Members of the SGA put in overtime this summer to get the new administration’s platform rolling.
There was a lot to get done because the presidential election lagged for nearly seven weeks.
The president’s cabinet was confirmed at a special student senate meeting Aug. 25.
“From our end, we’ve done as much work as we could,” said SGA President Larry O. Rivers.
Rivers said because he wanted to include many of the cabinet members in the decision-making tasks, some things still haven’t been done.
However, they have accomplished getting the hours of the fitness center and financial aid office extended. And in an effort to speed up customer service, they have also gotten toll free phones installed in the financial aid and student accounts offices
Rivers said to expect more out of this year’s governing body as the year progresses.
“I’m planning on it being more unity than dissention this year,” Rivers said.
Shortly before the results of the 2003 spring run-off elections were announced, Rivers and his running mate, Virgil A. Miller, were disqualified from the race by the Electoral Commission. Rivers and Miller spent weeks making sure they were declared winners of the race after obtaining 455 more votes than their opponents Travis Williams and Aziza Bowser (1381 to 936).
But it hasn’t stopped the SGA from getting things done.
“I think everyone up here (in the SGA) sees the bigger picture,” said Student Relations Committee Chairwoman Kahlila Alexander, a 21-year-old international business student from Atlanta. “It’s about the students.”
The Student Senate has also been busy catching up on work.
Because the president wasn’t picked on time, “It removed the opportunity for masses of students to know what positions were available,” said SGA Senate President Michael Morton.
The 20-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. said the senate held a special meeting last week to make many of the appointments that are originally made during the end of the previous school year.
“It’s important for the student body president to make those recommendations quickly,” said the 20-year-old junior mechanical engineering student from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“Once we get those positions in there, we’ll get the ball rolling in student government. Until then, we’re somewhat crippled,” he said. “It just means we’re going to work a little overtime.”
Marlon A. Walker can be reached at marlonawalker@aol.com.