The SGA meeting last Tuesday commenced with President junior Mark Dirzulaitis. He spoke about the dinner with the President and the Provost, which is to take place April 4th at 6 p.m..
Dirzulaitis went on to remind the SGA that there have only been 14 nominations for Hopkins awards and five for the Dunn Family award. No one responded to a second call for award nominations. Final nominations are due Thursday night.
Vice President Elizabeth Duval then spoke about the first Mattin Market occurring this Thursday. Starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m., the theme is Sports Day.
Committee member Senator Mike Wu announced that the first interviews for student groups were conducted, with the help of Senator Max Dworin. Lawn signs and notices in The News-Letter were presented as ways to increase voter turn out for school elections.
Junior President Ardi Mendoza reminded the SGA that student group assessments would soon be e-mailed. He instructed members to ask three to four groups questions and keep them updated on their activities.
Senator Nick Trenton discussed financial issues for that night. He reviewed a sample budget sheet for voter registration and recently met with recipients of student initiatives grant. Sunglasses for class of 2013 and class of 2014 have been approved. He also discussed possible funding for the upcoming Dance Marathon.
Then, Class Council Reports started off with Senior President Josh Ayal discussing the food and wine event on April 20th for the senior class.
Junior Class Council announced that the budget for Homecoming has been organized. The details are being sent to finance, in addition to the junior class’s request for sunglasses.
Sophomore President Alexandra Larsen discussed how the Council is planning a midnight breakfast event halfway to graduation. Also, a sushi restaurant has been found for a possible event.
Freshman President Merrill Anovick announced that the freshman class has an appeal for sunglasses as well. The class is currently in the process of deciding on a class event, which will either consist of bussing everyone to an Orioles game or a movie night.
Jason Heiserman then spoke up about how security is necessary for any of the class events that require bussing. Therefore, the times and locations of pick-up and drop-off will need to be finalized.
Robert Day discussed two labor disputes that occurred recently in Baltimore. The first is that no union would recognize representatives of the Aramark employees who work on Hopkins campus. It has been two years since they have had a contract with any union, and negotiations are not going well. Employees are trying to maintain full-time jobs and health benefits.
The second issue is that Hopkins needs to call the Aramark food distributors located in the Sheraton Hotel. Members feel that the Student Council should support Aramark employees’ search for a union.
The Agenda for President and Provost Dinner was brought up again. Business casual is the chosen attire and all attendees are expected to look appropriate. Student safety and the administration’s opinion, environmental sustainability on campus and student life initiatives were proposed ideas to be discussed at the event.
Senator Nick Trenton started the open discussions with the planning Dance Marathon. 400 people have signed up for the event, whose proceeds will be going a children’s hospital. Supplementary funding, an estimated amount of 500 dollars, is needed for operations, games and decoration.
Senior President Josh Ayal brought up the powers of student groups. He questioned whether or not the Student Activities Commission (SAC) could give money to the Jewish Students Associations on the provision that seniors are given the right to vote. An upcoming trial will decide for a group of seniors if they can do so under the written law. Regulation of voting in student groups was suggested. The meeting concluded with a discussion about the SAC’s power to control student groups' use of money.
