SGA kicks off

Student government plans the new semester

 

SPEAK — Mark Hine addressed all three branches of SGA. Photo Provided

SPEAK — Mark Hine addressed all three branches of SGA.
Photo Provided

On Jan. 24 at 7 p.m., Liberty University’s Student Government Association (SGA) met at the Jerry Falwell Library for its “SGA Huddle,” the first meeting of the semester where all three branches of student government gather together, as well as those interested in joining SGA.

The time was spent reflecting on the previous year, hearing from SGA leadership, and discussing the events students can look forward to in the upcoming semester.

“It’s really a time to get acclimated to each other,” Student Body Vice President Luke Welgoss said.

“We get to know each other better, see what we did last year, and transition into a new semester with a lot of really exciting things
happening.”

Student Body President Jack Heaphy said SGA currently fundraises for more than 100 clubs on campus.

Last year they advertised at multiple campus fairs, including the Block Party and both College For a Weekend events.

Additionally, they hosted the second annual Clean Water Gala in the spring and raised more than $75,000 for The Last Well’s work in Liberia.

Welgoss said SGA leadership also makes a point to schedule events that will benefit Liberty students both mentally and spiritually.

Last semester, they hosted the LU Worship Night before the presidential election, as well as debate and election viewing parties.

Overall, Welgoss said they had record-breaking attendance at their events last year.

“Since I started my freshman year, I’ve seen SGA go from managing a couple dozen clubs to over a hundred clubs, from a representative branch of a couple dozen people to nearly a couple hundred people,” Heaphy said.

“That’s just a testament to the student body here and their willingness to serve and give back.”

Both Heaphy and Welgoss expressed their anticipation for the new semester.

Welgoss said he, along with the executive branch, is especially excited about the possibility of a self-defense class on campus.

“We are partnering with the Liberty University Police Department,” Welgoss said.

“We want to gauge student interest in a self-defense class. A lot of campuses do this, and I think it would be awesome if Liberty could get involved with it too.”

Senate Pro Tempore Caleb Johnson also gave an update from the House of Representatives, saying they are working to continue the positive change the group began last year.

Over the fall semester, Johnson said the branch was able to pass 13 pieces of legislation through the house and seven through the Senate.

Ultimately, only two of the bills were signed by President Jerry Falwell Jr. and implemented on campus.

Josiah o’boyle

Josiah o’boyle

“My favorite thing is the fact that we now have a legislation tracker on our website,” Johnson said.

“If you ever wonder, ‘Hey what’s SGA doing?’ you can pull out your laptop and find out what we are doing and how we’re directly impacting the university.”

Some of the legislation pending for spring 2017 include the abolition of curfew on weekends, the option to have more Convocation absences, and dancing on campus.

Johnson said the branch is looking forward to making their work more available to the student body.

He said that students will be able to access the website at any time and see the most recent progress of each piece of legislation.

Heaphy said they hope to gain more support and involvement for SGA this year.

He said they want to have student government be a platform for creating a more unified campus where all questions and concerns are met.

“We are going to have info cards at all our meetings so people can write down something they like about Liberty or something they wish could be changed,” Welgoss said.

“Then they are compiled and sent to the representative branch, and they can base a lot of their legislation off the student concerns. This is a unique opportunity for student government to meet students and hear their concerns.”

This semester’s initiatives include a basketball fundraiser, LU Day of Service, a campus worship night and a 5k fundraiser.

Additionally, SGA hopes to host the third annual Clean Water Gala at Liberty this March.

“SGA has done amazing things and the best is yet ahead,” Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Hine said.

“I like to look back, but I really like to look forward. We never meet where we don’t close in prayer, so I really do believe that unless God builds the house, we labor in vain. So we cover this place, these people and ourselves in prayer as we go into the new semester.”

More information about Liberty’s SGA, their upcoming events, and legislation can be found at www.liberty.edu/sga

Rutt is the assist news editor.

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