Members of the Student Senate discussed and debated many topics for the university Monday, ranging from funding for the 2010 Benefit Concert for Haiti to future revisions of spring elections and special elections.
A bill was passed to let the Haiti relief concert take place sometime in the near future.
More than $120,000 has been allotted to support the Haiti Relief Concert. Popular artists including Drake, Trey Songz and Common are expected to come. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Haiti.
“I feel it’s a great cause and great step for Florida A&M to be proactive in the Haiti relief efforts,” said senior senator Ricquel Jackson from Tallahassee. “This will not only be beneficial for the people of Haiti, but for the FAMU community as a whole.”
There was a debate as to whether students should pay for the concert or whether it should be free.
Ticket prices for the event will be discussed at next Monday’s meeting. An amount of $22 per student was mentioned. A t-shirt is being planned and designed to come free with the purchase of a ticket.
As spring elections have ended, some students feel changes need to be made to future elections.
Graduate MBA student Magalie Yacinthe proposed a bill to ensure funding for the graduate class in future.
“I hope that graduate students will step up to the call of leadership in our class,” Yacinthe said. “The issue has been that nobody runs for graduate president and vice-president, which disables the activity money to be released to the graduate students.”
Amber Gray, the SGA Elections and Appointments chairwoman from Jackson, Miss., said the turnout for the 5,000 Voters Strike Comedy Jam was a success.
“2,000 students on average voted in past elections,” the event coordinator said. “Hopefully the 5,000 Voters Strike Comedy Jam will take place again next year with all the pros and cons taken into consideration.”
Nearly 1500 students voted in the general election on Tuesday. The event garnered nearly 3,500 students to cast their ballots.
“There will be a Greek Speak Forum on Sex/AIDS on Wednesday at the Foster Tanner building from 7-9 p.m.,” said Ashley Nelson, a senior occupational therapy student.
In honor of Black History Month, Nelson said the movie”4 Little Girls” will be shown Friday, Feb. 26 at the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication in room 2002 at 7 p.m. The movie is based on a church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. in 1963, which killed four adolescent black girls.
SGA holds open meetings for the public to discuss issues on campus in the top floor of the Student Union building, next to the TV room on the set at 6 p.m. every Monday.