SGA swears in freshman, treasurer

By Shannon Weaver, Staff Writer

The Student Government Association committee discussed many changes at this week’s meeting. Members touched on updates with SGA members and the composter project, the SPAT fountain and meetings between Sodexo and students.

Newly elected freshman senators were sworn in by SGA President Emalyn Cork.  Also, it was announced that Bekah Herum resigned as SGA treasurer. Senior Senator Victoria Neisler was sworn in as treasurer with the new senators.

SGA Senator Ashley Cross said SGA has taken the composter project off the table, because of the bear sightings around campus. Senators did not feel it was a good time to move the composter to the Village. SGA may review the idea at a later date.

Cross also said  David Leopard, the new senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, has a proposal for the SPAT fountain that would involve putting a new fountain in the center and filling the surrounding area with flowers.

In further news, SGA is hoping to continue the meetings between Sodexo and students that started last year, where students could give feedback about the dining hall in addition to the comment cards offered at the front. Cork said she hoped there would be a way for students to “constructively offer ideas instead of complaining.”

SGA talks safety, summer school, SPAT fountain

By Shannon Weaver, Staff Writer

At this week’s Student Government Association meeting, SGA members discussed the Village compost project, possible changes in summer school, plans for student feedback, and progress with the SPAT fountain.

Junior Senator Stephen Ramsay announced Village students are interested in a composter, but are primarily concerned about its location. Because the Village is right next to the woods, students and staff have pointed out that a composter could draw in more bears to the campus. SGA is looking for a solution that is safest for Young Harris College.

Student government is also investigating possible changes to the summer school program. Emalyn Cork, SGA President, noted students do not have much of a say in which courses are offered in the summer.

Cork also expressed a desire to add more student feedback options in addition to Tell Me Tuesdays, namely the forum discussed last week.

“I would like to expand the opportunity for student opinion in a different way,” she said.

Last week, it was proposed that SGA host a forum in the student center, providing snacks and beverages, to hear students’ thoughts on what student government can do for them. In the past, the forum “was like a presentation, and then afterward they gave their suggestions,” said junior Senator Allie Coker.

SGA discussed the future of the fountain traditionally maintained by SPAT, which currently sits in front of Appleby Complex and has been out of commission for several years. Options included proposals to the school, replacement and removal. Before making a decision, SGA hopes to receive feedback from former SPATs.

“I wouldn’t want to suggest something so radical that it upsets alumni,” said Cork.

SGA swears in Senate, prepares for elections on Sept. 20

By Shannon Weaver, Staff Writer

Those appointed last week for the upperclassmen Senate were sworn in by Student Government Association President Emalyn Cork at this week’s SGA meeting. Throughout the meeting, the SGA members discussed the availability of a position on SGA and the Village Composter project.

Campaigns for freshman senate are currently underway.  There are five freshman Senate seats and seven freshman candidates. Elections will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 9 – 10 a.m. in the Maxwell and Goolsby buildings, and from 11-12:15p.m. in the Grace Rollins Dining Hall.

Brittany Starrett, sophomore senator and chair of sustainability, is stepping down from SGA. Anyone who wishes to fill her Senate seat is encouraged to attend the next SGA meeting.

In other news, Allen Clark, manager of Sodexo, has offered to help SGA’s Village composter project.

“[Clark] straight up told me, ‘You can have our composter,’” said Sophomore Senator Ashley Cross.  SGA plans to receive feedback from Village residents before moving the composter.

The SGA meets weekly in the Robinson Dining Room at 5:30 p.m. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

SGA holds first meeting

By Shannon Weaver, Staff Writer

The Student Government Association (SGA), held its first meeting of the year on Aug. 17. During the meeting, SGA discussed several upcoming events including two Georgia Senators participating in a town hall meeting and the return of the Last Lecture series. The agenda also included a proposal on behalf of the outdoor leadership majors and plans for freshman SGA elections.

SGA President Emalyn Cork announced that two United States senators, Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga), are coming to YHC on August 30. They will be appearing for one hour at the Recreation Center to answer questions.  All YHC faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend the event, which begins at 2 p.m.

In other event-related news, the first of the “Last Lecture” series of the year will be hosted by the recently retired Chair of Music at YHC, Benny Ferguson. The date and time of the lecture are still undetermined. “Last Lectures” are given by a YHC faculty member to the campus community as an opportunity to give the speaker a chance to speak about what he or she would say if it were the last time speaking to a student audience.

Also during the meeting, Zach Lathan, a member of the senior senate, proposed the SGA sponsor the mandatory conference fee for the senior outdoor leadership majors. Senior outdoor leadership majors are given this conference fee, which is not included in tuition costs, to help pay for travel accommodations and equipment for their excursions. Lathan’s proposal was turned down, but there is discussion among SGA members about starting a scholarship fund for similar conferences.

On September 20, the SGA will be having elections for the Freshman Senate. Other open positions include slots on the sophomore, junior and senior senates. Please see SGA officers about where and when to sign up.

