The University’s Student Government Association (SGA) gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in Hackerman Hall for the fifteenth and last general body meeting of the semester. To begin the meeting, the SGA invited Lee Coyle, senior director of planning and architecture for the Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate office, for a talk about the ongoing construction around the University.
The discussion kicked off with plans for the renovation of the Eisenhower Library. Topics included ADA compliance as well as an enhanced experience for students. Coyle confirmed that the renovation project is on schedule and planned to open in the spring semester of 2027.
Coyle then moved on to discuss the planned new Alumni Memorial Residence I (AMR I) building. After the new building is completed, AMR I is expected to have twice the number of beds as well as a relocated Hopkins Cafe attached to the new building.
Another plan included the relocated Early Learning Center displaced as a result of the construction of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) building. Coyle also went over the plans for DSAI itself, projected to be completed in 2029. Other capital projects mentioned included the soon to be completed SNF Agora building.
Renovations at the School of Education building, slated to finish early next year, as well as renovations within classrooms at Shaffer and Remsen halls, expected to be completed sooner, were also briefly discussed.
After the discussion turned to a Q&A session, one student asked about the university’s plans to house new freshmen after the current AMR I building is demolished. Officials said that freshmen who would have been housed in AMR I will be assigned to live in McCoy Hall, and sophomores who would have lived in McCoy will be assigned to live in The Academy apartment complex near the corner of University Parkway and Charles Street.
When asked about the controversy surrounding the construction of DSAI, Coyle framed the removal of trees from the future DSAI site as necessary and mentioned plans to plant far more trees around the area as part of construction.
After this discussion ended, the meeting moved into legislative procedures, starting with reports from each of the cabinet members in attendance.
The meeting then moved into the swearing in of newly appointed senators. First, three senators representing their respective class years were sworn in. Next, three senators representing the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) and Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) student body were confirmed to their positions, followed by four senators representing Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) as well as one senator representing the Caucus of Women and Gender Minorities. Lastly, seven new members of the Class Programming Councils were also sworn in.
After the confirmations, senator Caraline Sommer gave a presentation about an initiative to increase the availability of menstrual products on campus. Goals of the initiative included expanded access to menstrual products in residence halls as well as advertising programs.
The committee then promptly moved into bill readings. The first bill considered surrounded funding for initiatives involving student feedback; after, the bill was referred to the finance committee. The second bill surrounding the Lighting of the Quads that passed first reading last week had its second reading, which it then promptly passed.
To round out the last meeting, the committees had cohort time, which involved the SGA members’ reflections on the semester.
