Driftwood Volume 58 Issue 7

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DRIFTWOOD The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans

Volume: 58 Issue: 7

October 1 , 2014

driftwood.uno.edu

On what issues/ policies would you like to the SGA take action?

Student Power Student Government aims to put more power in students’ hands Anna Gowin Driftwood Staff Things as basic as providing free scantrons as well as things as complicated as changing university policy all fall under the Student Government umbrella. It is the role of Student Government (SG) to work hand-inhand with administration to benefit the wellbeing of University of New Orleans’s students. This can include cooperating with other committees and student organizations to best serve student needs. SG provides a number of services students may not be aware of including free legal services and travel reimbursement for conferences and workshops that fall under a student’s field of study. In fact, many student organizations are unaware of the fact that SG has an operating budget every semester that can be distributed to fund events in exchange for community service hours. However, according to current SG President David Teagle, there is still a long road ahead in order to be most effective. This road begins with Teagle’s vision of transforming the current SG system into a Student Government Association (SGA) similar to that of Delgado. Teagle served as president of Delgado’s SGA before coming to UNO. Teagle says that an SGA would help to better protect the rights of the students by putting more power directly in students’ hands. “SIL (Student Involvement and Leadership) is doing a great job right now,” Teagle said, “but this could help us work towards a more student-driven school.” Teagle said currently there is absolutely nothing in place protecting student organizations. However, with an SGA, the constitution they draft would become a state-mandated legal document. This would mean being able to put a system

Nicholas Carbo Sophmore, HRT “I’d like to see them have more support for abstract clubs like gaming or board games.”

Dylan Hanks Junior, Film/History “Improvement in food quality at the Cove - it’s disgusting.”

Cynthia Brecka Sophmore, Film

“I would like more options for breakfast. I miss Chickfil-A breakfast.”

SG panel( Abby Diez, Jessica Willis, Don Reyes) convenes at weekly Tuesday meeting. of protection for students and student organizations in place, should an issue ever arise. The beginning step, which SG had hoped to accomplish by this point in the semester, is drafting a new constitution. Unfortunately, Teagle said there were a lot of bumps going back to the very beginning of his term as president including several resignations by members the executive board. Program cuts are always a concern on campus. Recently, SG tried to work with the women’s golf team after the university cut the program. “They came to us all the way

back in May to see what we could do about it,” said Teagle. While Teagle and the rest of the executive board tried their hardest over the summer to save the women’s golf team, it fell out of SG jurisdiction. This is something Teagle hopes to never see happen again. Teagle is no stranger to operating within the state’s bureaucracy. While serving on Delgado’s SGA, Teagle worked on a committee to protect financial aid for Louisiana students through programs like the Pell Grant. He also worked with SG senators to draft a resolution to the school’s Smoke Free policy

Christy Lorio/ Driftwood

that would prevent the banning of e-cigarettes. “We actually managed to sway one instructor’s opinion with our resolution,” Teagle said. The instructor said he would have to “go with the students on this one,” a sentiment echoed by President Fos when he signed the resolution. It is clear that Student Government will continue to ‘go with the students’, and serve the community at UNO as effectively as possible, even if this means changes may come down the road.

Jasmine Crawford Sophomore, Marketing “The parking decal - I don’t have enough money to get a decal because I’m paying tuition. Or maybe a shuttle from off campus parking.”

Tamar Walker Freshman, English “There should be more promotion for social events.”


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