The Student Government Association (SGA) met on Sunday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 23 to discuss a number of resolutions that addressed both old and new matters. They considered internal operational issues and passed two resolutions: The Second Hand Smoke Prevention Initiative and the Ian Burgin Memorial Cabin Bill.
At the Nov. 16 meeting, the Bylaws Overhaul Bill passed unanimously, updating the SGA’s operational bylaws for the first time since last year. Director of Membership and Elections Council Chair Nick Warren ’15, responsible for a majority of the edits and formatting, noted that no substantive changes were made.
The SGA also proposed possible questions to put in the Annual Student Life Survey. Last year the survey had about 75 questions and the SGA is aiming to keep that number relatively consistent for this year. It is designed so that students can complete it in about 15 minutes. It will include questions regarding demographics, academic life, health and wellness, the College community, dining and food, College communication and infrastructure and the SGA. The survey will come out in January and will continue to be anonymous, with prizes to incentivize student participation.
To end the Nov. 16 meeting, Speaker Michael Brady ’17.5 and Senator Aaron de Toledo ’16 presented their resolution, the Second Hand Smoke Prevention Initiative. The resolution addresses and proposes solutions to fix the problem of smoking too close to buildings around campus. Specifically, it “encourages the Community Council to bring new methods to recommend by the end of J-term this year.”
Some voiced concern that this stand might upset smokers around campus. However, it was widely agreed that the bill aims at preventing smoking within 25 feet of any entrance on campus, as is the official policy of the College. As de Toledo noted, “There is a concrete harm being done … we need to consider the people who are being harmed by smokers.” The resolution was passed 15-1-1.
At the Nov. 23 meeting, a group of students presented a proposal for their bill, the Ian Burgin Memorial Cabin Bill with President Taylor Custer ’15 as their sponsor. The group, led by Jack Kerby-Miller ’14.5 and Larson Lovdal ’16.5 is currently working on a project to build a $100,000 cabin in memory of Ian Burgin ’07 as a shelter for students, faculty and alumni of the College to use as for camping all year round. The group has already raised $10,000 and plans to get $50,000 more through other funding sources. The group met with the Finance Committee to request the $40,000 from the SGA’s Student Activity Fee (SAF).
Co-Chair of Community Council Ben Bogin ’15 and Senator Naila Jahan ’15 were both vocal supporters of the bill. Bogin declared, “I think this is a really cool and important thing to do. I think that there are going to be tons of people interested, it increases access to the outdoors … The more money that we put towards this the better, this is what the [SAF] is for.”
After a lengthy discussion, the bill passed unanimously. The students working on the project announced that they hope to have to cabin done by May 2015.
