During the first meeting of October, the Student Government Association (SGA) brought forward a new resolution regarding the use of Flex Dollars at Textbook Brokers and discussed its involvement in the Fall Festival.

Resolution SR 25/26-03 was introduced and read for grammar. The resolution was presented by Senator Caleb Sterrett, a junior civil engineering major from Dumas, Arkansas. 

The resolution would allow students to use Flex Dollars to purchase official Arkansas State University merchandise at Textbook Brokers. Sterrett said, because students are encouraged to participate in campus culture and athletic events by wearing A-State merch, this resolution aims to lessen the expenses for A-State students and increase participation. 

“It’s an opportunity for the university to explore more programs, just to kind of get students to the point where they are able to go out and purchase A-State merchandise without having to worry about the price,” Sterrett said. “The idea was basically to get students more involved on campus and get them to show their school spirit.”

Sterrett is also the Director of Athletic Engagement for SAB, a role that gives him the responsibility of setting the student section themes for the games.

“With the Arkansas Razorback game, the color was black. We went to Walmart and saw a lot of students trying to scramble to find a lot of black A-State merch, but it was already sold out,” Sterrett said, “So just giving them the option to be able to go to Textbook Brokers and use their Flex would be a really great opportunity.”

SGA President Jake Williams, a junior business administration major from Piggott, Arkansas, spoke to the senate about SGA’s involvement in the Oct. 29 Fall Festival.

“SGA is partnering with Volunteer A-State, Red Wolves for St. Jude and Greek Life,” Williams said. “So we’ll be outside SAB’s haunted house.”

The Fall Festival will feature sack races, pumpkin painting with Volunteer at A-State and bobbing for apples with SAB, among other events. 

“There will be a lot of organizations out there getting to bond with students and that’s the ultimate goal of any organization on campus,” Williams said. 

Williams said even with all of the collaborators, planning the event was not as difficult as many might think.

“I was in my adviser’s office and the next thing I know, Reese McCallum, president of Volunteer A-State, and Lucas Ball, the president of Red Wolves for St. Jude, came in and I said, ‘y’all, we need to plan an amazing Fall Fest.’ And that’s when everyone agreed to collaborate on this with us,” Williams said. 

As for senate committee reports, Action Fund Commissioner, Kyle Johnson, a senior biology major from Nassau, The Bahamas, said the action fund submissions ended on Friday but a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The Action Fund Commissioner and their committee listens to what registered student organizations have to say about their budget and if they need additional funding.

“You wouldn’t know how many RSOs are impacting the campus, unless you sit in on a meeting,” Johnson said. 

Williams said he looks forward to continuing on this year and supporting the A-State students. 

“We’re looking towards supporting students, especially as we’re coming up on mid-semester, so we’re always in our office. Our office hours are public and encourage students to come and chat with us,” Williams said. 

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