On Tuesday, April 8, the Student Government Association Senate held its final meeting and discussed several bills and resolutions with last reflections and a special speaker.
Special speaker Dr. Keith Carver
This session of the senate was initiated by Dr. Keith Carver, former chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Martin and current senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
Carver discussed the mission of the Institute of Agriculture — it has an agriculture extension office or research center in all 95 counties in the state.
“That’s to help farmers,” Carver said. “That’s to help moms who are bringing home children for the first time and they need help to figure out how to raise this child and feed this child. We also work with young couples who are trying to buy their first home on financial plans. We do a little bit of everything.”
Carver shared personal lessons with the senate about leadership and handling immense transitions as he reflected on his life and the strained relationship with his father.
However, on April 6, 2023, Carver got a call informing him that his dad had terminal cancer and only had about a week left to live.
This prompted him and his dad to rekindle their relationship. Carver’s dad began making calls, from sunup to sundown, to everyone in his life and made Carver do the same to make amends with certain relationships.
“The first list is a list that I want to say ‘I’m sorry,’” Carver said. “The second list is people that I want to say ‘I accept your apology.’ The third list are people that I want to say ‘I’m proud of you.’ And the fourth list is people that I want to say ‘I love you’ to before I die.”
Carver’s story concluded with a message that you should live a well-lived life, commit yourself to being open-minded and love others.
Final updates from the current executive, introductions from the new executive
According to Student Body President Dante Grayson, Sen. Ella Blair’s project to create a new entrance to Sorority Village is in the implementation phase.
Grayson provided updates on the FUTURE program, including that the University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd toured the facility. The executive believes they will have some updates and improvements complete by next school year.
Grayson concluded that he is proud of SGA’s work, particularly the senate, and he is confident in next year’s leadership.
The recently elected “top three” introduced themselves and provided contact information. Speaker-Elect Campbell Butler, Student Body President-Elect Chase Darwin and Student Body Vice President-Elect Ella Blair spoke briefly.
Second readings: Campus infrastructure improvements, providing new prayer, relaxation spaces
Bill 24-16, the Serenity and Spirituality Spaces Bill, is sponsored by Sens. Nicolette Abate and Madeline Bell. The bill proposes the addition of another quiet place on campus for students to use for prayer or relaxation.
The bill faced an intense debate over concerns of room placement, lack of space on campus and questions on the practicality of its passing through the lobbying process.
Despite some apprehension in the senate, the bill was passed with 69% in favor, 21% opposed and 10% abstaining.
Bills 24-15, the Vols on Solid Ground Bill, and Bill 24-17, the Clear Crossings and Safe Streets Bill, were both sponsored by Sens. Abate and Blake McClurkin. Both bills are similar in their intentions of filling in potholes and smoothing uneven pavement and sidewalks across campus. Both bills also want to create more and higher-quality street crossings to improve pedestrian safety.
Bills 24-15 and 24-17 passed, respectively, with 98% in favor and 92% in favor.
Resolutions
The bulk of the measures passed were resolutions and two proclamations — the first proclamation, 24-1, recognized Dante for his reception of the Torchbearer Award. Proclamation 24-2 recognized this year’s SGA leadership and all members of SGA for their work. Both passed.
Resolution 24-9, To Restore Blueberry Falls to its Former Beauty, was sponsored by Sens. Abate and McClurkin. The resolution would beautify Blueberry Falls, the waterfall outside of the Student Union dining floor, through enhanced maintenance and preservation efforts. It passed with 84% in favor.
Resolution 24-10, the Student Discount Initiative Expansion Resolution, was sponsored by Sens. Butler and Secretary Avery Combs. The resolution asks the university to possibly partner with nearby restaurants and stores to provide UT students with discounts. They explained that this is a common practice at other universities, using Auburn University as an example. It passed with 97% in favor.
Resolution 24-11, To Improve Staircase Accessibility, was sponsored by Sen. Abate. The bill asks the university to increase visual contrasts on stairs to make it safer for students, especially those with visual impairments. This resolution passed with 95% in favor.
Resolution 24-12, Increasing Accessibility to Feminine Hygiene Products, sponsored by Sen. Secretary Combs and Sen. Caroline Marcus. This resolution is in response to a bill passed in the Tennessee state legislature that requires all public higher education institutions to provide tampons in women’s restrooms. The resolution asks the university to acknowledge the legislature’s move and to offer tampons in female restrooms. This resolution passed with 97% in favor.
Resolution 24-13, Improving the Neyland Stadium Student Entrance, was sponsored by Sen. Secretary Combs and Sen. Kate Gourley. This resolution calls on the university to improve the student gate entrance to Neyland Stadium, ensuring a more efficient entrance strategy by eliminating long lines. It passed with 97% in favor.
Resolution 24-14, In-Stadium Dining Dollars, also sponsored by Combs and Gourley, echoed a similar sentiment of improving students’ experience at sporting events. The resolution asks the university to begin accepting dining dollars at all UT stadiums, including Neyland Stadium, the Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Lindsey Nelson Stadium and others. This resolution passed with 97% in favor.
Resolution 24-15, to Support the Expansion of the T-Bus Late Nite Route, sponsored by Sen. Gourley, was the last action item for this year’s SGA senate. The resolution stated that the senate’s support for the university would expand to Fort Sanders to provide more efficient transportation. This resolution faced no dissent and passed with 100% in favor.
