Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s Student Government Association senate passed changes to the constitution that are to be voted on by the student body.
On Jan. 29, 2024, SGA made modifications to the Constitution which include the removal of the secretary position and decreasing the number of senators from 25 to 19. “We are a little overstaffed at the moment, and in order to make our student senate more reflective of our campus, 19 is the way to go,” Vice President Nick Cooksey said.
Additionally, SGA is proposing a change in the composition of the senate. The proposed senate would have three senators each from the four academic colleges (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology, the Gallaspy Family College of Education and Human Development and the College of Nursing), four at-large senators and three freshman senators voted for during Homecoming elections in the fall.
“We really want to make sure we have a designated freshman representation, but we also want to make sure that our academic colleges have designated representatives to try and spur more academic initiatives coming through the pipeline, instead of just focusing on student concerns but also academic concerns,” Cooksey said.
Bill SBS 2024-01 presented by Cooksey was passed and will now be voted on by the student body on Feb. 8, 2024.
During the meeting, SGA President Bailey Willis also swore in Christian James as the secretary, and Senator Kieler Soape to SGA. If the student body passes the amendments to the constitution, James would be the last SGA secretary.
Student Affairs Commissioner Hannah Davis announced that the Sodexo committee was looking for student representatives who will be returning in the fall semester.
Yonna Pasch, SGA adviser, announced that all Recognized Student Organizations are now in the process of transition and presence profiles will need to be updated. Deadline to transition is Feb. 14, she said.
The full minutes will be posted on SGA’s purple portal / presence profile. To see all of the minutes from previous meetings and this week’s meeting follow this link.
