The first General Assembly meeting introduced eight new committees.
Student organization members filled the first Temple Student Government General Assembly meeting yesterday, Sept. 12, in the Student Center. Eight new committees were introduced.
“In the past, it used to be the president and two vice presidents [who] had to handle every administration meeting, and that just becomes unmanageable,” said TSG Student Body President Colin Saltry.
The new committees include Academic Affairs, Allocations for Student Organizations, Campus Life & Diversity, Grounds & Facilities, Local & Community Affairs, Recruitment and Retention, Student Affairs and University Pride & Traditions. This year’s model is based on the organization of Temple’s Board of Trustees.
Saltry attributed the meeting’s high attendance to TSG members’ appearances at orientations and to the more than 1,000 students registered for Free Token Friday giveaways.
Saltry expects to see at least 50 representatives per week for General Assembly meetings, in part due to the attendance requirements for organization allocations.
For some, the meeting proved more productive than expected.
“I suggested a meet-and-greet for the different ethnic student groups. So hopefully sometime in October we should have something,” Clara Reyes, a representative from Latin dance group Esencia Latina, said.
Sophomore social work major Calvin Manzano plans to work with Grounds & Facilities’ sustainability efforts.
“It kind of lines up with my personal values. I feel like it’s underappreciated,” said Manzano, who represented the Social Work Student Collective.
In an effort to improve the university’s relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods, the Local & Community Affairs committee aims to increase community service performed by student organizations.
“Last year, there were a lot of complaints about students having parties.This year we want to tell students about our ‘Good Neighbor’ policy,” said Kenloy Henry, director of the Local & Community Affairs committee.
Grounds & Facilities Director Leslee Everett met with individuals to hear concerns about campus spaces.
“It’s mostly about getting things fixed. There’s a bathroom door that doesn’t close. The OWL Loop has apparently been late, people [are] not getting to their [work] shifts,” Everett said. She also plans to quell confusions over what materials the university’s recycling system accepts.
The next General Assembly meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 19, with sign-ups beginning at 3:30 p.m. Charles Leone, deputy director of CSS, will give a presentation and an open forum will allow student organizations to give presentations.
Amelia Brust can be reached at abrust@temple.edu.
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