The Student Government Association (SGA) passed two new resolutions to its constitution and bolstered its ability to give funding to campus clubs during the weekly legislative body meeting on Monday, Nov. 10.
The first resolution clarified an internal suspension process for executive cabinet members. Prior to its passing, the only rules regarding executive suspension were that the event would have to be discussed internally within the executive cabinet.
But this newly passed resolution revised the rule into a sort of three-strike removal system.
Upon a relevant offense from an internal member, the executive cabinet will first discuss the offense.
Then a rectifying plan, which the offender is instructed to follow, will be introduced. The offending officer will be allotted a week to respond. If they fail to respond, they will automatically be removed from SGA.
If the offending officer responds in time — and in agreement with the rest of the executive cabinet — and makes a second infraction, their removal from office will be voted on by the cabinet.
If the cabinet decides to keep the offender, and they have a third infraction, that executive will be automatically removed from SGA.
This resolution passed without discussion.
The second resolution establishes a document detailing standards for budget requests.
Parliamentarian Sienna Wraith said this will allow the opportunity for a winter funding period, making it possible for clubs to host events at the start of the spring semester.
It will also bring more scrutiny to purchases over $200, as well as non-reusable items like ink, filament, and thread.
This resolution passed unanimously and also without discussion.
SGA also discussed holding its first town hall of the academic year, which so far is planned for Nov. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Lawrence Hall 200.
All students interested in bringing proposals and questions to SGA are welcome.
And students present will be automatically entered into a Gilmore Girls-themed raffle. For every question asked, they will receive another entry into the raffle.
Prizes include a blanket and teddy bear from the Point Park bookstore, as well as a T-shirt from Keith Paylo, dean of student affairs.
SGA also swore in a new senator: First year forensic science major Trinity Patterson, who pledged to serve SGA and was active in her first legislative meeting.
“I will help out and be a voice for the other students here at Point Park,” Patterson said.
Sen. Riley Mahon detailed a reusable water bottle drive where students would be able to deposit their extra reusable water bottles in a milk crate located around campus.
The goal of this initiative is to limit the amount of single-use plastic bottles that are distributed to university clubs by SGA.
“The idea is to cut down on the plastic waste that we’re producing here,” Mahon said.
Senator-at-large Devin Frank proposed a new initiative for students to be granted access to Quizlet Premium on behalf of the legislature.
President Christian Rangel supported the proposal, and said it is something the student body would appreciate.
And Vice President Madigan Balfe seconded, adding that an effort for free student membership to Quizlet Premium would mirror a precedent set by former President Marc Palombo. Palombo successfully campaigned for students’ use of free Adobe Suite software during his tenure two years ago.
Additionally, the discussion of items stolen from SGA’s office took place. The stolen items include a mini microphone and a red Wii remote.
Liv Curti, graphic design coordinator for SGA, encourages students to report any signs of theft.
A minor alteration was made to a previously-approved constitution.
The club formerly known as Student Alliance for Vitalizing Earth (SAVE) was renamed to the Environmental Action Club after a unanimous vote by the legislature. Beyond its change of name, the Action Club’s constitution is otherwise the same as it was when initially passed under SAVE.
Possible themes for Point Park’s new prom, which is so far planned for the start of the spring semester, were discussed.
After a roughly 20-minute deliberation, four potential themes were agreed upon: 2000s, “La La Land,” a “Bridgerton” masquerade and Las Vegas casino.
But not long after the discussion concluded and the meeting was adjourned, Vice President Balfe received word that SGA would not be the sole planners of the prom. It was not clear, as of reporting, if any of the prom themes that SGA discussed had any potential to materialize.
President Rangel said a plan to discuss discrepancies with the university’s guest speaker policy is “in the works.” Rangel will inquire about it during a future faculty assembly meeting.
The next SGA meeting will be held on Nov. 17 at 3:15 p.m. in Lawrence Hall 200.