Welcome to the masquerade

By Christelle Vereb, Staff Writer

Students gathered at Brasstown Valley Resort for the Masquerade-themed Spring Formal put on annually by the Student Government Association. Photo by Leila Shearon

On Fri., April 1, Young Harris College hosted the annual Spring Formal with the theme of Masquerade.

The majority of YHC students and their guests attended the dance, which was located at Brasstown Valley Resort. Students and their guests danced the night away starting from 8 p.m. and lasting until 12 a.m.

Faculty and staff were also in attendance. Among those present were YHC President Cathy Cox and husband Mark Dehler, resident advisor director Dan Moore and Rouseline Emmanuel, director of Campus Activities.

Walking into Brasstown, students were automatically plunged into a world of music, drinks and food.

YHC students get glammed up for Spring Formal, held at Brasstown Valley Resort. Photo by Leila Shearon

Freshman visual arts major Anita Hung of Marietta said, “I am glad to have seen people come and really enjoy themselves.

“Being on the SGA freshman senate, and therefore a participant in planning spring formal, I am pleased to have seen how all the details came together–the food, the DJ, and the decorations. My friends and I had fun, and my hope is that others did as well.”

Students wore an array of different dresses. There were short ones, long ones, puffy ones and fitted ones.  One thing for sure is YHC students know how to dress for a formal, and enjoyed seeing each other dressed up.

Erica Brooks, a freshman business and public policy major from Athens said, “It was a lot of fun to see everybody together and all dressed up.”

As the night went on the DJ played a variety of songs. Some songs played include Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” Jay Sean’s “Down” and Cascada’s “Every Time We Touch”.

As many students were enjoying the music, others did not think it was that great but still had fun. Freshman biology major David Atwood from Waynesville N.C., and sophomore biology major Heather Richbourg from Hayesville N.C. both agreed, “The music was so terrible. We had more fun than most dances just dancing like idiots.”

As the dance came to an end students were very glad to have attended. Junior musical theatre major Liz McEntyre of Eastman said, “It was memorable.”

Molly Blaschke, a freshman from Athens added, “The dance was a lot of fun! I was surprised how many people were there. I can’t wait for next year!”

Because the spring formal is an annual part of the YHC traditions, students cannot wait for another round of the dance  and fun in 2012.
This post copyedited on April 18, 2011.

The votes are in for SGA

By Carmen Brown, Staff Writer

The election for the 2011-2012 members of the Student Government Association, SGA took place on Tues., April 12.

Representatives and friends created posters and signs, covered bulletin boards and wrote uplifting messages on the sidewalk with chalk to campaign for the SGA candidates.

“Election time is always my favorite time of the year. It’s exciting to see so many people energized about student government,” said current president Matthew Kammerer, a senior business and public policy major from Loganville.

Voting tables with ballot boxes were set up in Goolsby Lecture Hall and Maxwell Center for Mathematics and Science from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and in Grace Rollins Dining Hall from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The standard running positions for SGA government includes: treasurer, secretary, vice president and president, which makes up the executive board. Those interested in becoming members  of the SGA executive board must have at least one semester of being on SGA to join the executive board and one year of experience to become president.

After the polls were closed and the votes were in it was time to reveal the new members of SGA.

The results show that the Sophomore Senate includes Ashley Cross, Luke Fincher, Abby Powell, Andrew Servis and Brittany Starrett.

The Junior Senate includes Allie Coker, Christine Durniat, Nathan Hughes and Stephen Ramsay.

However, in order to be an official member of the Senate, elected members must be sworn in and formally accept the position.

Senior Senate will be voted on by the SGA Senate within the next week; the candidates include Victoria Neisler and Zach Lathan. Ali Neese was written in the ballots, but turned down the Senate slot.

The Freshman Senate will be decided during the 2011-2012 academic year, when incoming freshman arrive on campus.

The Executive Board of SGA includes: Bekah Herum as Treasurer, Stacy Kammer as Sergeant of Arms, Karissa Cross as Secretary, Audrey Ashworth as Vice President and Emalyn Cork as SGA President.

“I’m excited to have Emalyn follow me as President of the Senate and feel confident that she will lead the Senate well,” said Kammerer.

According to new SGA President Cork, a sophomore Biology major from Marietta, Kammerer has been a wonderful president for the past few years. Not just for SGA but the entire student body.

“It is both intimidating and an honor to be following in his footsteps, but I am really excited about the upcoming year,” said Cork. “I am just so excited to be president. Without the support and encouragement from other people the presidential role would not have necessarily been the role I would have picked for myself. I did not think I was worthy, but I think I made the right decision of where I need to be in the Senate this year. I just hope I can do them justice because they work so hard.”

SGA drafts policy proposal

By Holly Meyer, Staff Writer

The last Student Government Association, SGA meeting of the semester took place on Wed., April 6. During the meeting, SGA discussed a proposal to change the visitation and alcohol policies.

SGA presented its first draft of the changes they requested to be made to YHC’s current policies concerning alcohol and visitation hours.

