SGA approves funding and appoints a new secretary

SEMO’s first Student Government Association (SGA) meeting of the semester went over the past business and organization goals, added two new members to their Executive Board, and discussed three funding appeals from students and their respective pursuits.

Junior music education major Nathan Lillard was sworn in as a Student Government senator this evening.

“Being a senator on Student Government is something I have always wanted to do, which has never really fit into my schedule until now. I have about a year left of school, and it finally fits. So, I’m excited to be here,” Lillard said.

In the open discussion following Nathan’s application, the board members highlighted their experience with Nathan’s out-of-the-box thinking and goals if voted into an SGA Senator position—the motion to end the open discussion and accept Nathan as an SGA Senator was approved unanimously.

The following business consisted of a string of grant applications made to the Funding Board Committee for different students and their organizations.

The first application and second order of business on the agenda was a representative of Literati seeking funds to print and distribute their annual literary journal. After a presentation detailing the journal's past sales and distribution figures and its intent and purpose, the motion was approved for up to $600 to fund their campaign.

The second application came from music major Keaton Lacey. Lacey and his associate and fellow music major, Issac Thorn, are seeking $300 ($150 each) to aid in the cost of airfare to Pullman to attend the Festival of Contemporary Artists in Music.

Keaton Lacey answers the senators questions about his feature in the festival.Photo by Lily Niebrugge

The motion was well received and approved by SGA.

The third and final proposal to the Funding Board Committee came from the Collegiate Farm Bureau, seeking $600 ($150 each) to send four students to the American Farm Bureau Federation FUSION Conference in Denver, Colorado. The conference will take place from March 7 to March 10, and the funds will be used to cover the airfare of the students selected to represent SEMO.

During the open conference, SGA was made aware of the outreach and competitive assets that attending this conference will provide for Southeast; SEMO students will be learning from established members of their field and competing with other universities in attendance.

The funding board accepted the proposal and approved the motion.

The final order of business awarded mass communication major Layne Collier the position of Secretary of SGA. Layne made an appeal as to his motivations and his desire for the position, listing an impressive resume of campus involvement, a history of philanthropy, and a commitment to the organization.

During the open discussion following his proposal, Collier solidified his testimony by offering philanthropic ideas for the organization to enact in the future that he has experience in organizing and a clear capability to succeed with.

Layne was met with an affirmative response to his application and effectively sworn into the position unanimously.

“I realized this is my true passion, helping students better themselves, and just really making the community a better place. That is what I really love to do, and SGA gives me that. So, I’m glad to be back, it’s an honor.” Collier said.