At the Student Government Association’s first meeting held on June 11 the SGA senate got the feel of the new administration, appointed new senators and discussed new issues and ways to successfully operate even with the failure of the fee increase.
During the previous spring semester, a fee increase for the peer education program and the SGA was put on the ballot. Although the fee increase would have provided additional fund so that each organization could have expanded their services, the students voted both fee increases down. If the SGA fee increase had passed full time students would now pay $7 instead of the original $5 SGA fee for the fall and spring sessions. The students enrolled with four or more credit hours during the summer would be assessed $1 that would be a $0.050 from the original fee.
“In truth, there is not going to be a problem for us to operate. We are actually better off than we originally thought but we will be cutting it tight,” Jaret Hubbell, SGA president, said.
Hubbell said the SGA would only be able to offer half of the scholarships they did before and will not be able to allocate as much money to the student organizations in the fall. However, Hubbell also said the SGA Senate has set goals for fundraisers, expanded the Senate and have other ideas in progress to make it a worth while year for the students.
“We can definitely function in the fall even though the SGA fee increase failed, and we are still doing everything we can to give students quality services,” Jana Stewart, SGA vice president, said.
Stewart said the SGA will wait until the spring before putting another SGA fee increase on the ballot and will also try to put online voting in place by the spring semester. The fee increase will probably be $1 to $2 that will allow the SGA to provide more funds toward organizations, purchase new equipment for the university and offer more scholarships.
She said the SGA will continue to provide a student lawyer, copy machine services for organizations and the safety phones located all over campus.
“The SGA is also constantly going to the state government as the voice of the students on the legislative level. Everything the SGA does is not all about money, but in the interest of the students,” Stewart said.
At the first meeting, the SGA discussed co-sponsoring local political forums and the proposed academic excellence fee.
Hubbell said the SGA, in conjunction with the Thibodaux chamber council, would be holding political forums on campus for parish president and council members to get students more involved with local politics.
Besides discussing the possibility of holding political forums on campus the SGA also discussed the proposed academic excellence fee.
According to Hubbell, Sally Clausen, UL system president, proposed an academic excellence fee in order to make improvements within the classroom. Money taken in from the fee will be used to increase pay for teachers, hire additional faculty, improve technology on campus and upgrade labs used by students. The fee was approved by the legislature and will be implemented in fall 2003. This means the students will be assessed 10 dollars per credit hour, not to exceed 120 dollars per semester.
Hubbell also said the SGA has been operating well and is working to make the Nicholls experience “cutting edge.”
“The SGA is basically 90 percent of the interaction between the student body and administration. I have no doubt that the SGA will survive and I am 100 percent positive we will be operating better than last year.” Hubbell said. “Students need to keep their eyes out because we hope to impress everyone and have a fun year.