The Student Government Association (SGA) began the spring semester with many new ideas to help improve Tarleton State University’s campus and student senate.

“We will be expecting more of our senate this semester and hope to become an overall more prestigious chamber to better serve our campus and classmates,” Student Body President Chance Cerdasaid.

After opening the meeting with a discussion on senate procedure and committee connection, Dexter Vaughn brought new business to the table involving discussion on bicycle racks on campus.

“With the increased number of cyclists on campus, we are looking to expand the number of bicycle racks on various locations,” Vaughn said.

After some discussion, senate members suggested placing racks in front of Legacy, Legends and Centennial Hall as well as at Bosqueand the intramural fields.

The next order of business discussed was the possible expansion of the senate led by Cerda.

“By adding additional senate members to the various colleges, we will be able to better represent every section of the student body in a more organized manner,” Cerda said.

A conclusion to add additional members of senate to each college was agreed upon to ensure an equal number of votes and more varying perspectives on decisions. Three Greek and three athletic seats will also be added and seats for the Fine Arts college were also discussed.

“This will be a change to the senate constitution, so votes will be held at a later senate meeting as well as an upcoming house meeting,” Cerda said.

This bill will be voted on before spring student body elections are held.

Senate members presented announcements to the meeting beginning with Abigail Fesmire sharing that the new tobacco policy voted on by the house and the senate will be sent to the faculty senate for deliberation.

“In a previous house meeting, Dr. Shipman addressed student concerns with the locations of smoking areas on campus and their proximities to the doors and buildings,” Fesmire said. “Shipman has emailed the student senate and informed me that these issues will appear before the faculty senate for discussion. This shows how important it is for student input on campus issues.”

Charlie Keehan shared that the first televised basketball games in Wisdom Gym will be held on Feb. 15 at SGA basketball night.

“This event will be called Texans on TV and will take place at the boys and girls basketball games,” Keehan said. “We will also have a create your own rally towel event set up from 4:30 – 6 p.m. for students to come by and decorate personal towels to wave at the games.”

Keehan also shared that the Athletics Outreach program will now be sending scores and game updates to students who register for Good2CU texts at 69302.

As well as the game updates, the Athletic Outreach program can be reached at a new email address, [email protected],” Keehan said.

Next, Jay Johnson announced that an election code task force will be formed to work on condensing the current election code.

“The election code is difficult to read and understand as it is written now, so we feel that by creating this task force we will be able to make the code more clear for student body elections and enforcing campaign rules,” Johnson said.

SGA will also be selling new Purple Thursday shirts on campus for the next four Thursdays.

“The shirts cost $10 and will be sold from 11-2 by SGA members,” Cerda said. “We have only ordered 500 for this first sale so we expect them to go fast.”

Vice President Alyssa Lowe then announced that the official name for the new residential hall located on the corner of Jones and Lillian street will be Heritage Hall, Cerda shared that the 24 hour location idea is still in the works and will need student support to get passed and Johnson informed members that TAT is in need of more volunteers and three executive members for the new semester.

For more information on any of the subjects discussed at the senate and house meetings, students can contact SGA members by email at [email protected].