SGA discusses JHMI, launches Flightplan

Executive President Janice Bonsu began Tuesday’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting by telling the members about a new volunteering opportunity.

The members were given the opportunity to volunteer for the Henderson-Hopkins School where they would be talking to middle school students about their college experiences.

“It will be kind of like a meet and greet,” Bonsu said. “It’s called ‘College Day.’”

The SGA is also looking for ways to get other students, who do not plan on volunteering, involved in the organization. Bonsu talked about the importance of involving more students who are specifically interested in technology and media.

“We already have someone really interested in graphic design,” Bonsu said.

Executive Vice President Kyra Toomre and Senior Class President Destiny Bailey will both be attending the Alumni Council dinner on Friday. The president’s term for the council is coming to an end, and the new president is about to step in.

“It’s really cool because the past presidents have lived in California, and another in London, but the new president is actually from Baltimore,” Toomre said.

Toomre also went on to compliment the new Freshman Class Council.

“The meeting was unbelievably productive,” Toomre said. “You guys have some really awesome ideas.”

Another event Toomre spoke about was the Commemoration Ball. SGA has gotten substantial funding from alumni and is looking to gain even more. Event attendance is also expected to rise significantly from last year’s 300 attendees.

“Attendance will be at least 600, 700 people, especially because it’s on a Friday,” Toomre said. “The tradition started last year as a formal black and blue ball held at the Engineers’ Club downtown.”

Next, Executive Treasurer Will Szymanski briefly discussed the budget and SGA’s sustainability project.

“We want to focus on getting students to green events,” Szymanski said.

Szymanski also mentioned hosting SGA events at the Homewood Museum.

“We might possibly have a wine and cheese night for the seniors,” Szymanski said.

Executive Secretary Adelaide Morphett briefly talked about the new project she spearheaded, a blog called Flightplan, which focuses on transportation at Hopkins. The blog is up and running, and Morphett encouraged all of the SGA members to share the link on Facebook.

Next, the meeting switched gears to committee reports. The newly-opened Bamboo Café has been getting complaints about the inconsistency of their bubble tea. SGA is trying to organize a student focus group to start taste-testing the drinks.

Syed Hossain, sophomore class president, also discussed improving the weekend JHMI transportation system.

Junior Class President Jahan Mirchandani talked about a successful junior class barbeque that was recently held.

“We ran out of food and apple pie, so we had to order pizza,” Mirchandani said. “The junior class really appreciates that we make the transition off of the meal plan easier with food-oriented events.”

Mirchandani said an upcoming event for juniors will be held at the Fresh Food Café (FFC) on Nov. 7 from 5-6:30 p.m. The FFC will lower their meal price to $7.99 and offer special menu items, including mozzarella sticks and spring rolls, during this upcoming event.

Freshman Class Council President Ana Du stated that the council had just held its first meeting. She said that they are planning a winter formal in December as one of their first big events.

A major point of new business involved an idea for an SGA-mediated body that links students from different groups together. A guest, senior Jake Stern, pitched his idea to the SGA at the meeting.

“I really noticed a lapse in communication in many different student groups,” Stern said.

His proposal entailed student leaders on campus coming together on a monthly basis for a structured town-hall style meeting.

“This is where student groups will be able to talk about things that are bothering people,” Stern said.

Many of the SGA members praised this idea and thought it would help groups be more organized as well and allow for direct communication with the SGA.

“It is all about inclusion. I want to bring in smaller groups on campus as well,” Stern said.

Some measures of old business were brought up again during this meeting.

Because an extra hour was added to the Fell’s Point Halloween bus initiative, the SGA would need to raise its budget for the event to $1,300. Toomre suggested that SGA find another source of funding to lower costs.

“The buses are expected and are a necessity,” senior class Senator Jensen Reiter said.

Mirchandani moved to vote, and the bill to raise the budget was passed with an overwhelming majority.