The Student Government Association (SGA) passed resolutions SR 24/25-07 and ER 24/25-05 at the last meeting before the senate transition into new leadership.

SR 24/25-07, presented by Senator Jake Williams, a sophomore business administration major from Piggott, Arkansas, would implement designated parking spaces for resident assistants (RAs) in front of their residence halls.

The resolution does not propose the construction of new parking spots. Rather, it would designate some of the existing parking spaces at the front of residence halls to be used by the RAs of those buildings.

After the resolution was presented and the floor was opened to discussion, several senators who also work as RAs offered suggestions and asked for clarification.

Williams said resident assistants have a hard job on campus and it is important SGA give them the best resources. 

“A lot of people do not understand the heaviness that comes along with being a resident assistant and the responsibilities,” Williams said. “I hope they can have a spot in the front for safety, for cohesiveness and for everything to flow.”

Williams said his main motivation for bringing the idea to the senate was for safety and to help RAs being able to get back to the hall in a timely manner.

“I think it’s very important for RAs to have accessibility to the building where they live and keep it level with REC parking spots and where they live as well,” Williams said.

After the discussion, the senate voted and passed the resolution.

“The next steps are to go to the parking committee and really get a solid plan, like a good timeline of what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it,” Williams said.

The senator said the resolution could start the conversation for other parking issues around campus, SGA just needs the support and recommendations from the student body to get those conversations started. 

The second resolution, ER 24/25-05, was presented by SGA President, Micayla McGowen.

ER 24/25-05 is a resolution to create a mental health senate-appointed position and committee. 

McGowen, a senior marketing major from East End, Arkansas, said the mental health position would be responsible for creating mental health programming events and resources for all students. Whoever fills the position will also create a committee of between five and seven senators and one staff member to aid them in their responsibilities. 

McGowen said she felt motivated to propose the resolution because mental health is important for college students.

“It’s a very heavy topic that a lot of people don’t want to talk about, but it’s a very important topic,” McGowen said. “I think starting it at the students and making it as relatable as we can is a really great way to start that conversation.”

After the floor was opened for discussion, Senator Jackson Galloway, a senior electrical engineering major from Little Rock, said he liked the resolution but questioned if mental health is the responsibility of the Wilson Counseling Center, rather than SGA.  

“This position will definitely focus more on bringing events that students would actually want to see coming from students, so it’s easier to make that connection,” McGowen said.

The resolution passed unanimously.

McGowen said she plans to contribute to the resolution and SGA even after the new leadership takes office and she stops serving in an official capacity.

“I plan to work closely with whoever the new president and vice president is and help them out with some first initiatives they might have to do,” McGowen said. “I just want to be a helping hand and just make sure that they’re making decisions that they’re confident in.”

Following the election Thursday, the new SGA leadership will be sworn in at the next meeting April 8. 

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