ASG | ESU Bulletin

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 19 April 2012 15:54
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Brook Schmidt and Stuart Sneath pose with corky in front of Plumb Hall. Photo Courtesy of Facebook

The votes are in and Brooke Schmidt, junior Spanish major, and Stuart Sneath, junior sociology major, won the election for student body president and vice president respectively.

“I just believe we’re at a pivotal moment here with our new president (Michael Shonrock), and he’s all about creating a paradigm shift and I’m just really ready to jump on board and help Emporia State become even better than it already is,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt and Sneath said that they plan to help Associated Student Government and its senators have more presence on campus.

“(With) most governing bodies, you get the idea of being boring and staunch and…kind of the old boys’ club, which is not something we are, so one thing we want is a more fun campus and to let people know that ASG is here to help people. We are the voice for you guys,” Sneath said.

Sneath also said that he wants ASG to be more involved in students’ experiences from the beginning by being at orientation events and other such activities to help introduce themselves to new students and hopefully help retention.

Sneath has served on the student senate as a senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for a year, as well as having been the activities chairman for the Interfraternity Council, a coordinator for Community Hornets and a facilitator for Mosaic of ESU, among other leadership positions. While she does not have experience as a senator, Schmidt has held various leadership positions on campus. Schmidt is the current president of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and Alternate Spring Break, as well as having been secretary for the Panhellenic Society for two years.

Schmidt and Sneath were up against Luke Chiddix, junior political science major, and Luke Drury, junior political science major, and won by 111 votes, according to the election results posted on the official ASG page on ESU’s website, with another 18 votes going to write-in candidates. Over 600 total students voted in the presidential elections.

“My hat’s off to Brooke and Stuart for running a successful campaign,” Drury said. “I wish them the best of luck next year.”

Drury said that he felt the election process went very well and that students’ voices were heard.

Thirteen senators were also voted in during the elections. Mathkar Alamani is the senator for the School of Business. Billy Garner, Julie Ma, Carley Swanson, Marcus Hix, Brandon Allen, Paul Knackendoffel and Manny Requenes are the representatives for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Josiah D’Albini, Michael Stauffer and Luke Farnsworth represent the Teachers College. And Alisha Lyon and Samantha Beye are the senators for the graduate school.

Sneath said that there are four more positions open in the senate should other students wish to run for those positions.

Luke Bohannon

ASG discusses ESU’s ‘brand,’ recognizes two clubs

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 12 April 2012 11:39
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Joel Phipps, a representative from City Commission, spoke to the Associated Student Government last night in Cremer Hall in regards to new housing ordinance for the city. Phipps said that the ordinance’s primary aim is to make Emporia not only safer, but more appealing.

Phipps graduated from ESU in 1997 and began a real estate career in Emporia that same year. One of the main issues he discussed was the “nuisance” issue, which refers to things such as dirty or unkempt yards.

“It gets into a real fine line where you don’t want to force someone to live a certain way, but you want to be sure that a neighbor doesn’t stack trash in the backyard so high up that it devalues the property owner next door,” Phipps said.

Phipps said the ordinance would also help address safety issues in housing across Emporia.

Bill Noblitt, director of Marketing and Media Relations, also spoke to the senate about the university’s “brand.”

“The brand is more than a mark – it’s what you value. It’s the values of a place, what it stands for,” Noblitt said.

Noblitt asked the senators a number of questions about ESU’s brand and image, including what makes ESU distinctive and what they envisioned for the university in the future.

First readings on general order included a resolution in support of the new housing ordinance, recognition of the Muslim Students Association and the Public Affairs Club, as well as a bill for revisions to the Senate Finance Policy.

Two bills were also voted on. The first was recognition of the Hornet Swim Club, which was represented by Janice Wiese, junior psychology major.

Wiese said that executive members of the group were unable to attend, but she did have written comments from Sarah Long, sophomore elementary education major.

“A lot of people aren’t really happy about going to the gym and jogging on the treadmill so…this would be a great way to (exercise),” Wiese said. The senate voted to recognize the club, 15-0-0.

The other organization up for recognition was the Podsolnuk Emporia Russian Club, which was represented by Abigail Robinson, freshman French and English major. Robinson said that there are currently 12 people on a mailing list for the club and that they’ve elected co-presidents and a treasurer.

“We promote knowledge of Russian language and culture, and…contribute to the multicultural environment here on campus,” Robinson said. The senate voted to recognize the club 15-0-0.

