SGA gets his or her name entered in a raffle to win an iPod touch.
“We want students to vote in the Feb. 5 California Primary,” said SGA President Andy Canales. “We have gotten about 60 people so far to register and are hoping to get that number up to 100. In Iowa and New Hampshire, young voters came out in record numbers to make an impact, and we have that power, too.”
At SGA’s first meeting of the spring semester, SGA representatives said they are optimistic about the new semester and what they will be able to accomplish for the student body.
After the meeting, which took place Wednesday night, freshman Senator Susie Lee said she was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
“I think we are getting off to a good start by making sure that the student body knows we are here for them,” Lee said. “Last semester was one of the most successful terms for SGA. We received record numbers of feedback and a great turn-out at the freshmen giveaway.”
In addition to focusing on student involvement in the upcoming elections, SGA is also attempting to solve some of the parking issues on campus.
Clint Harp, Executive Vice President of SGA, has spearheaded a project that will allow temporary parking in the main campus parking lot. Beginning Tuesday, students will now be able to park in the main campus parking lot from Sunday to Thursday nights between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. However, it is important for students to know that this is a trial period only.
The SGA representatives hope students will respect the rules and not park their cars in the lot overnight. Cars left in the parking lot overnight will be ticketed and possibly towed.
“We want to help alleviate parking issues, as well as make campus more safe by making parking available closer to main campus buildings at night,” Harp said.
Individual class representatives are also working on important projects, according to freshman Senator Josh Seale.
“The students can be looking forward to a lot of events that SGA will be sponsoring and co-sponsoring this semester,” Seale said. “We approved funding for three different events, and everyone is very excited about the rest of the year.”
During the meeting, significant funding was approved for The Eve Project, Psi U Think You Can Dance and a special Chapel speaker sponsored by the Intercultural Affairs Office.
The senior class representatives will start a new tradition called Senior Challenge. It will take place at the end of February and will focus on raising money for the senior class gift through small, individual donations.
Senator Anthony Kennada said he expects 60-percent participation.
“We want to make the last semester more meaningful,” he said. “There will be a sweatshirt giveaway, $100 gift cards to Geoffrey’s and other exciting prizes.”
Submitted 01-17-2008
