By: Jacob Brown, Editor-In-Chief
Newman’s Student Government Association has recently made a few leadership changes and has also changed how senators vote.
SGA President Melissa Arguijo said that SGA recently had to select a new treasurer after Grace Hertel, stepped down from the position, citing difficulty balancing academic responsibilities and personal circumstances.
Arguijo said that Hertel had communicated from the beginning of the semester that she might need to step away from SGA. After entering the university’s scenography program, Arguijo said, Hertel decided to prioritize her academics and personal life.
The new treasurer is Jocelyn Edwards, who previously served as SGA’s Chief Justice. She was selected by Arguijo to take over the position. Arguijo said Edwards was an ideal choice because of her previous involvement with the executive board and familiarity with the organization.
Following Edwards’ transition, Maxwell Mason was elected as the new Chief Justice.The position was previously known as Senate Leader but was renamed Chief Justice this year to give the role a more formal title. Despite the name change, the responsibilities remain the same: The Chief Justice serves as a connection between SGA’s senators and executive board and helps senators communicate concerns, develop legislation and navigate the process of bringing ideas to the executive board.
The Chief Justice is also responsible for holding monthly meetings with senators to provide support and address questions.
Along with the leadership changes, SGA has introduced a new website intended to improve communication and make the organization’s operations more transparent to students, Arguijo said.
The website allows students to access meeting minutes, view proposed legislation and follow the progress of bills. Arguijo said the goal was to make information easier to find while giving senators more time to communicate with students before voting on legislation.
The new website, sganewmanu.org, includes meeting information, agendas, minutes and previously passed legislation.
The new website also plays a role in how SGA tracks attendance and voting participation. Senators are expected to submit their votes before scheduled meetings, with voting generally opening Thursday or Friday after meeting minutes are uploaded. Proposed legislation is made available Thursday at noon to give senators time to gather feedback from students and faculty.
Arguijo said that SGA has experienced some attendance and participation issues while senators adjust to the new system. She said the organization has taken a more lenient approach during the first semester as members become familiar with the website and its procedures.
However, she indicated that SGA plans to enforce attendance expectations more strictly next semester. Continued issues with participation could potentially be considered an ethics offense.
