On Tuesday, Feb. 25 the Student Government Association (SGA) convened for their weekly meeting. They reviewed a plan for the Hopkins Student Center, presented a survey on study spaces and passed a bill regarding an upcoming alumni event.
The meeting opened with a presentation by Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Student Initiatives Lee Hawthorne and Director of Scheduling and Event Services Kerby Nelson, who introduced the Hopkins Student Center and its various facilities. The current plan for the Center includes study spaces, multi-purpose rooms and a food court, and the roofs will also be solar-paneled.
The meeting transitioned to a report by SGA President Stone Meng — who praised the success of the recent Speed Dating event, which matched 50 pairs — and a report by Chair of Programming Tim Huang, who hopes to increase registration for the Sophomore Garden Party on March 1. Chief Justice Luc Mazzanobile then discussed a recent petition for Writ of Certiorari submitted by former SGA member Jackson Morris. The petition alleged that the executive and legislative branches engaged in practices violating the transparency and accountability measures of the SGA Constitution and the Bylaws of the Senate, including by failing to post meeting minutes and vote records.
Freshman Class Senator Kevin Xu and Sophomore Class Senator Arihant Singh then presented a survey on student study spaces, designed to assess satisfaction with existing locations. Singh mentioned that freshmen have expressed discontent with the noise in AMR II and proposed that study space hours should be extended. Sophomore Class Senator Omotara Tiamiyu, Cultural and Identity Senator Jordyn Craig-Schwartz, Senior Class Senator Ryan Alezz, and Freshman Class President Jason Yu then presented the Student Services Committee's Grievance Hall Initiative, designed to offer students a space to voice concerns to the committee.
Huang introduced a bill regarding senior memorabilia and the distribution of cords to senior members. He then presented a second reading of the Alumni Bill, which outlines funds for an upcoming SGA alumni event. The bill passed unanimously.
Editor’s Note, 2025: This article has been updated to provide a link to the petition for Writ of Certiorari and a more detailed description.
