At Tuesday’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, members discussed the creation of a new organization called the Undergraduate Student Society for the Promotion of Campus Life, a freshmen mentorship program and a potential prank war against Loyola University Maryland.
Juniors Jake Stern and Amanda Hobson showed members of SGA a PowerPoint presentation about the new student life organization, which would include representatives from official student groups. SGA considered making the group a committee under the SGA bylaws or making it an advisory board through the Office of Student Life.
“The problem is that groups have similar interests but no single communication channel,” Stern said. “A common complaint is that students are apathetic.”
SGA members also discussed the possibility of giving new freshmen Hopkins Hillflint sweaters with an emblazoned H during move-in next fall. Freshmen Class President Jonathan Loewenberg also discussed a proposal by Freshman Class Senator Ope Olukorede to put together a freshman mentorship program by pairing new SGA members with veteran upperclassmen.
“Even though we are well aware of how it works now, it would still be nice for upperclassmen who have been in SGA for three years to take on one or two freshmen, introduce them to the rest of the group and help to assimilate them into the student government culture,” Olukorede said. “I will be reaching out to our advisor [Director of Student Activities Robert] Turning about how to go about this, as well as the Executive Board to see what they think about how it could work.”
Executive President Alex Schupper also spent part of the meeting breaking down the budget situation for the rest of the year. He said that $2069 is still available for events while $333 is in the account for operations. SGA also has $2143 on hand for contingencies. Schupper said that each student group will be eligible for $100 if approved by the Student Activities Commission (SAC). Schupper also discussed bus captains for the Sweetlife Music and Food Festival in May and revealed the agenda for a meeting with President Ronald J. Daniels: school spirit, the introduction of a Latin honors system and a smoking ban for the Homewood Campus.
The senior class senators debriefed what they described as a successful happy hour on Monday and planned for a wine and cheese night with professors in Charles Commons on Wednesday. Senior Class President Sean Glass also revealed that the seniors have an extra $8500, which SGA plans to spend on All You Can Eat Night at the Orioles game for $40 a ticket, and towels during senior week. The junior class is also planning a night out at an Orioles game with the sophomore class.
On dining, Sophomore Class President Jahan Mirchandani reported to members that the vegetable quesadillas are now the most popular item on the menu at Nolan’s.
In sports, SGA members are planning a lacrosse tailgate on April 16, which would result in the closing of the FFC for part of the day. Students could purchase food for either a meal swipe or about eight dollars.
When discussing new business, SGA denied a proposal for the mental health group SOS Hopkins and accepted a proposal for a new Cooking Club. They also considered the possibility of starting a prank war with Loyola University Maryland.
“I’m not saying we should have a prank war with Loyola. . . but I wouldn’t object,” Senior Class Senator Aaron Tessler said.
