SCREENSHOT TAKEN BY SOL GARCIA DURING THE APRIL 9 MEETING VIA ZOOM
Sol Garcia | THE RIDER
The Student Government Association has approved a resolution regarding food accessibility on campus and a proposal to amend eligibility requirements in its constitution.
Newly elected senators for the 2021-2022 term attended the April 9 virtual meeting to familiarize themselves with SGA meeting procedures.
Firstly, the senate debated and passed the Food Variety and Price Resolution, which calls for increasing the accessibility of foods in campus stores.
The resolution states that the SGA “approves the increase in accessibility of goods found on campus stores at a lower cost to establish affordable pricing for food and provide new alternative healthy options.”
College of Fine Arts Senator Berlyn Tijerina said she supports the resolution because there are a lot of people in the Rio Grande Valley who live in poverty.
“There is a high percentage that live in poverty,” Tijerina said. “Therefore, some students might not have access to afford some foods and some might want a healthier option.”
DesiRae Smith, a senator for the Graduate College, is one of the eight authors of the resolution. As a formality to show the newcomers, and to follow debate procedure, Smith spoke against the resolution.
“As my stance, I suggest that the resolution is not passed before coming to a conclusion on if student fees will increase along with this movement,” she said.
Senators voted in favor of the bill.
SCREENSHOT TAKEN BY SOL GARCIA DURING THE APRIL 9 MEETING VIA ZOOM
The SGA then debated and passed a bill to amend the association’s constitution regarding double majors, double minors and single minors. However, the proposal must be approved by the student body in the next SGA elections, like all other bills to amend the constitution.
“This is not the final destination for this amendment,” Senate Chair Yahia Al-Qudah said. “It has to be approved by the students in order for it to be enacted in the constitution.”
As previously reported by The Rider, the bill would allow students classified as double majors in two different colleges to apply for a senator position in either college but not both. Under the bill, students who are minoring in a different college than their major are not eligible for a senator position of that college. Additionally, students who are double minoring in the same college that is different from their major college are eligible for a senator position in the college of the double minor.
Smith said she believes that the eligibility requirement should be updated to make it more inclusive of the UTRGV students who are pursuing a double major or double minor.
To also follow debate procedure, Patricia Hernandez Howard, senator for the College of Liberal Arts, spoke against the bill.
“I believe that this is not entirely embodying the idea of inclusivity of both double majors and double minors because … it says students that are classified as double majors in two different colleges shall be able to run or apply for a senator position in either but not both colleges,” Howard said. “I believe that the opportunity should be given to them so they can represent both colleges that they’re majoring in.”
Later in the meeting, Megan Solis, a senator-at-large for the Edinburg campus, was appointed as the SGA’s sergeant-at-arms.
“I do understand that the sergeant-at-arms position is to keep the senate in order, and that’s exactly what I want to be able to do,” Solis said. “I want to be able just to bring SGA together, make sure that everything is organized and just keep everything balanced.”
Karitza Garcia, a senator for the School of Nursing, was appointed as chair of the Internal Affairs Committee. Garcia had served as interim chair for two weeks prior, working on agendas and scheduling meetings with senators and first-year interns.
“I’m very detail-oriented and Internal Affairs requires some of that, right?” Garcia said. “We need a little more structure, and I feel that I can provide that.”
A runoff election for senator for the College of Liberal Arts between Oscar Alberto Jacome Serrano and Jose R. Zapien ended at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Results were unavailable.
The next SGA meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 28. The meeting might take place with some senators meeting in person and the rest through Zoom.
