The Student Government Association (SGA) discussed changes to funding for student groups at its last weekly meeting of the semester on April 28.
Executive Treasurer Eric Armstrong announced that due to University-wide austerity measures, SGA’s operating budget will likely decrease for the next school year. SGA uses this budget to co-host events with student groups, such as Sex Week or Pi Phi Field Day. Annual funding for student groups from SGA’s Student Activities Commission (SAC) is also expected to decrease. Armstrong, however, noted that he requested greater funding for SAC’s monthly grants.
SAC provides both annual funding and monthly grants to student groups. Increased funding for SAC’s monthly grants would be used to offset the budget cuts that student groups could face in the coming school year.
Despite these economic strains, Senior Class Senator Chase McAdams noted that SGA is still approving student groups. Several new groups were approved this weekend, including the American Sign Language Club, the Sudanese Student Union and the Wind Energy Team.
Members also shared plans to interact virtually with the Hopkins through the end of the semester. Senior Class Senator Chanel Lee highlighted upcoming Wellness Weekend events on May 1 and 2.
“There will be a movie Friday night, and on Saturday we will write letters to general first responders and medical staff at the Hopkins Hospital,” Lee said. “There will be another movie Saturday night. Everybody should join us.”
In addition, Lee proposed the SGA Work Log Bylaws Amendment, which passed unanimously. A spreadsheet that documents every SGA member’s proceedings will now be made available to the public.
The goal of this amendment, Lee explained, is to increase SGA’s accountability and transparency. Lee also pointed out that Hopkins students will be able to see which SGA members are working on each project and can direct their feedback to the appropriate person.
One of the projects that Freshman Class President Breanna Soldatelli is currently working on is a plan to create an Instagram page that serves as an online yearbook for Hopkins freshmen. Each student can submit a picture of themselves and their favorite freshman memories. Other class councils voiced their desire to broaden the project for other classes as well.
Regarding the upcoming months and University plans for the future given the pandemic, SGA is meeting with University President Ronald J. Daniels on May 5. SGA will update Daniels on recent proceedings and receive information on how the administration plans to continue amid the ongoing pandemic.
