Embedded Files
Politics are impossible to ignore right now, with the election in less than two weeks. While important to focus on national politics, what affects our lives most is what’s happening locally. What could be more local to CSS than student government?
Before recapping the most recent meetings, it feels essential to discuss the “Letter of Transparency” that SGA emailed to the student body on Monday, Oct. 14, detailing their stance on the administration’s decision to turn the former Campus Ministry office into an “Admissions Welcome Center.”
In the letter, SGA expresses their concern that this decision was made without considering student input, especially from students of color. The former Campus Ministry office is surrounded by the Intercultural Center and the Center for Just Living, which are both important spaces for students of color, many of whom feel that the new Admissions office will encroach on their space and make them into unwilling exhibits for the prospective students.
SGA shares the concern of students of color and advocated that the Office of International Programs be allocated that space. Although they pushed for this prior to the announcement of the new Admissions Center and doubled down on their proposal after the fact, according to SGA, “the administration remains firm in its decision.”
Overall, this letter from SGA expresses their deep concern that the administration is neglecting students’ opinions about campus spaces and creating an environment where international students and students of color don’t feel like their voices are heard.
If you haven’t read it yet, I implore you to read it now. To the team at The Script, this letter represents student government at its best. It is students working together to make sure their voices are heard, even when it feels like no one from the administration is listening. When you feel demoralized by national politics, know that the Student Government Association is fighting for students to have the space they need at St. Scholastica. Now, let’s recap some key points from recent SGA meetings.
September 22, 2024
Guest speaker Student Activities Director and SGA advisor Kaitie Selleck mentioned the new SaintsLife addition, Club Hub. It’s a central location for clubs to find information regarding important deadlines, club guidelines and expectations, and other resources to help with running their group. She also mentioned that there will be storage space available to clubs in the Student Center.
Some bathrooms in Science and Tower have the doors removed. President Ploof responded saying it is a temporary solution to the lack of ADA accessibility.
Students are concerned that the doors to the ResLife area are left unlocked.
The BWC roof has substantial leakage.
Committee updates:
Academic Affairs supports student mental health and advocates for student academic needs and programs. Committee representative Ella Engen addresses the lack of retention of staff in counseling services and notes the new director, Abigail Lingwall.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Vice President Jada Nagberi shares that there were many international students accepted to the College after the orientation took place meaning they haven’t received support in adjusting to the US and to the College. The head of International Programming is working online and there is no in-person support for these students.
Representative updates:
Athletics Representative Ethan Russell highlighted the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and said that the first meeting was well attended.
Food Representative Nolan Carlson explains that the Food Committee meets once a month about students’ food concerns. They created the cereal bar in Somers.
As of Sept. 22, 2024, the general fund was $68,817.09
Sept. 29, 2024
Guest speaker Megan Perry-Spears (MPS) discusses voting importance and access. She also discusses the struggling Work-Order System and suggests ensuring that you are connected to the wifi of the building you are submitting the work order for. She corrects the information about international students saying that they were not admitted after the orientation, but that some struggled with visas and couldn’t arrive on time.
Two new clubs were approved: The Philosophical Society, and the Theatre Club.
A motion is approved to add an “Auxiliary Senator Position” that would function as a part time senator who could vote when the minimum number of senators needed for voting isn’t met.
New concerns:
The door is being propped open in Somers, but ResLife is aware and has cameras to monitor it.
The light outside of the Kerst main door isn’t functioning.
Ideas for new projects were brainstormed including more water fountains in Tower, improving accessibility, improving bathroom location signage, bike storage, establishing an SGA scholarship, and napping pods in the Student Center.
Committee reports:
Kelly Crump from Internal Affairs mentioned that there are snacks in the SGA office (upstairs in the Student Center) for students who stop in.
Maren Ryan from Student Affairs discussed the scheduling system for the Student Center study rooms and shared that reservations are strongly encouraged.
Ella Engen from Academic Affairs highlighted that enrollment and retention rates are higher than they have been. A primary issue is that the Office of International Programming is losing the director in November, and they are worried about the international student population not having a large enough space. They discussed concerns about the former Campus Ministry Office that are highlighted in the Letter of Transparency
Equity Diversity and Inclusion Vice President Jada Nagberi discusses similar concerns, while recommending that student employment is expanded to help the Office of International Programming.
Executive officer reports:
Executive Vice President Brianna Hastings mentions that the new Title IX coordinator is Kelly Durick Eder (kdurickeder@css.edu)
The general fund on Sept. 29, 2024 was $69,817.09
Oct. 6, 2024
New Auxiliary Senator Parichi is sworn in.
Guest speaker Vice President of Student Affairs Dory Kempf provides campus updates.
CSS is hiring for a new Residential Life director
There is a new distraction-free testing area on the first floor of Science
Kempf highlights results from the accessibility review completed last year and notes that the College is focusing on “digital accessibility,” supporting students, and reviewing nondiscrimination policies.
The name of the Tutoring Center has been changed to Saints Learning Commons to help bypass the negative connotations that come with the term “tutoring.”
Storms a Brewing, Atomic Brew, Experimental Grounds, and Beakers Cafe/Beakers were chosen as the top student-submitted name options for the Science cafe. Students will be polled to pick their favorite.
New concerns:
The heat hasn’t been turning on in some of the residential buildings, leaving rooms uncomfortably cold.
Many students wish there were fewer Dignitas credits required. Chair Engen says that it’s a recurring complaint but not something that has ever changed.
Committee updates:
Academic Affairs Representative Ella Engen outlines a bill that would create a representative position for a Junior or Senior international student who would be appointed by the Office of International Programming. .
As of Oct. 6 2024, the general fund is $104,751.00
Oct. 13, 2024
The Why Society (formerly the Philosophical Society) gets an unbudgeted request of $40 approved.
The International Student Representative Bill is passed unanimously.
New concerns:
The pool table on Somers fourth floor is broken and the table in Storms Den is in need of new pockets.
The difficulty of club printing is discussed. Since the Printing Center is closed, clubs must check out a P-card and go to Office Max or another off-campus location to print posters and pay for them with their club funds. SGA members note that there haven’t been very many posters up around campus this year, and encourage clubs to hang more posters. There will not be a club printer in the Club Resources Room of the Student Center because it isn’t able to be unlocked all the time. There will not be a printer in a different location due to concern about the noise disrupting students who are studying.
The power outage brought forth the concern that RAs are unable to physically unlock doors to the dorms, since they are behind an electronic keypad.
A SaintsLife carpool feed could be a helpful addition.
The study rooms in the Student Center must be reserved and students aren’t using that system as intended. It was also not permitted to place sticky notes around the building in support of Mental Health Awareness Day.
Students are wondering why it’s not allowed to decorate the Student Center for Harry Potter Week. Administration told Student Activities that they want to keep the space looking formal. There is also concern that posters are being taken down from the building. SGA permits students to hang posters on their office doors, but clubs are not officially permitted to hang posters for student events in the Student Center.
Committee updates:
Athletics Representative Ethan Russell says that the bus for the homecoming game was underutilized by students and the SAAC food drive lacked participation. In the future, they will try to work with clubs.
Equity Diversity and Inclusion Representative Jada Nagberi spoke about goals for the committee, including hosting a “town hall” for students to share concerns, and having a coat drive.
President Maddy Ploof discusses the key points of the Letter of Transparency (highlighted above) and says that it is based on student opinions gathered from surveys. They also discussed that something similar occurred at UMD and students do not use the space as much as they did previously. Administration says that the Admissions Center is their final decision.
As of Oct. 13 2024, the general fund was $104,711.00
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