SU Senate announces initiatives for the spring 2015 semester

A plethora of new initiatives were discussed in the senate meeting held on Thursday, January 29, in the Mocha Room of the Student Union. Student Government Association President Nicholas Harris and Vice-President Sara Ann Martin announced their collaboration on these initiatives, which they plan on completing prior to the end of their terms.
Among the many initiatives to be put into place, those whose results will be apparent to the student body the soonest are: change in cafeteria service and cuisine, the appearance of a student recreational center, a weekly informative online telecast, and the adoption of the Jag Alerts campaign.
Implementing change to campus dining has been an ongoing campaign for the SGA. After meeting with representatives from the food company Aramark, which provides food for the Southern University Baton Rouge campus, and administration in Campus Dining, they have developed online surveys through which they will assess the overall student satisfaction with campus dining, and what should be improved. According to the senate, the survey will be available in two weeks, procuring results by early March.
“We’re hoping to have a sit-in inside Mayberry cafeteria, where students will come out and take surveys together,” said Senator Kite.
President Harris has been specifically working on a special project relating directly to students who reside on campus. Acknowledging the fact that there are limited spaces dedicated to student recreation on campus, Harris has commissioned a proposal to renovate the lobby of Dunn Hall, installing large screen televisions and adding new furniture, along with game tables, computers and printers.
“We have plans to bring a student lounge to Southern University,” said Harris.
Students can also look forward to a weekly online telecast to accommodate those students who cannot attend Senate or Town Hall meetings. The telecast is scheduled to include meetings with the Chancellor, amongst other faculty and staff members, and updates on campus events. Jag Alerts, a text message subscription that alerts students to key events on campus, is also in full effect this semester. SGA is looking to add another component to the service, which would allow students easy and immediate access to SUPD, informing them of any emergency situations.
The senate meeting also addressed some concerns students have regarding facilities upkeep and campus beautification. Superintendent of Grounds Cordell Veal has been SGA’s contact regarding their campus beautification campaign. While there has been discussion about designs Veal has for the campus, including planting various flowers and performing sidewalk repairs, Veal lacks the funds to implement these plans. To rectify this, the senate is proposing adding a 10 dollar campus beautification student fee. This topic will be available for students to vote on. On the topic of facilities upkeep, SGA is in a doldrums. The custodial department is understaffed, with a number of buildings not receiving the proper attention due to this fact.