The Student Government Association Senate revised the book loan program, designed to help students get their textbooks, which had not been used for several years. Last fall, $3,075 was loaned out to students. This year more than $13,210 was loaned out to more than 28 students. The SGA is not losing any money, John Lombardo, SGA senator, said.
The SGA has an account just for the book loans, but a lot of students don’t know about the program. The loans are given out to students and the account repays itself.
“This semester a lot of students came to the Student Government Association’s office with their printed book lists. It’s really exciting to see students taking advantage of the book loans. This year we updated the book loans so we could get realistic prices of books,” Brittany Taraba, SGA vice president, said.
“The book loan is a quick loan until students’ money arrives. We are only trying to help the students. The book loan is there so students should take advantage,” Lombardo said.
To apply for a book loan, students should be registered and activated, get a list of their required books, get the list approved by the SGA, bring the list to the Controller’s Office in Elkins Hall and then wait to receive their checks. The book loan has to be paid 45 days into the start of the semester.
Chrissy Butler, nursing sophomore from New Orleans was one of the students who used the book loan program this year. “The book loan is great and convenient and I didn’t need qualifications for the loan. The loan helps students out when money is not available to them,” Butler said.
“Yes, I have heard about the book loan program. I didn’t apply for the book loan because I don’t have a job to pay the loan back,” Dionte Robinson, culinary junior from Camden, Miss., said.
Inez Short, nursing freshman from Houma, also heard about the book loan and thought about using it. “Students who use the book loan have an easier access to money right away. Most college students don’t have extra money until their refund check arrives,” Short said.
