SGA Election 2012

SGA Elections!~  Lots of stuffs.

Reighart/White VS. Perkins/Thor.

IDK much about any of the candidates other than Becky.  Becky and I had a fake wedding once (with real cake) so that was fun, she was a pretty good fake wife, but maybe not as good as this one. Also Becky was Senator of the year her first year in the Senate, which is actually a major accomplishment and shows real dedication to the SGA and the ability to create actual legislation that isn't bullshit.

And she was a major driving force for GMSRF (The green St. Mary's revolving loan fund, which funds green initiatives on campus) along with other stuff like reusable to-go boxes.  And I don't mean she just went to meetings and signed stuff, but she actually did a lot of legitimate work on these things.

So that is my experience with one of the candidates, but it doesn't really affect me obv so make your decision, just be sure to vote.

New Constitution!  Some "facts," but first it would appear that President Snyder is trying to remove necessary information from the Constitution!  Sounds like terrorism.

• Cleanup - IDK I guess some stuff got removed so that it isn't a jumbled mess
• Removal of MHEC from Exec board.  Not really sure why, or where/how the MHEC representative will interact with the student body, but w/e.  Most people tuned out when the MHEC rep spoke anywayz
• Director of Campus Programming is now selected by the President+Staff instead of being voted on by the Student Body.  President Snyder wants to remove our ability to vote!  Sounds like terrorism to me.  I thought we fought the Revolutionary War so that we would be able to vote!  Is Mark Snyder a colonial governor, appointed by King George III??? He does live in New England...
• Actually the above is probably a good change, although probably not a necessary one tbh.  It's never a contested position and the Prez and VP generally find someone that they want to run anyway.  So IDK.
• MAT students can vote now.  This was attempted a few years ago but not enough people voted.

There are some other changes that President Snyder didn't mention on the Constitution fbook page for some reason

• The President now serves as the Head of the Student Life Committee.  I don't really understand the need for this change, it seems weird.  I wonder what the rationale was behind this.
• Removed the ability of the President to call special sessions.  This was never really used, not sure why to remove it though.
• Removed having the VP solicit committees report to the Senate monthly.  I think Prez Snyder really reduced the amount of reporting at meetings, which cuts down on time.

The funny thing about getting new Constitutions passed is that they usually fail due to lack of voting.  So really the best way to vote against the Constitution when there is an uncontested election is to just not vote (via people are less likely to vote).

Wonder if the new Constitution will pass.

Anyway, go vote yall (or don't idc).

PANIC: SGA CRISIS???

Been hearing rumblings of people 'debating' at SGA meetings lately.  Not really sure what it is about via never going to them (anymore...sigh) so I talked to some informants to garner some information.

It seems there are two issues that 'people' are having with the SGA.

• President Mark Snyder over break wrote up a new constitution over Winter Break (with limited input from the SGA?) which

1. removes the MHEC (Maryland Higher Education Council) Representative position.  Without discussing it with the current MHEC Rep...
2. changes the requirements for running for President/Vice President of the SGA that they must be on campus in the Spring Semester if they want to run.

Both of the proposed changes must be voted on of course before the changes go into effect.

RE:  Issue 1:  Apparently (via unsubstantiated rumors [via I didn't go]) the current MHEC-bro Mike Hullett did not know that there was this proposed change until the meeting and got upset and had the SGA table (AKA make everyone wait ANOTHER week to vote on it) the measure. Not really sure why he wants to get rid of the position, or discussed it with the current dude regarding whether or not we should have it. 

RE:  Issue 2:  Some speculation that this is via he does not support the White/Reighart ticket, and did this out of spite (via they are currently abroad, but this would not affect them).  Not all that likely via I don't think he is that silly/childish.  Other more reasonable reason behind it is probably that he feels that the new Prez should be trained.  Regarding Mark Snyder and training, from an anonymous SGA member:  "also, if mark is so concerned about training maybe he should have trained his senate" via the lack of legislation (srsly they need more legislation like this wonderful piece of legislation regarding All Capital Letter Emails).

One anonymous bro said on this issue "I think many talented student leaders who have put in their time at SMCM and took advantage of its great study abroad offerings should not be penalized for going abroad the semester before their term would start. The student body should not have to be managed in this way, we should be trusted enough to give power to any student leader, even those who have decided to study abroad for a semester. We know who can represent us well and those who run for this office take it seriously. Extra regulation like this is completely unnecessary and rather offensive when it seeks to possibly limit the chance of a qualified, well-intentioned student leader to lead the school if the student body so wishes it."

IDK Blog-readers.  What do yall think?  Are people taking SGA too srlsy???

Meet the MHEC Advisory Council!

Lauren Payne is the head of the Maryland Higher Education Student Advisory Council here, and she is very nice.  But you may not have any idea what MHEC is.  

From what I know, MHEC is this thing that Lauren and some other dudes go to every month or so to talk about how much textbook prices suck and that tuition increases are lame.  

But if you'd like to find out what they really do, stop by the DPC patio during World Carnival on Saturday from 3-4.