The Arkansas State University Student Government Association discussed abolishing the resolution that established a student housing scholarship. 

Jackson Galloway, a senator for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, read a new resolution, SR 23/24-03, which would abolish the SR 22/23 – 01 resolution. The previous resolution created was to create a housing scholarship for students. 

Galloway listed logistical problems and funding issues as the reason for the proposed resolution. 

“The presence of a fixed amount of funds allocated every semester proposes a risk to SGA that could hinder the effectiveness of the organization,” Galloway said when reading the bill to the senators. 

The new resolution would abolish the previous one to allow the previously allotted funds to be reintroduced back into the SGA budget. 

President McGowen said this is not because SGA does not want to sponsor a scholarship. Instead, this is to reuse those funds for future projects. 

“It’s just money that’s just sitting there and there is nothing to be done about it. If another senator wants to bring up a scholarship, we’d be able to get the exact logistics down and get that figured out.” 

The senators voted to end the discussion regarding the resolution until the next meeting. 

Chief of staff Rachel Mooneyham, a junior strategic communication major from Jonesboro, spoke about the advancements of Traditions Without Borders. 

Traditions Without Borders was created to help connect international students to American culture by inviting them to the homes of A-State students, faculty and staff. 

Mooneyham said she wants to begin this project on Easter, since starting on a smaller holiday would help work out any issues. 

Her first job will be sending out forms to other registered student organizations (RSO’s) to try and get some of them to sign up and host. 

Mooneyham’s current plan is to coordinate with the RSO’s and the international programs to match students with organizations hosting. 

“A lot of international students obviously can’t go home on breaks and so this was a way to get them connected and feel like they could share their traditions with us and vice versa,” Mooneyham said. She also said that SGA would be open to hosting. 

Jonathan Schaufler, SGA president pro-temp, presented SR 23/24-02, a resolution to provide lactation stations at the Reng Student Union, Centennial Bank Stadium and First National Bank Arena. 

The president pro-temp said he has collaborated with the Student Nurses Association, Minority Student Nurses Association, Volunteer A-State and other organizations on campus to create materials to promote and educate students about the lactation rooms. 

Schaufler said one of his nursing professors gave him the idea to advocate for lactation rooms. He said the lack of sanitary, private rooms available on campus for anyone breastfeeding led him to create the resolution. 

Schaufler said details such as the exact locations, specific amenities provided and funding would be determined if the resolution passed.

The senate filled two open seats during the meeting. 

Reese McCallum, a first-year student with a major in business administration with a minor in writing studies, was voted by acclamation as the college of business senator. 

SGA senate voted Karoline Yeakley, a junior psych major from Mountain Home, Arkansas, as an at-large senator. 

Guest speaker Kari Harris came to SGA to talk about Create@State, a research program that allows students to work with faculty on research as well as present their findings. 

Harris opened the floor for senators as well as potential senators for their opinions on how to get people to better attend their events as well as how to boost overall interest in the program. 

Senators’ advice ranged from social media, providing free food, giving out complimentary gifts, and working with A-State marketing to get the word out overall. 

SGA’s next meeting will be Feb. 13 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Delta Center. 

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