Luke Bohannon
bohannon@esubulletin.com

ASG approves $287,000 in RSO funds

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 05 April 2012 15:09
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Assistant Professor, Earl Givens Jr., receives approval from ASG at the meeting Thursday evening, to bring a boxing club into the sports and recreation department. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

The Associated Student Government approved about $287,000 for allocations and line items requests for over 50 Recognized Student Organizations during Fiscal Year 2013 last Thursday night.
Senator Michael Stauffer called roll for the 54 organizations listed on the bill for allocations. Only one, the ESU Science Club was absent, resulting in loss of the funds to be allocated to the group.
Also on general order were line item adjustments for both The Sunflower and The Bulletin. The Sunflower was represented by its editor, Lauren Walbridge. Walbridge stated that the increase was to help pay for higher printing costs, more equipment and payroll. She also said that the low number of editors at The Sunflower was due to lack of student interest.
“We’re planning on talking to people at Hornet Connection…we’re planning on getting into connection with them, also with some high schools in the area,” Walbridge said when asked about plans to help increase student involvement in the yearbook. The bill called for an increase of about $1 for full-time students and 8 cents for part-time. The bill passed 13-0-4, and the projected amount in line item funds for the upcoming fiscal year is about $87,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kenzie Templeton represented The Bulletin. The bill called for a 50 cent increase for full-time students and 7 cents for part-time students. Templeton said the increase was needed to help pay for increasing printing costs as well as replacing old or damaged equipment.
“With the recent office renovations, some of the equipment was damaged in the move,” Templeton said. “I can think of several instances where we plugged the computers in and the monitors weren’t working or something was cracked.”
The senate voted once and the bill failed, but due to a mistake made during the vote, another vote was held, which passed the bill 6-5-5. However, following a closed session, the senate suspended its rules of procedure and drafted another bill to be voted on immediately following the closed session. Templeton was asked to speak again on behalf of the new bill, and the senate opened the bill to debate. In the last vote, the bill failed 3-13-1. The projected amount of line item funds for The Bulletin is about $72,000.
Other items on the general order included recognition of two new RSOs – The ESU Boxing Club and Ultimate Frisbee Club. The senate voted 16-1-0 to table the bill for the Hornet Swim Club due to lack of representation stemming from what Senator Stauffer called a “miscommunication.”
The senate also approved a reserve fund request for the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to help defer costs of a speaker for an event. Finally, the senate voted 17-0-0 to pass a resolution in support of a new university marquee.

Allocations Amounts for RSOs
A Cappella Choir $1,165.00
Alpha Kappa Delta $2,797.00
Alpha Kappa Lambda $1,753.00
Alpha Sigma Alpha $1682.00
Alpha Sigma Tau $867.00
Alternate Spring Break $1,692.00
American Chemical Society $662.00
Beta Alpha Psi $1,280.00
Black Student Union $1,641.00
Black Women’s Network $1,457.00
Chi Alpha Epsilon $1,109.00
Chi Omega $1,203.00
Circle K $376.00
Didde Catholic Campus Center $2,029.00
Environmental Club $282.00
ESU Glass Guild $1,391.00
ESU Marketing $493.00
ESU Philosophy $799.00
ESU SCALA $1,845.00
ESU Young Democrats $1,015.00
GAMMA $514.00
HALO $2,720.00
HPER $713.00
HVP $1,466.00
Instructional Technology
Student Association $2030.00
Interfraternity Council $1,391.00
JA Sakura $258.00
Kappa Sigma $641.00
Lambda Pi Eta $381.00
MENTO $2,087.00
Multicultural Freshmen
Action Team $1,288.00
NAfME $497.00
Panhellenic Association $1,790.00
Pre Law Club $196.00
PRIDE $2,638.00
Phi Beta Lambda $1,576.00
Phi Delta Theta $1,908.00
Psi Chi $4,009.00
Psychology Club $1,647.00
Sigma Alpha Lambda $2,216.00
Sigma Phi Epsilon $2,993.00
Sigma Tau Delta $2,289.00
Sigma Tau Gamma $2,356.00
Sociology Club $1,391.00
Spurs $282.00
Student Art
Therapy Organization $2,260.00
Student Honors Council $2,146.00
SSIOP $1,109.00
Tau Beta Sigma $322.00
TOPS @ESU $414.00
Up ‘til Dawn $1,081.00
Xenos $376.00
Associated Student
Government $58,000.00

