On Tuesday, the Student Government Association (SGA) had their third meeting of the year in Mason Hall. Vice President Janice Bonsu presided over the meeting.
The rules governing the election process, specifically those related to write-in candidates, was just one of the issues discussed. Last year, one student running for office was found to have forged signatures of students on his petition to run for office. After he was barred from nomination, he received a large number of write-in votes.
This sparked a concern over the potential loopholes that could allow a write-in candidate to gain advantages over nominated candidates. One concern raised during the meeting was that write-in candidates could create advertisements with unsavory comments about rival nominated candidates.
The goal of an amendment is to ensure all candidates conduct a campaign that abides by school regulations. “It is important for rules to be enacted and enforced to ensure everyone runs a fair campaign that demonstrates the integrity worthy of a Student Government member,” sophomore Senator Craig Heller said.
SGA members also touched on the application process for student positions on the Judicial Board, as well as the Committee for Student Elections, noting that there is still one more commissioner opening on the Student Activities Committee.
Reacting to student complaints regarding worn out library equipment, SGA discussed plans to help pay for new chargers.
Furthermore, SGA took on the issue of transportation to the Virgin Mobile FreeFest Music Festival taking place next Saturday. FreeFest, whose lineup this year features Vampire Weekend and the Avett Brothers, is a popular festival for Hopkins students, however its location at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Md. poses problems for many prospective attendees. SGA has taken the initiative to book busses for transportation to the festival. The tickets will be sold for six dollars with the bus leaving at 10 a.m. from Mason Hall and returning at 10 p.m. Senior President Sean Glass showed off a plan to consolidate and update student services, such as the Daily Announcements. Glass made clear that, while Hopkins provides many great services for its students, they frequently overlap making it difficult for students to locate and utilize the proper service.
