By Mitch Holt, Copy Editor
Congress replaced a representative, passed a resolution to encourage the administration to install more lighting around the Lunsford Trail and passed a freedom of information act-all accomplished at Wednesday’s meeting.
Rep. Garrett Burger, Foster Science Building, sent a letter of resignation to the Students’ Association. The letter was read aloud during the meeting, and Burger’s resignation was voted upon and accepted by the association. SA appointed Doug Timmons, freshman biology major from Weatherford, to be the new Foster Science Building representative.
The resolution to encourage the installation of more lights on the Lunsford Trail was introduced by Rep. Kaitie Kirkpatrick, Zona Luce Building; Rep. Nathan McKenzie, Hardin Administration Building; and Rep. Kelly Nelson, Gardner Residence Hall.
According to the proposed resolution, “The lighting at specific areas around the Lunsford Trail is inadequate for the safety of students. The addition of more lights would make it safer for students around campus and the Lunsford Trail at night. Be it resolved that the Student Congress supports the addition of new lighting in certain areas of the Lunsford Trail.”
This lighting resolution to petition the university was passed with 47 votes for, no votes against and one vote abstaining.
Brandon Smith, junior class senator, reintroduced and proposed the Freedom of Information Act because, he said, it’s important for students to know how their money is being used.
“[The act] creates a system of accountability for SA’s financial information,” Smith said. “It’s not inconsistent with any policies we’ve already had; it’s just a written down format of what that policy is. All it really does is provide a system in which students and student groups can request certain information to be made available to the public and be published.”
According to the act, not only is SA required to provide financial information to those who seek it, the association must present the information in a helpful, organized format. Students have access to minutes of all public SA meetings and any committees formed, information about student organizations, internal policy statements, SA budgets and day-to-day expenditures of student organizations that receive funding from student activity fees.
“Every student has a right to know where their fee is going, at least the SA portion of it,” said Maher Saab, president of SA. “It’s also a way to hold us accountable and let students know that we have an open door policy.”
The Freedom of Information Act was passed with 43 representatives in favor, one opposing and three abstaining.