Luke Bohannon

A Call for Transparency

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 05 April 2012 15:02
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Cartoon by Don Landgren Jr., Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Sunshineweek.org

The Associated Student Government may have violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act during the allocations and line item hearing last week for student organizations, thanks to some poor advice they got from their faculty adviser, Lynn Hobson, associate vice president of Student Life.
Transparency laws like KOMA are in place for a reason. They are a cornerstone of open government, and without them we can’t really know what our government is doing or how our tuition and tax dollars are spent. The Bulletin asked President Ashley Vogts via email on Monday if ASG is subject to KOMA but did not receive a response by press time on Wednesday.
In 1977, a Kansas Attorney General opinion ruled that university student senates were not subject to Kansas law because they played an advisory role within the university and had no real power, according to Adam Goldstein, attorney advocate for the Student Press Law Center.
But Goldstein said that since student senates now have the power to distribute public funds, they should be subject to state law, which means that ASG, a public body with the power to allocate student fees as they see fit, should be subject to transparency laws, including KOMA and the Open Records Act.
But ASG may have committed an illegal act by violating KOMA.
It all stemmed from unclear voting procedure on a bill for a line item increase for The Bulletin. A vote for those in favor and one for those opposed was taken, but there was no vote for abstentions, and the bill was declared failed. Several moments later, it was found that the vote had not been finished, so a revote was taken.
But once the meeting had officially ended and the room had cleared, Hobson called for an executive session with the members of ASG. Vogts told a Bulletin reporter that this was “procedure,” and when asked to cite which exemption under KOMA would allow for the secret meeting, Hobson said it was “consultation with the adviser.”
This, however, is not a legitimate exemption under KOMA, and ASG’s failure to cite a proper exemption is seemingly illegal.
In addition to citing an exemption, ASG also had to state the subjects to be discussed during the closed meeting and designate the time and place at which the open meeting would resume. ASG did none of these.
Such ignorance to the proper procedure is understandable to a certain extent, especially given the current state of politics and how even the entire Republican side of the state legislature is being investigated for a KOMA violation at Cedar Crest, but ignorance is no excuse. As an administrator, Hobson should have known better than to give such poor advice to ASG.
To make matters worse, at one point Hobson stood up and congratulated ASG for doing such a wonderful job in debating the allocation of student fees. She said how proud she was because “this is what it’s all about.” If throwing state law out of the window is “what it’s all about,” then what kind of institution are we?
Regardless of the bad procedure and advice they got, as representatives of the student body with the power to disburse public funds, in this case student fees, ASG must be held accountable for their actions. If we can’t expect our student reps to uphold the law, what can we expect from them?

Recruitment ‘buzzing out’ to new students

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 05 April 2012 14:51
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President Shonrock high-fives a child last Friday in Webb Hall. The first-ever Hornet Telethon was held so that Emporia State faculty and staff could call the new and transfer students admitted to the university for Fall semester 2012. Yo Han Kim/The Bulletin

Faculty, students and Emporia community members and leaders sent over 300 postcards and made phone calls to potential students last Tuesday during the Reverse Telethon, sponsored by the Office of Administration. The community-wide event had games for kids, live jazz music from the Martin Dinkus Quartet, food and drinks as well as an appearance by Corky.
“Instead of people calling in, our volunteers (called) them,” said Laura Eddy, director of Admissions. “It’s a new and different event to make sure our new students understand how welcoming Emporia is.”
Callers included Emporia officials such as Matt Zimmerman, city manager, Teresa Walters, city commissioner, and Fire Chief Jack Taylor.
The event also included a competition between the callers and the postcard writers to see who could reach the goal of 317 students. The postcard count had reached 300 by 7 p.m.
“Each postcard that is sent to a student has a personal handwritten message on it,” said Deena Wilson, transfer admissions counselor. “Each message is from students, faculty, staff and community members welcoming them to Emporia.”
Ashley Vogts, Associated Student Government president, said that ASG is actively looking into how to increase the numbers of new students this year and for future semesters.
“We are still in the middle of analyzing the progress we have made as far as reaching potential students,” Vogts said, “but we have already taken a look at the process of increasing student recruitment.”
Regarding future plans for ASG’s involvement in the student recruitment initiative, Vogts said there were not many specific plans set in stone yet and that they will have to “see where the task force takes them.” ASG has, however, already begun planning future events for potential students.
“Since (President Michael) Shonrock has come here, we have had an increase in recruitment, as well as more excitement for recruitment,” Eddy said. “There is more contact by Facebook, by email and text. We have more groups and areas on campus talking to potential students.”
When asked how he felt about the event and the progress the initiative has made, Shonrock said he was “thrilled.”
“I feel that this new student recruitment initiative is doing very well,” Shonrock said. “I feel like there is more excitement over student recruitment, both on campus and with support from the community…we’re buzzing out to a lot of potential ESU students.”

