March 22, 2012
Volume 80 No. 25
www.FlorAla.net
Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama
They were ‘WILLing’
Officials discuss low SGA election turnout, voter fraud allegation 4]Ka *MZZa
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@UNAFlorAla @FlorAlaSports
Only 488 out of an eligible 6,637 students voted in the recent SGA officer election that was held March 12 to 14—a decrease from last year’s election, which brought in 594 votes, said SGA adviser Tammy Jacques. Jacques said it was surprising to see so few students turn out for the election, especially in comparison to the 2011 homecoming king and queen election, which brought in 801 student votes.
A LOOK INSIDE
” We need more students
See page 3A Changes are coming to the university’s MANE card program.
engaging in running for officer positions so the students have a choice.” photo by KAYLA SLOAN I Staff Photographer
UNA junior Will Riley hugs his girlfriend, Kaitlin Chappell, in the GUC performance center March 14 after learning he would be next year’s Student Government Association president.
Students vote Riley, Thompson for positions 4]Ka *MZZa
-`MK]\Q^M -LQ\WZ TJMZZa(]VI ML] See page 1B While students are still going on traditional spring breaks, several students are using their time to contribute to community service.
In the final moments before the clock struck 6 p.m. March 14 when SGA voting polls closed, UNA junior Will Riley felt nervous about hearing the results. He had campaigned tirelessly for weeks to become next year’s SGA president. He was sitting with friends in the performance center watching Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man on Campus event when he learned that he was the overall photo by MALISA MCCLURE I Chief Photographer winner with 66 percent of the presidential vote. Robby Thompson took the spot of SGA secretary Riley said his phone battery eventually died with 271 votes against opponent Mary F. Wilson. Wednesday evening after he heard the news because he received a plethora of text messages from friends me, this is one of the highest (positions) you can get at UNA.” and loved ones congratulating him on his victory. Riley took the SGA presidential title with 322 “It’s an absolute honor,” Riley said March 16 af;MM ?166-:; XIOM * ter learning he would be the new SGA president. “To
Greek GPAs fall below standard, new See page 1B ZTA is partnering with Kilby School in order to help organize and clean out their library.
See page 4B Bobby Wallace has challenges ahead in his return back to UNA.
-Tammy Jacques Will Riley, who received the majority vote to become next year’s SGA president, said he was discouraged by the voter turnout because this year’s candidates were much more engaged with individual campaigning, a presidential on-campus debate and had better collaboration with the student body. With voter turnout much lower than anticipated this year, officials are also investigating allegations that a student may have falsely used another student’s L number to vote during the election. Jacques said a UNA student claimed last week that she tried to log in to vote and the eBallot system stated she had already voted in the election when she had not. Since the speculation was made,
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guidelines set in place for fall semester
AlcoholEdu results: UNA drunk driving above national average
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The academic performances of most Greek organizations at UNA fell from the spring semester to the fall semester last year, according to documents from the Office of Student Engagement. The overall grade point average (GPA) of the Greek organizations as a whole dropped from 2.85 to 2.67, while the GPAs of the fraternities dropped from 2.69 to 2.41. The GPAs of the sororities also decreased from 3.0 to 2.92. Out of the 10 UNA fraternities, six fraternities were below the standard 2.5 GPA set by the Office of Student Engagement, as was the average of UNA’s fraternities, though no sororities fell below the standard. “They have sanctions that have been placed
upon them,” said DeAnte’ Smith, assistant director of student engagement for Greek life, of the organizations that averaged below 2.5. “There are consequences when you fall below the 2.5 average. Generally, the overall thing is that it begins to limit, take away or overall zero their involvement socially.” Smith said the main sanctions for the fraternities were set by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) so the actual sanctions could vary, but for example a chapter that earned less than a 2.5 GPA could be excluded from Step Show and other competitions. This drop in GPAs also coincides with a new Greek standard created and initiated by Smith and Student Engagement.
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AlcoholEdu results show UNA above the national average in drunk driving, officials said. The executive summary of the data collected during the AlcoholEdu program has been released with some surprises: drunk driving is more of an issue than originally anticipated by administrators. ;MM :-;=4<; XIOM )