With Trump Administration changes, Student Government Association (SGA) senators spoke up on Monday about their support for future Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy at Point Park.
Vice President Dillon Peterson asked senators to offer final suggestions on a planned campus-wide announcement. The statement emphasizes the value of DEI policies, and urges the administration and the student body to realize their importance.
Student organizations like the Political Science Association, the Black Student Union (BSU), Chess Club, International Students Club, TTRPG, and a few others signed the document in support.
According to Dillon, the SGA also has the Faculty Union’s backing and support.
Senator Riley Mahon said that LGBTQ+ and foreign students are under the most deliberate organized assault right now.
“It’s protecting us,” Kayla Brown, President of the BSU said about the statement during the meeting. “The university might not necessarily put out a statement, but at least they know we’re looking at these things.”
IT Update:
According to Tim Wilson, associate vice president of IT, the IT Help Desk hasn’t been receiving as many tickets relating to Wi-Fi issues lately.
In an SGA Wi-Fi survey taken by 234 students in October 2023, 96% of participants said they experienced Wi-Fi issues on campus. Since then, additional Wi-Fi access points were installed in West Penn, the CMI’s podcast studio and at numerous points in Boulevard Apartments to solve the issue.
Wilson said that many of the connection problems stemmed from a password issue, which is necessary to use the Wi-Fi. Yet since the password policy was changed, students do not need to reset their passwords as frequently.
SGA President Kyle MacLaughlin said that SGA’s main role in solving the Wi-Fi issue was advocating for two things. The creation of an IT work study program and more Wi-Fi access points.
“We’ve continued to hear some Wi-Fi complaints,” MacGlauchlin said. Though, most of them stemmed from password issues rather than connectivity issues.
The SGA began its IT initiative since before 2022, when then graphic designer Jullianne Bailey said that the hospitality access points were only just purchased.