Steve Edwards

PENNSYLVANIA STATE TRAINING PREPARES NEW DEPUTY SHERIFFS FOR DUTY

US Fed News Service, Including US State News August 7, 2009 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Aug. 4 — Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:

All new Pennsylvania deputy sheriffs are required to complete a training program to be certified for duty. While some of the training involves classroom lectures on the commonwealth’s crime, civil and motor vehicle codes, a hallmark of the Deputy Sheriff Basic Training Academy, conducted by Penn State’s Justice and Safety Institute (JASI), is the practical hands-on activities that let deputies experience firsthand some of what they will face on the job. The next training academy will begin Aug. 10. website pennsylvania child support

“The 19-week training program is interactive, so deputy sheriffs can apply what they are learning and make mistakes in a safe environment before they get out in the real world, where mistakes can have serious consequences,” said Academy Director Bob Stonis, who also is associate director of JASI Law Enforcement Training Programs.

Created in 2000 in response to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that expanded deputy sheriffs’ law enforcement responsibilities, the academy prepares deputies for a full range of law enforcement and court-related duties. JASI has partnered with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Deputy Sheriffs’ Education and Training Board to train nearly 1,600 deputies to date.

In addition to classroom activities, the training includes a day of patrol operations, where deputy sheriffs practice making traffic stops for motor vehicle violations, serving protection from abuse orders, interviewing people and conducting building searches. Academy instructors provide training scenarios and play the role of suspects.

According to the academy’s lead instructor for defensive tactics, Matt Simmonds, “the closer we can get to reality, the better the training.” Simmonds explained that academy staff wear impact-reduction suits for protection as deputies use defensive tactics learned in training to safely subdue and handcuff them. web site pennsylvania child support

Timothy Stringer, a Ferguson Township police officer, coordinator of the academy’s patrol procedures and an instructor of emergency/first aid response, defensive tactics and firearms training, said, “this scenario-based training is a practical final exam that covers everything we’ve done in the first 18 weeks.” The last day of class involves mock hearings, where deputies present their cases before magisterial district judges.

“They’ve done the physical work of making the arrest. Now they have to be able to document and present their case,” said Dominic Pelino, magisterial district judge in the Dauphin County District and academy instructor.

For Franklin County Deputy Sheriff Keith Homer “the level of the instructors is top notch.” Homer, class president of a recent training group, was an instructor and drill sergeant in the Air Force, serving four tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. “I absolutely love [the academy],” he said.

Penn State’s Justice and Safety Institute each year conducts three 19-week training programs and five two-week programs for deputies who have previous police training. The current 19-week class will participate in patrol operations training on Aug. 17 and mock hearings on Aug. 20. Graduation is set for Aug. 21.

Deborah Benedetti, 814/238-4895; Dave Aneckstein, 814/865-7600.

ASG makes history, prepares for allocations

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:27
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Emporia State history was made at the most recent Associated Student Government meeting as the senate voted 17-0-1 to pass a bill allowing a line item addition for Community Hornets, making it the first community service organization to be funded at the university level.

“Four years ago, Community Hornets was just a clearinghouse of service organizations that we provided to faculty, staff and students…within the last four years we have truly grown,” said Blyth Eddy, associate director of the Memorial Union. Eddy was joined in representing Community Hornets by Brooke Schmidt, junior Spanish major, and Alisha Lyon, graduate assistant in business administration.

“The ability to have a community service organization that is funded through student fee dollars that will be there every year will allow Community Hornets to develop more programs and help increase the community service hours that are produced by Emporia State University,” said Luke Chiddix, fiscal affairs chair.

Another bill was also voted on by the senate regarding a reserve fund request for the Saudi Club of ESU, which would help defer costs of a speaker for the group. Qassim Almukhtar, senior information systems major and president of the Saudi Club, represented the organization. The bill passed 18-0-0.

During remarks for the good of the university, ASG President Ashley Vogts announced a multi-million dollar renovation project for Morse Hall.

