Bell tower, recycling top SGA’s goals for spring semester

For the Student Government Association, the start of the spring semester means new goals and plans that will address the GCSU student body’s growing wants and needs, such as the creation of a campus recycling program, alongside other projects.

One of SGA’s top priorities is to begin the planning and implementation of a campus recycling program in direct response to the voices of a large number of students.

“Over the past semester there has been an overwhelming desire from the student body for a recycling program … (and) SGA is prepared to do everything it can to see that the need for student recycling is met,” said Kayla McCollam, vice president of SGA.

During the past year, movements such as the support of a green fee and campus recycling drives have helped bolster the desire for a more environmentally friendly atmosphere.

“I think (the program) is a great idea,” junior Summer Whittington said. “Recycling is something simple that we as students can do to make a difference, and I’m glad it’s finally getting started.”

Another project SGA is heading is the planning and construction of a new bell tower. With the assistance of former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., an effort led by Dr. Kurt Hofmann, former vice president of Student Affairs, the U.S. Congress gave a historic navy bell to the school back when the university’s athletic teams were known as the Georgia College Colonials. The bell was rung inside the Centennial Center during basketball games. However, upon entering the Peach Belt Conference in 1990, the bell was put into storage because the conference prohibits the use of artificial noisemakers during games.

“It’s time to bring that tradition back and build a site for it,” SGA President Zach Mullins said, “so that we can ring it after we win a game, before a game starts or something like that.”

The tower will be completely donation-funded.

“It probably will take a while (to raise money),” Mullins said, “but I’m in it for the long haul.” The project is still in the planning stage, and Mullins is now working with Physical Plant on the bell tower’s designs.

SGA is also planning on working with Milledgeville’s Historic Preservation Commission to allow letters on the three Greek houses that are officially registered with the city of Milledgeville: Delta Zeta located at 311 W. Montgomery St., Alpha Delta Pi located at 150 Clark St., and Zeta Tau Alpha located at 201 N. Columbia St.

SGA also plans to work with other Greek organizations that register a house with the city.

SGA has numerous goals for the spring semester. The easiest way students can provide the body with feedback through the designated contact form under the student tab in myCATS.

“While we’re trying to do something for the student body as a whole, we’re also trying to help everyone individually as well,” Mullins said. “We’re trying to not only skim the surface but dive down deep.”

Posted by Courtney Kelly on Jan 22 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry