SGA Report | Three bills passed, Lighting of the Plaza bill rejected by Senate

The group will meet again on Tuesday.

The Student Government Association (SGA) held a regularly scheduled senate meeting on Nov. 6, which covered the passage and halt of four different bills.

First up with bills was Bill 91-010 to Allocate Funds to RSO and ISR accounts. The SGA has been receiving many ISRs and deemed it was time to replenish the account. This bill calls for $1,000 to the ISR fund and $500 to the RSO fund. This would bring the RSO fund to $750 (its original starting amount) and replenish the funds for what is left of the semester.

The bill passed unanimously, 7-0. 

Next up was Bill 91-011 to Give Jamila Branch Funds for Gala. This bill would give a fixed amount of $650 to the office of Student Life to cover the costs of a DJ for a duration of three hours during the 2023 Christmas Gala.

This price has been discounted significantly from what the company usually costs. The bill passed, 6-1. 

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, the SGA received a request from Vice President for Enrollment Management Heidi Hoskinson for funds to help light the Green for the Lighting of the Plaza event.

This was Bill 91-012 to Give Heidi Hoskinson and Admissions Funding for the Lighting of the Plaza which called for $1,850. Last year, the SGA contributed $300 to the project. This year, it’s intended to be a bigger, more campus-wide event and would need supplemental funds for lights and the tree. 

It’s scheduled for Nov. 28 in the plaza outside of Memorial Hall and would be a Christmas-themed event for the whole campus as well as for prospective students. The bill failed, 6-1.

“I voted no on the Lighting of the Plaza bill because they were asking too much money for an event that ultimately failed last year,” said Isaiah Smith, secretary of the SGA and sophomore senator from Great Bend.

“SGA provided $300 to the event and with that money there was only, like, three strands of light put up. Additionally, we got no recognition. The event in itself was a complete and utter failure, with only a [few] prospective students actually attending.”

The final bill on the docket was Bill 91-013 to Allocate Funds to Coat Drive. This bill called for $300 from the special projects fund to provide coats, gloves, hats, and general winter apparel for students in need of winter clothing. The SGA would work in conjunction with the Office of Advancement to purchase some clothing.

The SGA will also reach out to the community for donations. The bill passed unanimously, 7-0. 

In old business, the SGA discussed replacing shower heads and curtains in Haury Hall. The group also reviewed the cost of the musical tickets, which came out to be $400.  

The SGA discussed the results of the luncheon held between the SGA execs, Matthew Fleck and Hayden Wallace, and the Bethel College administrative cabinet on Nov. 3. The total cost to the SGA for this meeting came out under its estimated budget with $75 left. This amount will be returned to the special projects fund.

Luncheon discussion centered around the recent town hall meeting held in Krehbiel Auditorium by Bethel administration and featured feedback from that event. 

The next SGA meeting will be held on Tuesday in WAC 203 at 11 a.m. It will be combined with their bi-weekly committee meeting due to the pending Thanksgiving break.