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Firepit and Constitution Vote Results, Club Budgets Due

The Student Government Association General Board meeting commenced at 8:03 on March 16th, 2022.

Student Body Comments

Vanessa Symonick asked, “Would it be possible to have meat-free options in dining hall for Fridays during Lent.” The SGA executive board replied by making sure they would relay that message to Sodexo.

John Currier spoke next, talking about the lack of parking availability in the Wheelock parking lot. He told the SGA he suspected Rita Bole residents were parking there which was making it harder for him as a Wheelock resident. Dean of Students Jonathan Davis relayed his complaint.

Assistant Director of Student Life Katie Campbell reminded the student body, “As you’re planning programs and putting up advertisements, please feel free to email me or Katelyn Gillette to put it in the weekly email and The Buzz.”

Reports & Presentations

Jonathan Davis spoke about the Student Trustee application. Ryan Cooney, the current Student Trustee, is stepping down at the end of this year from his position after holding it for two terms. In April, the Vermont State Colleges Student Association (VSCSA), comprised of student government representatives from each institution, will be conducting interviews for a new Student Trustee at the end of April. Davis said these will mostly occur over Zoom. To apply, you must be a degree-seeking student in “good academic standing.” The position requires the student to attend board meetings discussing the finances and policies of the Vermont State Colleges, voicing student concerns from across the system, running the VSCSA, and updating the student body from each of the colleges.

Davis also updated the general board about the Emergency Fund. Recently, he sent an email to the student body informing them of the $10,000 fun SGA approved. Davis said the fund has received ten applications so far, but he is looking for more students to apply. It is important to note that receiving a grant from this fund could impact your financial aid for the next semester.

Concerning the Department Grants approved at the last general board meeting, the SGA executive board is meeting with Provost Nolan Atkins’ office. They are workshopping what the grant application should look like. The SGA hopes to have these approved by the next general meeting following break so professors can apply for funding. SGA Financial Controller Patrick Wickstrom told the general board these grants could be used for the rest of the semester, the summer, or for the upcoming fall semester until they run out of funds.

The results are in concerning the student body vote on the firepit and the SGA constitution amendment. 67 votes were collected regarding the $36,600 firepit; students approved the new amenity in a 59 yes, 6 no, 2 abstaining vote. 65 students voted on the constitution, which also passed with an overwhelming majority. One student voted no and one abstained from the constitution vote.

Financial Update

There is $40,513.76 available in the SGA’s account for spending, with $68,776.52 total in the general fund.

Each club has received an email from Wickstrom last week containing this year’s budget application. The application is due Wednesday, March 30th no later than 11:59 pm. Budget presentations are set for the week after break, April 11th-14th, in the SALC Conference Room. The SGA executive board set aside 70 time slots for clubs to sign-up for. These presentation meetings with the SGA will take no more than 15 minutes. Two people from the club’s executive board must attend this meeting.

The final approval of next year’s overall budget will be decided on April 20th.

Discussion & Action Items

The Visual Arts students commissioned to create a mural in the Student Center presented rough drafts to the general board. Three drafts were presented, all heavily influenced by a photo of the old Vail building being reflected on the Library Pond in the foreground of the new Vail building.

Sarah Fickes’ design was presented first. Her painting was of the Vail building from across the pond featuring hexagon-shaped windows showing what the old Vail Manor looked like. Sebastian Siegfried’s design, shown next, was just the opposite. He drew the Vail Manor as the main centerpiece of the mural with hexagon windows showcasing what the building looks like now. Amanda Adams’ design showed Vail Manor on the hill with a mirror image of the campus building in the Library Pond’s reflection. In her piece, the hexagons showed the different names Lyndon has cycled through over the years, including Lyndon Teachers College, Lyndon State College, Northern Vermont University, and the upcoming Vermont State University name change.

The general board gave feedback on the designs, but it is the executive board that will have the final say. President Gill MacDonald said this was because the artists need feedback and answers more frequently than the general board meets. However, the general board will continue to be updated throughout the project and all feedback will be taken into consideration.

AMS President Bobby Saba requested an additional $6,100 for the cost of the 2022 Northeastern Storm Conference. Last semester, Saba requested $7,000 for an AMS Student Conference in Houston, which was canceled just before it happened. However, after discussion with the SGA Executive Board, AMS repurposed the funds for their annual Northeastern Storm Conference. This conference is organized by the Lyndon AMS chapter and occurs annually in the spring. Saba said it is considered the largest and longest student-led conference of its kind in the country. This year, they saw nearly 200 in-person attendees.

However, they were also met with some unexpected costs with this year’s conference that left AMS facing a large deficit. Roughly $3,000 was spent on A/V equipment, professional speakers invited to the conference had their hotel, flights, and food comped, and AMS also purchased masks, disinfectants, and sanitizers for guests. Total, these costs added up to more than AMS’s requested amount, but Saba said he was not looking for SGA to cover 100% of these unexpected costs. Instead, he asked for assistance to help put the club in a better spot. A motion to approve $6,100 for AMS passed.

Student Investment has only attended one SGA meeting this year, forcing the executive board’s hands in calling for the club’s archival. MacDonald told the general board that the club has also reported a lack of membership. The student government agreed in a written vote to archive the Student Investment Club.

The Winter Ball saw 150 people attend the event. The committee is pleased with the turnout and is looking to host a similar event again. The committee approached SGA with a Spring Fling idea, asking for $7,000 in funding. It would be a more casual luau theme, once again hosted at Burke Mountain with the same DJ as the Winter Ball. The plan is for Spring Fling to occur during Spring Day Weekend; the dance is scheduled for Friday, April 22nd at 7 pm. Tickets will sell for $5. SGA will once again cover the cost of the ticket if a student cannot afford one.

The committee pitched that there would be a different music variety, more non-alcoholic drink options, and different food options. The SGA executive board, all of whom serve on the committee, told the SGA all feedback from the Winter Ball is being taken in and applied to this next dance. The general board approved full funding for this event.

SGA also wants to host a spin-off game show on April 21st at 8 pm. The concept of the game and the venue is not quite decided yet, but President MacDonald said that the event was inspired by the large turnout for CAB’s BINGO events. A funding request for $1,750 for prizes and food was approved.

The lighting in the Student Center next to the Hornet’s Nest is somewhat dark and gloomy. The SGA is looking to replace the canister-type lighting. The executive board asked for $616.61 to cover the cost of new lights and was met with support from the general board. A local business will be replacing the lights soon; the executive board told the SGA that the lights should be in place when students return from spring break.

Club & Committee Updates

The NVU Gardening Club is starting a nature photography contest at the beginning of April. They are looking for nature shots in nearby areas or around campus. The winner will receive a bird feeder and birdseed.

First-year Cody Corcoran is the new SGA representative for MEISA. On Wednesday, he announced that MEISA is hosting a Greggfest Kickoff Party on March 24th at 8:00 pm in the Student Center. Student bands, including Corcoran himself, will be performing. MEISA will also announce the performing lineup for Greggfest 2022.

Next week, MEISA will be holding another Showcase Series, as well, on March 31st.

Dance Ensemble will be hosting the annual Dancing with the Presidents competition tomorrow in the Alexander Twilight Theater. The show is set to start at 8:00 pm with clubs, sports teams, and other student groups performing.