SGA returns to discuss welcome event for all students

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its first weekly general body meeting (GBM) of the semester on August 30 to discuss a bill funding a welcome event for all students and a resolution on abortion access.

Hopkins Welcome Period Bill

SGA passed the Hopkins Welcome Period Bill. Under the legislation, SGA will fund a carnival-style field day event for all students, which is currently scheduled to take place on Sept. 26. 

• Sophomore Class President Ryan Chou presented the bill, which includes a $2250 to 3000 budget that would cover contracting vendors for Astro Jump inflatables, 500 servings of cotton candy as well as snow cones among other attractions. This budget would be counted toward the 2023 fiscal year. 
• Sophomore Senator Jackson Morris expressed concerns about the lack of an advertisement fund. Chou explained that the event would be marketed at Keyser Quad and online. 
• Junior Senator Shalala Leny also raised questions about purchasing tables and desks for the event. Chou proposed using rental services.
• After a short debate about which day of the week would be most appropriate to hold the event, Executive President Soldatelli endorsed Chou’s proposal to schedule the event on a Monday, so that students could drop by between classes.
• The bill passed unanimously.

Abortion Access Resolution

Morris presented The Abortion Access Resolution, which was set aside for further discussion outside the GBM.

• Morris acknowledged the presence of diverse opinions on the issue while emphasizing the necessity for open discourse.
• Senior Class President JiWon Woo stated that the document was a good initiative but stressed that its many legal claims did not have a sufficient reference list.
• Junior Class President Harvey McGuinness emphasized his support for the resolution but had doubts about the resolution taking a legal approach. 
• Morris added that, while he welcomes amendments, he believes it is important to hold informed opinions about the laws. He highlighted that it is sometimes necessary for SGA to leave the realm of Hopkins in order to support its students.
• Sophomore Class Senator Dalhart Dobbs III deemed the scope of the topic too indefinite for the constraints of the GBM. 
• The discussion was tabled to continue at a later date outside of the GBM setting.