Spring Break
Student government finds last minute replacement
Alexia Lang
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News
| |
|
Klassie Alcine, former president of Arts and Sciences student council, was elected to the position with a vote of 13 in favor, three against and four abstentions.
Alcine, a political science and criminal justice major, has also been involved with College Republicans, College Democrats, Mock Trial and Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity.
Bridgett Johnson, president of SGA, said she nominated Alcine for the position because of her past experience in student leadership, volunteer work she has done for the SGA and her availability.
"When I evaluated, one of the strengths I was looking for was time management," Johnson said. "The time she had to commit to SGA is superior."
Senator LaDonna McCullough raised concerns that an announcement was not made to the entire student governing body when Fenger resigned from her position.
DaRon McGee, executive vice president of SGA, said it was an oversight by the executive board.
Johnson, responsible for selecting a replacement who is then approved by vote of the senators, added, "Their (executive board members) role is how to work best with the executive board. I didn't think it was necessary to send it over the listserv."
Other senators voiced concerns that Alcine would follow in the same footsteps as Fenger and resign mid-term.
Johnson responded, "I am 100 percent confident that will not happen again - 100 percent."
Johnson said she thinks Alcine was a good selection.
"The person I chose to appoint has shown enormous initiative," she said. "I think she will be a strong advocate."
In other business:
Jan Brandow, director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, updated the senators about the progress being made in the Financial Aid Department.
So far, this year 41.5 million dollars in financial aid has been disbursed, Brandow said.
"We are not only way ahead of last year, we are way ahead of ever," she added.
On Aug. 28, Missouri House Bill 1549 was implemented. It is designed to prevent illegal aliens from receiving state aid.
Brandow said this new law will require all students receiving state aid to bring their driver's license to the Financial Aid office to be photocopied. After petitioning, UMKC was given a reprieve until January 2009.
Until the law officially goes into effect for UMKC, the Financial Aid Department will be notifying students of the change in policy.
"If a group of [SGA] senators want to go to senators or state representatives to complain about this, I will welcome that," Brandow said.
Additionally, Brandow reported UMKC is now able to offer combat veterans classes for $50 per credit hour and the Stafford non-subsidized loan limit has been raised by $2,000.
At their Wednesday meeting, the SGA also took these actions:
The SGA discussed the print quota of 150 pages per week at the university computer labs and the possibility of creating a 24-hour computer lab.
They also moved to recognize the following new student organizations: The Student Film League Organization, MeCHA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/O De Aztlan) and Spanish in Medicine.
alang@unews.com
Be the first to comment on this story