The weekly Student Government Association (SGA) meeting consisted of reports from officers and the passing of new legislation. 

SGA President Emma Bourgeois opened the meeting by telling the senate that the event calendar for Black History Month is in its final stages of production. 

Bourgeois also said that she has been meeting with Nicholls State University President, Jay Clune, in an attempt to discuss Nicholls’ new academic plan. 

Bourgeois also thanked the senate for the rapid review and passing of her new corollary, The Bourgeois Corollary. 

“Remember to actually read the corollary in its entirety,” Bourgeois said. “You voted to pass it, so it’s important that you abide by it.”

The meeting transitioned from the presidential address to Director of Student Grievances Ethan Adam’s report, which focused primarily on the campus transit system. 

Adams said that the campus buses had 163 riders last week and that he is confident that the system is working as effectively as possible. One idea brought to his attention was the addition of tracking devices on the buses. 

“I do not see the need for tracking devices because the campus is really not that large, and the buses can almost be found if you just look up,” Adam said.

He also said that an off-campus route is being looked into by administration, but because of insurance and liability, it is a far more complicated process than that of creating routes on campus. 

Another concern brought to Adams’ attention is the lack of recycling bins on campus. 

“It is more than just purchasing the bins,” Adams explained. “In addition to bins, people need to empty them, and I have been told that the responsibility of emptying recycling bins goes beyond the duties of the maintenance crew.” 

With that said, Adams suggested that the task of the recycling bin additions be turned over to the GREEN Club. Adams closed his report with the mention of revamping the student section in the stadium.

“Our current student section looks just like the rest of the stadium,” Adams said. “Moving forward, I’m drafting ideas to make it better and stand out.”

The meeting then moved to Vice President Markaylen Wiltz’s report. 

He spoke of a recent email he received from Clune regarding the increase in tuition fees. 

“Dr. Clune said that timing is everything, and now is not the time for a tuition increase,” Wiltz said.

He also went back to what he said at last week’s meeting about making sure that meaningful legislation be passed. 

“You’re not voting for a person or an opinion; you’re voting to make the university a better place,” Wiltz said.

The meeting then turned to the passing of legislation. 

Nursing Senator Emily Bergeron moved that the senate purchase 20 tickets at $25.00 a piece to attend an etiquette dinner.  

To pass the motion, Bergeron argued that it is important for all students to learn proper etiquette moving out of college and into the workforce. 

“This will give students—no matter financial situation—a further understanding of table etiquette and will be useful in interviews and day-to-day work,” Bergeron said. 

Heather LeBouef also moved that the senate allocate $7,000 to purchase pipettes for the biology laboratories. 

“This purchase will greatly and positively affect in numerous students on Nicholls’ campus,” LeBouef said. “We have so many students that are moving from Nicholls to graduate and go to professional schools, and we need to be sure that they were equipped with all the tools necessary to get the most out of their courses here. Providing these new pipettes will do that.”

Education Senator Jennifer Duthu moved that SGA sponsor five students who will attend the 2019 International Word War II Conference. 

“This conference will give students an opportunity to learn from internationally recognized scholars, and it will give them an opportunity to network and meet prestigious scholars,” Duthu said. 

Finally, Freshman Senator Zachary Pitre moved that the senate allocate up to $800 to allow for free entry to watch a play called The Color Purple.  

“This will be a great way for students to come together and watch a play that shows the reality of life for African Americans in the 20th century,” Pitre said.