By By: Mira Costello
Co-Editor
With the semester winding down, the Student Government Association met on April 8 to discuss their upcoming elections, new appointments, programming and more.
The SGA began the meeting with a bang, unanimously appointing senior Danielle Schwenk to an open associate justice position. Schwenk, a marketing and advertising major, said she has four semesters left at IU South Bend and wants to make the most of her time by becoming more involved on campus.
Senators also heard two funding requests for the Muslim Students’ Association, who plan to distribute informational fliers and goody bags for their April Ramadan event. Ramadan, which takes place from April 2 through May 2 this year, is a sacred month in the Islamic calendar observed through prayer, reflection, and fasting from sunrise to sunset. Nora Adawi, Vice President of the MSA, said students will receive Ramadan keychains, pens, chocolates, dates, mamool (butter cookies with fruit or nut filling), other healthy snacks and Ramadan-themed stickers.
The SGA also voted to fund a pizza event that the MSA plans to host for Eid al Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
The executive board and faculty adviser Scott Strittmatter also discussed programming for the month of April. Students can expect an action-packed April 20, as IU day will be held on the Greenlawn (weather permitting) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature live music from The Voice contestant Addison Agen, IU South Bend Coach Steve Bruce, and student performers. Adviser Strittmatter said there will also be a caricature artist, archery tag, and plenty of refreshments including popcorn, nachos, walking tacos and IU cookies.
Later that day, from 4:00 to 6:45 p.m. in the Grill, the Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Excellence will hold Take Back the Night in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Pizza will be served as students make posters and hear from guest speakers and survivors. The event will conclude with a march around campus and a light vigil for survivors of sexual assault.
Adviser Strittmatter added that the Student Life Awards ceremony will be held on April 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
In committee reports, safety committee chair Anna Roberts reported that, according to IU South Bend Chief of Police Kurt Matz, a former student has made threatening phone calls to faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. According to Senator Roberts, Chief Matz is waiting for guidance from IU Bloomington about how to proceed in this situation.
Senator Ariel Watts of the Senate Review Board Committee reported that campus events are now permitted to serve food items from any location of Martin’s grocery store; previously, only items from the Ironwood Rd. location were accepted. Senator Watts said the committee is also pushing to allow non-Coca Cola products on campus, but that this is still in process.
Vice President Kayla Isenblatter noted that SGA elections are slated to take place on April 22. Applications are now closed.
