SGA to submit website redesign report

The Student Government Association discussed its report for the new website revision at its Nov. 11 meeting.

Paige Steinhoff, chair of the University Affairs committee, presented a draft of the report for the website redesign which focused on improvements that could be made in the areas of content, appearance and accessibility.

Peter Jacobsen, a freshman senator and member of the University Affairs committee, said that the committee interviewed students in the University Center. They were allowed to view the website and then give feedback and opinions on what they would change. The comments that the committee received about the website were both positive and negative.

"We did get some positive comments from people who said they liked the website," Jacobsen said. "One of the most positive comments is a lot of people like the color scheme of the website, as well as the different themes that are essential to [Southeast] like academic figure or the figure of Rowdy."

The report will be passed on to Deborah Below, dean of students, and Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University.

"We really think they will consider this, since it is a combination of both Student Government and the students on campus," Jacobsen said. "We have evidence from both realms talking about how we think the website is a little bit cluttered in appearance, not quite as successful because of that clutter, and, just in general, the different content changes we want to be made."

Jacobsen also mentioned that SGA will continue to be active in the website redesign after submitting their report.

"I think our role is going to continue to receive feedback from students in case there are any other really good ideas proposed, but also to be a watchdog to make sure that this does get changed for students, because this is something that we can clearly see students want to change," Jacobsen said.

In other business:

Hayley Bohnert, student representative to the Faculty Senate, discussed the athletics department request to move Homecoming to overlap with fall break next year.

Bohnert asked for feedback regarding how students felt about moving fall break to Monday and Tuesday, as opposed to a Thursday or Friday, or eliminating fall break and having a week for Thanksgiving break.

Bohnert said that the Faculty Senate's consensus was that Homecoming should not be moved to fall break next year.

"The academic plan stands as it is, so fall break will remain where it is and the [athletics department] will just have to pick a different weekend that's less desirable for Homecoming to fall on," Bohnert said.

The athletics department has the option of having Homecoming earlier in October, closer to Family Day weekend.

The meeting also included Dance Marathon, the Indian Subcontinent Student Association, the Japanese Student Association and the Sri Lankan Student Association receiving funding for their various events on campus. SGA also voted on the Evolutionary Biology Club, the Internal Combustion Club, Jimmy's Friends, Phi Delta Theta and the R3 club becoming recognized student organizations next year.

The SGA meetings are held at 8 p.m. on Monday evenings at the UC ballroom B.