The Student Government Association teamed up with the Student Programming Association this past Wednesday to host the first annual “Meet the SGA/SPA Day,” which was held in the quadrangle. The purpose of the event was to inform the student body about the organizations, and to encourage participation in the events the SGA and the SPA sponsors.
The SGA is a student-based organization. Every student enrolled in the university with seven or more hours is a member.
The SPA is another student-based organization, and it programs a number of activities on campus, such as Crawfish Day.
The two student organizations set up a tent where information was given to the students about the two groups. Free food and drinks were served and a basketball goal was set up. KNSU also broadcast live from the tent.
SGA and SPA leaders were present to answer any questions students might have. Students also received pictures of the senators who represent their fields.
A lot of the members of the student body showed up to support the SGA and the SGA for this event.
“There was a successful turnout, it’s better than having tables in the union,” Melissa Brunet, sophomore senator of the College of Life Sciences and Technology from Houma, said.
The event was the first one in which the new administrations worked together to host a student activity.
“Past administrations weren’t very friendly with each other, so we decided to get along and have an activity together, so we could get double the publicity,” Scott Duplantis, president of the SGA, said.
The SGA hoped to recruit personnel to hold office. Duplantis said there are senator and board positions open.
Although this was the very first event the SGA and SPA sponsored this semester, plans had been made to do a similar program last semester.
“Last semester we were thinking about planning one, but it didn’t really work out, so James Irwin [union activities chair] and I got together and decided to plan one for this semester,” Benjamin Landry, head of public relations for the SGA, said.
Executive members of both the SGA and SPA hope that this event will build good public relations with the students.
“We want to reach the students, because a lot of times they won’t come to us,” Duplantis said.
