How are you doing? On one of my daily walkabouts across campus, I noticed many students mucking about constructing snow forts, throwing snowballs, and having an all-around wonderful time in the snow, and I have to say, good job and thank you for being so into this winter wonderland. It’s great to see that cabin fever isn’t a threat as long as snowballs and fort building exist. I think it’s great! I mean, what else could we ask for than a couple days of excellent powder to wake up to in the morning? Maybe hot cocoa in bed? That would start my day off right.
SGA News
First off, the SGA and SAB have been putting on some great events, such as the Guitar Hero Tournament hosted by WJSC, the Superbowl Party, and the Valentine’s Day Dance hosted by the JSC Dance Team. The Superbowl Party brought in a large crowd around the first quarter due to a well delivered fire drill and stayed strong throughout the night as the Giants shattered the dreams of the Pats perfect season. The Guitar Hero Tournament rocked the night of the 5th as “Iron Man” was “shredded” on a beautiful black cutaway Gibson SG piece of plastic. Other events included Will Kent’s band, Colorblind playing Thursday the 7th, as well as various movie nights. Upcoming events that can’t be missed include Open Mic Night on the 21st, “I Am Legend” in Bentley 207 on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th of March at 9 p.m., and Bingo is back on the 4th in the Base Lodge.
The SGA is gearing up for our 2008 elections cycle. We have been holding information sessions over the past few weeks for students interested in running for the senate. If you missed those informational meetings, have no fear! It’s not too late to get your name on the ballot. Anyone interested in becoming a senatorial or executive candidate should come by the SGA office (located in Dewey 137) and pick up the necessary forms. There are nine senate seats as well as the spots for president and vice-president. With a little campaigning, one of those seats could be yours!
The elections for this year are especially exciting because we are entering the 21st century and using electronic voting for the first time. Back in the old days you used to have to leave your dorm, trek through the snow, find the elections table and actually write out your vote. This year we have simplified the process to the point where you don’t even have to leave bed to cast a vote anymore. If you have access to the Internet, you have access to a vote. For those traditionalists who don’t want to part with paper voting, don’t worry, we’ve thought of you too. We will provide elections tables that you can cast a vote at as well.
That’s the latest in elections news. Stay tuned to find out about exciting upcoming elections events, including a debate and a “get to know your candidates” event.
On a more political side of things, the VSCSA (the Vermont State Colleges Student Association) attended the annual Legislative Day at the state capital on the 12th of February in order to petition for more funding for the VSC. The VSCSA is a group of dedicated students and staff who are striving to increase the student influence in college affairs around the VSC system. We went into the day with hopes of coming to an understanding of why the legislature was not likely to fulfill our request for an 8 percent increase in the funding for higher education in Vermont. They might increase it by 2.5 percent, but the understanding that I got from sitting in on the meetings is that they feel current funding is not available, and that it is more important to fund prisons holding nonviolent offenders. In comparison, JSC students and nonviolent inmates both are served by ARAMARK. We have a quad and they have a yard, we both share basic cable plans (don’t want to miss Project Runway now, do we?), security, housing, and a theater department, as well as a slew of other basic needs. The major difference that is we pay upwards of $23,000 dollars a year, where the taxpayers pay upwards of $70,000 a year for them, and we don’t keep soap on a rope.
Even though the day seemed like a “minor recession,” success was brought out. What we need to understand is that right now, the legislature doesn’t have the money to fund us, although the students who attended got a great look at what they could be doing to get their voices heard, an insight on future ideas for higher education, and a delicious free lunch from Chancellor Clarke.
So with these thoughts, have a great break, and I’ll see you on my walkabouts.
Your friend,
Arian Bates
SGA Vice President