First readings included seven bills and one resolution to be voted on at the next meeting. The first of the bills concerned ASG allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. Other bills included line item adjustments for the Bulletin and the Sunflower, as well as recognition of three new organizations – ESU Boxing Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club and Hornet Swim Club. The last bill was a reserve fund request for the Zeta Phi Beta sorority to help defer costs for a speaker for the group’s Finer Womanhood Week.

A resolution was also read concerning support of a new university marquee. If passed, the resolution would support and stand behind the new marquee on behalf of the students, faculty and staff. According to Public Affairs Director Christian Keisler, the marquee would be located at the corner of Merchant and 12th St.

“It helps bridge the communication gap between ESU and the city,” Keisler said. “It’s a cool technology and things are changing all the time…most campuses our size…have one already so this just catches us back up.”

Keisler also said other advantages to having a marquee included targeting messages to the public, reduced costs of printing materials and revenue generated through advertising from merchants.

Luke Bohannon

ASG passes two bills, nixes two

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 01 March 2012 16:41
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Associated Student Government met last week to vote on four bills and discuss two others in first readings, including a line item addition for Community Hornets.

Election commissioner Chase Turney also spoke to the senate and outlined his goals for the upcoming elections, which include having 1,000 students vote in the election and bringing more diversity into the student senate by reaching out to international students.

Billy Garner discussed his plans for an ASG focus group that would ask students questions focusing on two different concentrations – the effectiveness of ASG and communication between ASG and the student body.

Luke Chiddix introduced a bill in first readings for a line item addition for Community Hornets. The bill recommends an addition of $3.00 for full time students and $.50 for part time students to student fee items.

President Michael Shonrock was also present at the meeting and spoke briefly on a number of topics, including the Day Under the Dome event in Topeka and recent meetings with city officials.

“There’s a lot of interest from our mayor, city manager and commissioners about getting our students more involved in the community and how we can work together to get our students more engaged in the community,” Shonrock said.

Four bills were voted on, the first of which was a reserve fund request for Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society. Sigma Tau Delta was represented by Josh Johnson, senior secondary education major and treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta.

“We’re growing and we’re hoping to keep growing, and we advocate for things in the community like English educators,” Johnson said. “We help grad students get their papers published from ESU’s campus. So we put a good name out for the university.”

The funds were requested to help defer costs for a trip to a national conference. The bill passed 18-0-0.

Next was a fund request by the American Criminal Justice Association which was voted down due to lack of representation at the meeting. Chiddix voted to pass the bill unfavorably, stating that he felt the senate needed to maintain a serious posture on funding. The bill failed with a vote of 16 for, one against and one abstention.

Following that was a vote on a bill regarding a reserve fund request for the ESU Young Democrats. The group was represented by Zoe Bartlett, senior rehabilitation education major and president of ESU Young Democrats. The funds were to help defer costs of an annual regional conference.

“We want to bring a lot of young voters…it’s also a good way to meet other Young Democrats,” Bartlett said. The bill passed 17-0-1.

The final bill was for the recognition of Unwind Knit and Crochet. It was moved to pass the bill unfavorably due to lack of willingness by those involved in creating the group to continue on with it. None of the individuals connected with Unwind Knit and Crochet were present at the meeting.

Luke Bohannon

ASG votes on remembrance of Yang

Written by Bulletin Staff
Thursday, 16 February 2012 16:26
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Luke Drury, Legislative Director, gives his committee report, during the ASG meeting Thursday evening in Cremer Hall. The meeting delt with several reserve fund requests, the next ASG meeting will be next Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Cremer Hall 204. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

The Associated Student Government met last week to discuss several bills and a resolution regarding the remembrance of Mingxuan Yang, a 26-year-old graduate student from China who committed suicide earlier this semester.

ASG voted unanimously to pass the resolution, which states that ASG extends their “deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

Also on the agenda for first readings were reserve fund requests for Sigma Tau Delta, the American Criminal Justice Association and ESU Young Democrats.

Aside from the resolution, there were four bills voted on by the senate, the first of which was for the recognition of the Soccer Club. The senate voted to recognize the group.

Three reserve fund requests were also voted on, including requests from Beta Alpha Psi, an international honorary organization for accounting and finance students, represented by Dominik King, senior accounting major, and Nicole Skala, graduate business student.

“Our primary objective is to encourage and promote scholastic achievements in these fields,” King said. The senate voted 16-0-0 to grant the funds.

A reserve fund request was also voted on for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, which was represented by Lindsey Allen, junior rehabilitation services major. The SAAC requested funds to help promote their Senior Citizen Prom in April, although Allen said that there was not a set date yet.

