Original Publish Date: January 24, 2023

Last night’s senate meeting lasted more than three-and-a-half hours. Many topics ranging from new initiatives to questions about budgeting were discussed and a number of bills were either passed, tabled, or rejected.

For a large portion of the meeting, questions surrounding university funding were discussed.

The revenue for SGA to allocate money to various organizations on campus depends greatly on the number of enrolled students who have paid their fees for the fall and spring semester. The amount of funds Murray projects SGA will have for the year depends on whether students come back for the spring semester and if they pay their fees for the year.

Before COVID-19, the number of enrolled students was 10,000. Since the pandemic, that
number has decreased to just over 9,000. Less student enrollment means less funds. Murry
offered a solution to the present members of the senate meeting before leaving. She believes that the Senate should do a better job of allocating resources towards programs that benefit all students as opposed to just allocating resources to organizations on campus.

Senate President Pro Tempe Londe Mondelus is on board with Murry’s idea. “I like the idea of programs,” said Mondelus.

In addition to the budget, several bills and proposals for legislation were presented in front of the attending senators. Senator Hooks, Daniels and Strappy presented a bill that would allow students to view their GPAs on iRattler during the semester as opposed to when grades are finalized at the end of the semester. The bill, like a handful of others, were unanimously approved.

Senator Hooks also presented a bill inviting members of the Florida Student Association made up of student government members from all over Florida to visit FAMU for “Rally in Tally”, an event being held later this week. This bill was approved on the conditions that certain amendments be made.

While speaking on the bill, Hooks stated, “We cannot get things done if we don’t work
collaboratively. In unity, we get things done.”

For students hoping for earlier access to FAMU home football games for 2023, a bill drawn up by Senator Jasmine Daniels and Senator Jaylin Strappy was approved seeking to increase the amount of free student tickets available to students based on seats in the stadium as opposed to the number of students enrolled.

This bill also aims to give students who couldn’t get their free ticket to the Homecoming Game more time to purchase tickets before they are released to the general public.

One bill, however, hit a roadblock when presented. A bill presented by Senator Strappy
proposed a test to be given to students interested in running for Senate. In order for students to be able to run, they must pass the test with a 70% or higher.

Many current members of the Senate were against this bill, including Senate President Kelton Williams and first-year senator Jeffrey Francis. Questions about the threat to democracy arose almost immediately. Senator Machia Sanders proposed that additional mandated training be given to newly elected senators instead. The bill was tabled for further revision.

Senator Strappy stood firm in his thoughts on the bill. “This bill was not to disfranchise,
discourage, or stop people from running,” said Strappy. “If any student wants to run, they have the objective and ability based off of the one-day procedure of always taking the test.”