Last week was filled with sorrow as our friends, brothers, sisters and colleagues at Virginia Tech were faced with tragedy. I want to thank all of you who rose up to support your fellow Virginia students. Pictures from the various vigils held in the Siegel Center last Tuesday, April 17 and in the Commons last Thursday, April 19 can be found online at www.vcusga.com. There will be a blood drive in memory of the Virginia Tech students this Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Virginia Rooms of the Student Commons. To sign up, visit www.virginiadonor.com and use the sponsor code “VCU.” Also, students interested in helping out financially can donate to the Hokie Relief Fund. To find out more information about this, visit www.vt.edu.
Last Thursday at 8 p.m., the SGA, in cooperation with the VCU administration, hosted a safety forum featuring Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Jon Bennett and University Police Chief Willie Fuller. Around 300 to 400 students attended and gave important input on how to improve safety at VCU. Some concerns included the need for more staff and services at university counseling and the lack of progress on reforming the security escort service. The SGA will continue to follow up on these important concerns. Students can e-mail John Bennet at svpfa@vcu.edu. All year SGA has been trying to work with the VCU Office of Parking and Transportation on the security escort reform. Parking director Greg Rentz recently resigned, so we hope to work with the new director on this issue.
SGA members cooperated with the Fan District Association to beautify Monroe Park on Saturday, April 14. Students helped plant flowers around the Checkers House, which is the large house in the middle of the park. This was a joint project between the Fan District Assocation and the Student Government Association in an effort to improve relations between VCU students and the FDA. SGA members who participated were Deputy Chief of Staff Maggie O’Brien and Communications Director Peter Moody.
Last Monday, the annual budgets for student organizations were introduced before the student senate. They were then submitted to me for approval or veto. I and several other executive branch members reviewed the budgets over the weekend. A full list of the vetoes, along with the reasons, are posted on the SGA Web site at www.vcusga.com. The SGA also passed a reform bill last Monday, which changes the Senate Publicity Committee to the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. We hope these changes will help the SGA aggressively tackle technology issues to help improve student life at VCU as well as empowering students to get more involved. Visit www.vcusga.com and click on “legislation” to read more about this. Students can also e-mail publicity chair (now “Communications & Technology Chair”) Josh Learn at learnjn@vcu.edu.
I recently appointed a new student as an associate justice on the SGA judicial branch. My nominee is Malcolm Eva. Malcolm has served in the SGA since his freshman year. He served as a senator for about a year and then became a judicial aide. Malcolm is dedicated and hard working and I look forward to having him serve as your newest associate justice. For more information on Malcolm, visit www.vcusga.com.
The year is quickly coming to a close. The last executive cabinet meeting is this Wednesday, April 25 at 12 p.m. The last student senate meeting of the year will be Monday, April 30. That is when my term as president ends and when the new senators and new executive officers will be sworn in. However, your President-Elect Jessica Lee is eager and ready to continue improve VCU for all of you. You will still be able to get in touch with the student body president by e-mailing sgapresident@vcu.edu.