“It’s our way to interact with the older community of Emporia because they’re there at our football games and basketball games, so it’s like saying ‘thank you, we appreciate you,’” Allen said. The fund request passed 17-0-0.

The final bill was a reserve fund request for the American College of Sports medicine. Courtney Kuhlmann, senior health promotion major, represented the group. The funds were requested to help fund a trip to the American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance conference in Boston, Mass. The bill passed 17-0-0.

ASG will next meet at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Cremer Hall 204.

Luke Bohannon

ASG opens 86th session, Shonrock pushes recruitment

Written by Bulletin Staff
Wednesday, 01 February 2012 19:51
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The Associated Student Government opened their 85th session last week to kick off the spring semester. Aside from committee reports, the senate heard two other speakers.

Rachel McCommon, senior rehabilitation service education major and president of Sigma Alpha Lambda, spoke on behalf of Youth Friends. Emporia State President Michael Shonrock also spoke to the senators on a number of topics, chief among them was recruitment.

“If you’ve got folks out there, I’ll call them,” Shonrock said. “If you want me to send a little letter, I’ll send them a letter. Give me the information so we can personalize this opportunity because this is a great place and we know it in our hearts.”

McCommon spoke to the senators about participating in Youth Friends. Participants would be mentors for preschool and high school students for an hour a week. Students can request certain age groups and certain times in order to better fit themselves into the program.

“It’s more about quality time… being there with them, spending time with them after school,” McCommon said

Senator Luke Drury, legislative director, spoke about Higher Education Day in his report, highlighting three main points that will be addressed in meetings with legislators. The topics were economic returns on investments on higher education, student debt and scholarships and the conceal and carry bill.

“We want to make sure we talk about our vehement opposition to this bill as we feel, as a regents system, that our campuses are safe,” Drury said.

First readings for the meeting included bills for reserve fund requests for Alternative Spring Break, Beta Alpha Psi, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the American College of Sports medicine.

The senate also heard the first reading of a bill for the recognition of the Soccer Club of ESU. The rules were suspended and the bill for Alternative Spring Break was moved to general order.

“We’re trying to promote awareness for the issues with poverty housing. Every year we use Spring Break to go on a trip outside of Kansas, so we can help someone build a house,” said Brooke Schmidt, junior Spanish major and president of Alternative Spring Break.

The bill was to help defer costs of the annual trip the group makes to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity and passed unanimously.

Luke Bohannon

ASG approves funding for Up ‘til Dawn, new RSOs

Written by Bulletin Staff
Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:00
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The Associated Student Government met last Thursday to deliver reports and vote on a series of bills. They also voted on the acceptance of two new RSO’s.

Gary Wyatt, associate dean of sociology also spoke to the senators about undergraduate advising. In particular, Wyatt focused on the subject of the ESU website and its current student section. Wyatt said that he hoped to work with the senate in order to make the site more accessible and easy to use for students.

“We want to have a current student website where you click on it and what comes up is information that’s going to be very useful and accessible for students,” Wyatt said.

The Episcopalian Campus Ministry of Emporia State University was voted in as a new RSO. The group brought five people as representation. Most questions directed to the group were answered by Kira Pearc, senior elementary education major, and Michelle Petty, senior sociology major

Pearc said that the organization has three weekly events – a Wednesday night service followed by a meal, a “hang-out time” on Saturday and finally, a book study on Monday nights.

“Anyone can join the group, it’s really a place that we want to make here, a very hospitable place and to be able to come together as students, have a meal together, have fun, and also be able to discuss religious topics,” Pearc said.

The Soccer Club, which was represented by Oladipo Olaonipekun, freshman information systems major, was also voted in as a new RSO.

“(We’re) basically just trying to try to get together and compete with other schools outside Emporia,” Olaonipekun said.

The senate also approved a bill for a reserve fund request for Up ‘til Dawn, an organization that helps raise money for St. Jude’s Hospital. Up ‘til Dawn was represented by Jaymie Hardtarfer, senior business administration and Spanish major. The funds requested would help fund a trip to St. Jude’s Hospital for the group’s executive board.

“Not only does it bring back the motivation for our executive board to instill motivation in the students we recruit, but it really gives us an increased knowledge of what St. Jude does and what the money that we’re raising is going to,” Hardtarfer said about the trip.

The next ASG meeting will be a 5 p.m. on Oct. 27 in the Kanza Room of the Memorial Union.

Luke Bohannon