The Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Monday discussed the effects of Provost Michael Soto departing from the university. Despite Soto departing from his role, the plans he discussed with SGA are still in the process of moving forward, said SGA President Kyle MacLaughlin.
Those plans include things such as shorter class periods that would allow for a common hour built into everyone’s schedule. Another one of the plans Soto previously discussed was Point Park having a longer winter break, which would allow professors more time to prepare for the spring semester.
SGA also talked about an upcoming event they have planned for Jan. 28 called “New Year New Connections.” The event will be a small, relaxing event on the second floor of the student center with board games, snacks, tea and coffee.
“It’s just for everybody to come and hang out and be there for people to just feel some small community,” SGA Vice President Dillion Peterson said.
During most of the meeting, SGA discussed updating its constitution. The members mainly focused on whether or not to require presidential and vice-presidential candidates to serve in the Point Park SGA at least one semester before becoming eligible to run for election.
There were a few key points to this argument. One point against the requirement was that, if there was an unpopular year for student government, it would allow someone to come in and radically change it.
A key point made by supporters of the requirement was that, if someone were to serve in the top two positions in SGA, they should have some experience.
One suggestion for this debate is as follows:
“Any student who has served in student government association as a senator, senator at large or executive cabinet member for at least one semester or has held a leadership role in a recognized club at Point Park University or another university for at least one semester shall be eligible to run for and hold the office of president and vice president,” Sen. Riley Mahon said.
SGA approved the above statement to be added to the constitution with 10 votes.
For more information check out the next SGA meeting at 3:15p.m., Jan. 27, in the basement floor of the Student Center.
