By Julia Mericle
Staff Writer
The Student Government Association (SGA) discussed new study conveniences and clubs gave presentations at the first SGA meeting of the semester on Tuesday evening.
The changes implemented include 24-hour printer availability in the Robinson Hall Computer Lab and extended hours at Friedsam Library. The library will remain open an extra two hours, until 10 p.m., on Friday and Saturday evenings and will open at 10 a.m. on Sundays, as opposed to the previous noon opening time. The SGA hopes these new services will prove more flexibility for students with busy schedules.
Class secretary, Jessica Laursen, a freshman journalism and mass communication major, said she was happy about the new printer in Robinson Hall.
“I’m happy to know the printer was put in quickly and efficiently,” Laursen said.
The meeting, held in Doyle Hall, gave club presidents the chance to present what they completed during fall semester, what they hope to complete during this semester and details about their budget. The clubs spanned a wide range of student interests, including sports, Bible study, reading, writing, ROTC, environmentalism, and art.
Some well-established clubs, such as Team Bonas, have set plans that they are putting into action. The club keeps students excited during the basketball season by running the pep rally and throwing t-shirts to celebrate 3-point shots at the games.
Other clubs, like Tread Lightly, are undergoing changes. The environmental club lost many of its members after graduation last year and is looking to rebuild this year.
After a successful first semester filled with activities, club president Katrina Teeter, a senior biology major, is making sure the group contributes to a greener campus with plans for Recyclemania, trips to Canticle Farms, Trashion Fashion, campus clean ups and planting trees for Earth Day. The club also plans to participate in educational workshops to draw student attention to their cause.
Community service not only helps others, but it also proves to be an effective way to build a sense of camaraderie within a group, Teeter said.
“These community service opportunities helped our club bond together for a common goal of helping the community,” Teeter said.
Still, other clubs, like the Urban Art Club, are in the beginning phases of creating their organization. In their first year of existence, Tristan King, sophomore journalism and mass communication major, Marc Peralta, junior strategic communications and digital media and visual arts major and Gilbert Yankson, junior sports management major, have led the organization to participate in Bonagany and March of Dimes.
They have several club activities planned including painting the baseball dugout, the Reilly Center stairwells, the Health and Human Performance lab and “yarn bombing.”
“The club’s basis is to promote diversity and communication through various art forms to influence free thinking,” member Tristan King said, “My personal opinion on art in this school is that it is treated like a stepchild. It is paid attention only when it makes enough noise or is brought to light if a possibility is presented to increase funding.”
Members of the club are working to change that view and are looking at more experienced clubs for inspiration and collaboration.
SGA’s common theme this week was community service. With each club speaking about its accomplishments and intentions, clubs unanimously mentioned the common goal of giving back to the local Olean community, which will allow each organization to flourish.
“The community service aspect puts action behind what we study during our weekly Bible study meetings,” president of the intervarsity Christian fellowship Katrina Schlum, senior bioinformatics said, “Service is an area where we can use out talents God has given us to help others.”
