The Student Government Association promoted a former business senator to vice president after the previous position-holder graduated last semester. Brittany Taraba, marketing senior from Monroe, will replace Jennifer Smith, mass commuication graduate from Houma, as vice president. “I have always been interested in the opportunity,” Taraba said. She was vice president protemp last semester. If the vice president cannot make it to a meeting, it is the vice president protemp’s job to take his place.
Taraba is involved in the Delta Zeta sorority and Pi Sigma Epsilon. As vice president, Taraba would like to hire new senators to replace those who left last semester. “It would be great to have new senators with some fresh ideas,” Taraba said. She wants art students, college freshmen and students who can speak out to get involved.
Recently, the SGA president issued a memo to work on the smoking policy, which states that anyone on campus is not allowed to smoke 20 feet within an entryway of a building or the sidewalk.
Diane Garvey, who is in charge of the University Health Service and Student Educators and Leaders (SEALS), started the smoking policy. Instead of banning the policy, the SGA is just “trying to make smokers and non-smokers happy.” Last semester the president worked on the recreational center. Taraba said, “A lot of students pay $74.25 for recreational fees, and the students don’t know when the fees will get used.”
At the end of last semester the book loan was revised. The book loan has not been used for several years. The maximum amount students can borrow is $600. Three people applied last semester and were approved for $1800. To apply, students need to get a list of their required books, get the list approved by the SGA, bring the applications to the Controller’s Office and then wait to receive a check. The book loan has to be paid 45 days into the start of the semester.
One of the other issues the SGA deals with on a daily basis is the parking problem on campus. Taraba is also involved in the parking policy committee. “Students do not realize every day of every week, something new happens. I want to leave Nicholls a better place than when I came here,” Taraba said.
