The SGA discussed several end-of-semester events during their general body meeting on Tuesday, including plans for an outdoor sculpture on campus and Blue Jay Pride Week, an event spearheaded by the Sophomore Class Council aimed at bolstering school spirit throughout the student body.
SGA is in talks with University President Ronald J. Daniels to approve a sculpture that could allow for spontaneity among the undergraduates on campus. Students would be encouraged to paint and decorate the sculpture without having to reserve a time in advance.
“I believe that polling the student body for possible images and even locations will be the most democratic way to reach a conclusion. It has been brought up every year that I have been on SGA that students need a bigger ‘tie’ to the University besides the ‘Johns Hopkins University’ sign. We want students to wish to come back and get photographed by something that means more than just our name, and I believe that the construction of this statue will provide a wonderful opportunity to do just that!” SGA Executive President Janice Bonsu wrote in an email to The News-Letter.
Previous proposed designs included an anthropomorphized Blue Jay holding a large shield, but these have been rejected by Daniels on the basis that the design is too informal. Members of the SGA suggested several alternatives, including a globe resting in a nest and a Möbius strip, but these were unpopular among the majority of SGA members, as they felt these would be too formal for students to feel comfortable defacing them. SGA members agreed to continue the discussion on Thursday during its dinner with the President.
The ad hoc committee in charge of organizing Blue Jay Pride Week presented its bill to the rest of SGA, who expressed concerns about the allocation of finances associated with the event.
The event will take place Nov. 13-17. The committee’s bill concerned the Thursday and Friday of the event, as funding for the rest of the event would come out of the Sophomore Class Council’s budget.
On Nov. 13, publicized as “Rep your club day,” students who wear their club attire will receive donuts and coffee. Nov. 14 will be “Rep Hopkins day,” where students will receive die-cut stickers and buttons for wearing attire that promotes the school.
The committee asked for $750 from the SGA and further asked each class council to contribute a certain amount from its own budget. The SGA expressed concern that the $250 that the Pride Week committee requested to fund advertising was excessive, especially alongside the committee’s request for $250 to cover miscellaneous expenses.
The bill listed additional funding from sources that had not been specifically confirmed. The SGA made amendments to remove these points from the bill.
The SGA ultimately passed the bill, allowing for the use of up to $750 out of its own events budget. Pride Week will be the most expensive event of the semester.
“I am very excited for Spirit Week! I hope that it will be another step into expanding opportunities on campus during the fall for students to immerse themselves in athletics and school spirit as a whole (such as Hoptoberfest was)!” Bonsu wrote.
Bonsu gave an update on the search for a new Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences to replace interim Dean Beverly Wendland, announcing that the list of potential Deans had been narrowed to 20 candidates.
In light of news that a temporary ice skating rink may be opening in Inner Harbor’s McKeldin Square this winter, Junior Class President Jahan Mirchandani expressed interest in providing juniors transportation to the venue on the fall semester’s last day of classes.
Junior Class Senator Amy Sun spoke on the possibility of introducing napping pods to the Milton S. Eisenhower Library. She has also been at work preparing for an on-campus bike garage, which would allow students to rent bikes for a small fee by signing a waiver of liability.
Junior Class Senator Kanami Mori discussed plans for “Out of the Nest,” an event aimed at connecting students with alumni.
Mirchandani, who is also a member of the Finance Committee, discussed the recent request made by Active Minds for $172 to cover the price of food at its upcoming Mental Health and Wellness panel. Mirchandani obtained approval from the rest of SGA to go forward with the funding, under the condition that SGA’s brand be promoted at the event.
Freshman Class Senator Alberto “Pepe” Muniz presented the recent work of the Freshman Class Council, which included plans for a Winter Soirée as well as the implementation of semi-monthly video updates, which would give the student body at large insight into the activities of the SGA.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.