SGA suggested that visitation hours on Sunday-Thursday should be extended to 1:00 a.m. instead of its current time ending at 12:00 a.m. This change would include all students and is not based on class year. During weekends, SGA suggests that instead of visitation ending at 1:00 a.m., the hours should be extended to 3:00 a.m., with juniors and seniors having no visitation restrictions on weekends.

SGA members believe that a strict sing in/ sign out policy for weekend visitors should be enforced with the Resident Assistants.

Adjustments to alcohol policies are going to be requested also. SGA feels that alcohol should be provided at campus events such as, Spring Fest, Spring Formal, cookouts and during alumni weekend. Alcohol would only be available for students 21 or older, with strict supervision of those drinking at all events.

SGA members believe these policy changes would give upperclassmen the freedom and responsibilities they are looking for as adults on a college campus.

The final drafted proposal was sent to Susan Rogers, vice president of Student Development, on April 7. It will then be submitted to the President’s Leadership Council, who will consider and ultimately decide which changes, if any, will be made.

 

Franklin: Reading is like “vitamins for the soul”

By Holly Meyer, Staff Writer

English professor Louisa Franklin reads from one of many different texts during her Last Lecture, given in Wilson Lecture Hall on Tuesday. Photo by Nadia Dean ones

Louisa Franklin, English professor and director for the Academic Success center at Young Harris College, spoke at Student Government Association’s Last Lecture last Tuesday night.

Franklin’s lecture entitled “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” was held in Wilson Lecture Hall and focused on the importance of reading.

Among the audience were many of Franklin’s students as well as other interested students.

Franklin’s lecture began with childhood memories of her favorite books, and the moment she realized how much she enjoyed and admired literature.

Franklin described the fascination she experienced being able to build images of the places and people depicted in stories with her own imagination.

“Franklin’s passion for reading was clear,” says Jessica Keaton, senior English major from the city of Young Harris.“Ms. Franklin obviously loves books.”

She expressed the value and importance that books hold for children, adults and how important she believes it is to instill that value in children at a young age.

Franklin went on to say that, “books are the vitamins for our souls.”

Franklin’s concern leans not only towards young people, but adults as well who are not participating in active reading. She finds this is an issue, because reading is a daily skill.

In a study she found that 80 percent of adults did not purchase a single book last year, which worried her immensely, leading her to believe that professors today are failing to express the importance of reading skills in societies.

Throughout the night, students seemed to thoroughly enjoy Franklin’s presentation.

Senior English major Eri Pinto, from Gwinnett, said she was moved by Franklin’s lecture.“I was very touched, and it definitely increased my admiration for Ms. Franklin,” Pinto said.

Mayor speaks to SGA

By Carmen Brown, Staff Writer

In this week’s Student Government Association meeting, SGA members met with Andrea Gibby, mayor of the city of Young Harris.

Both Gibby and SGA took this opportunity to voice opinions for campus and community improvements. The remainder of the meeting consisted of the Senior Dinner with Young Harris College President Cathy Cox.

Gibby spoke about the changes the city of Young Harris government is trying to make and how students can get involved.

According to Gibby, the community of Young Harris is working on multiple improvements to better the campus, with one issue being the water system; however, the process and the paper work alone is a three year process.

Another issue brought up at the SGA meeting was ways to improve the safety of students, especially at the crosswalks and traffic lights.

YHC is also wanting to improve some of the roads on campus and get with City Hall this coming summer to deal with the issue.

Gibby went on to say that she encourages students to attend the public meetings in order to add their own comments on issues on campus. The next public meetings will be held in May and in August.

In other news, all seniors have been invited to attend a dinner with Cox on April 1.Seniors will receive invitations under their doors in white envelopes, and if anyone does not receive an invitation contact the President’s Office .

SGA talks SGA election, Last Lecture

By Carmen Brown, Staff Writer

The Student Government Association, SGA discussed Letters of Intent, electronic voting for SGA, Last Lecture and the hammocks in the weekly Wednesday meeting held in Rollins Dining Hall.

Letters of Intent are documents that officially show a student’s interest in running for an executive position or committee head position. The letters will be available from March 23 through March 30 in the Student Government Office. The deadline for turning in letters is March 30 at 4 p.m.  The campaigning will start on March 31.

SGA has decided to provide an electronic form of voting this year to make the voting process easier. During the voting time all students will be sent an e-mail with a link to a website, where they can vote for a representative. The representative students vote for must be someone in their class. This new process of voting will present real time results that will not need to be tallied and re-tallied. As each person votes the SGA representative in charge will monitor the votes. This new electronic process will prevent anyone from voting twice, because each e-mail would only be able to be sent once.

Also, Last Lecture, which started last semester is an opportunity for professors to give lectures to students that they would give if they knew it would be there last. The next lecture entitled, “Books for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” will be on Tuesday March 22in Wilson Lecture Hall from 7 to 8 p.m. by Louisa Franklin.

According to SGA, the association began research last semester on hammocks for students to rent out from the recreation center. They will soon be available in the recreation center.