Student Government Association forum meetings are now open for all students to attend.
Meagan McDougall, SGA’s director of communications, said the focus of forum meetings includes updating SGA initiatives. The meetings will be held once a month and all members involved with SGA, including the executive board, commissioners and class representatives will be present.
Meg Henrickson, president of SGA, said students, including members of SGA and The Concordian, made requests for public forum meetings.
Henrickson thinks it’s a great opportunity for students to learn more about SGA’s responsibilities. “The more opportunities to provide for (students), the better,” she said.
Regan Whitney, editor in chief of The Concordian, is one of the students who expressed interest in attending forum meetings. In addition to being able to attend the meetings as a member of the student body, she said she also believes it is important to have a reporter present at the meetings.
“It’s really important for forum meetings to be open,” Whitney said. “(Opening the meetings) promotes accountability and integrity and builds trust between student government and students.”
The decision to open forum meetings was made by SGA’s executive team, Henrickson said. Future meeting dates and times, as well as agendas, will be posted on SGA’s website page before the meetings. Minutes will be posted online afterward as well.
The first public forum meeting was held Friday, October 26. No members of the student body were present. McDougall said SGA had not publicized the first public forum meeting because the decision to open the meetings for students was recent. The minutes from Friday, Oct. 26 are posted online.
McDougall also said the forum meetings are “not a time (for students) to air grievances.”
However, allowing students to observe the forum meetings still provides students an opportunity to stay informed.
Other SGA meetings that are not currently open for students include the Student Involvement Council and the Elections and Credentials Council.
SGA’s next forum meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2012 in the Intercultural Center.
This article was submitted by contributing writer Amber Morgan. You can contact her at amorgan1@cord.edu
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