Down in the Professional Career Readiness Center (PCRC), SGA hosted its first meeting of the second semester to discuss new ideas and significant events that have happened over the course of January.
President Christian Rangel opened the meeting by discussing his meeting with the University Counseling Center regarding collaboration on QPR training.
QPR stands for Question, Prevention, and Response and is an hour-long training for responding to mental health crises and suicide prevention. Rangel announced the first training will be held on Monday, Feb. 9, at 4:30 p.m., and is open to all students and staff.
The UCC is also working on what they call a “stall seat journal.” According to Rangel, the journals will be printed and placed on bathroom stall seats, discussing mental health and seeking to be more involved with the student body in
any way they can.
“I’d like to see us involved with the UCC in any way,” Rangel said.
Treasurer Sam Fehl then discussed the fall funding article published this week. SGA approved $10,000 for the first phase of fall funding, and $7,000 for the second. Proposed budgets voting will be voted on this Monday.
During the open-floor discussion, Parliamentarian Sienna Wraith raised the recent flooding at Lawrence Hall, which displaced more than 20 students and damaged some rooms on the 18th floor.
They discussed the compensation the university is providing for the three-person room that was primarily affected by the flooding, including not only electronics but also anything that could be replaced, Michael Gieseke, the dean of Student Life, said.
“If it’s an individual room, we absorb it as a university,” Gieseke said. “But if it’s this many people, insurance has to be involved.”
Student Life has been working with students individually to ensure their belongings are replaced and their rooms are returned to good condition.
According to Gieseke, a boiler exploded on the 21st floor and leaked onto the 18th floor, the primary floor that flooded. He also noted that the REs are being told to direct students with questions about the flood to Student Life, as they don’t have all the answers yet and don’t want to spread misinformation about the event.
A recent GoFundMe set up for those affected in the three-person room was also raised, with senators questioning where the funds were going. Many students have noted that the university is replacing more than just electronics.
A common concern among SGA members was communication between students and the university during significant events. On the night it happened, emails were sent to all Lawrence Hall students. Many committee members discussed alternative communication channels, such as a point system for larger emergencies like this. Vice President Madigan Balfe suggested a “Breaking News” segment with the Globe to get as much information out as quickly as possible.
President Christian Rangel noted how well the REs handled the situation, given the unusual circumstances and the limited information available. He suggested that the REs receive training on primary conditions, such as floods and other events that displace large numbers of students. Gieseke was open to those suggestions.
The next SGA meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 9 in the PCRC at 3:15 p.m.
