by RACHEL Assjstant New combat student apathy CAP TIMES: What is the first thing you plan to do as SGA president? HORTON: “I plan to fill the executive board, followed by the student court then fill senate positions. I know at least six or seven people interested in filling the positions of the Student Court. It is important that we have a full senate this upcoming year. This year we had two or three people who would show up late or not even show up. That is just poor. This campus will continue to be apathetic because their leaders are apathetic. I also plan to implement an online voting system to accommodate night students and stu dents who cannot make it on campus to vote during the allotted times. “ CT: What would you do differently for the 2004-2005 school year? HORTON: “There will not, in any way, be any meetings online. It is real ly important to show up to meetings. Doing things by e-mail does not allow students to voice their opinions. All allocations to clubs must be presented to the senate 24 hours before SGA will make a decision. 1 think it intimidates students when we hold long meetings, also. One meeting ran from 12:30-1:50 p.m. I would like to have one meeting to debate, discuss and vote and then another meeting of committees. This would be especially helpful for, the very important, finance committee. Rally at the Rotunda draws over 150 student protestors to Capitol from STAFF REPORTS At least 150 students from several Penn State cam puses overtook the steps of Harrisburg’s Capitol Building on March 22 to protest decreasing state appropriations, which have been a main reason tuition rates have increased. In 1973, state appropriations accounted for 70 percent of Penn State’s budget revenue. Now, three decades later, appropriations account for only 30 percent of the budget revenue. Many of the students in attendance believed they SHEPHERD EdtTQR SGA President hopes to This would cut our meeting time in half and allow for only the needed discus sions during meeting times.” CT: How do you believe your experi ence as SGA president at Central Penn and a member of the student court at Penn State Harrisburg will help you in your administration? HORTON: “SGA PSH is a unique campus because they are in control of $55,000. At Central Penn, we had to raise our funds, and thus I had to raise my own money. The student body at Central Penn was very apathetic, even more so than PSH. It was up to me to motivate people to get involved. Sitting on the student court at PSH, I was able to oversee how things are set up on this campus. What also helped me a lot was attending meetings of the University Park Senate.” CT: How do you plan to help clubs with their funding next year? HORTON: “I know Tarnhelm did not get one cent of funding this year. And I know other clubs received money because they were friends with the peo ple who make decisions. The SGA got a little too political. Other schools allo cated an even amount to each club and that is the money they are responsible for. But, here at PSH, we are unique and the club allocation has to be very different - based on club needs. Things were being overlooked by the State. “Why should students stay in the state to work and help boost the economy if the State can’t fund their colleges?,” said Matt Kulp from the Penn State Lehigh campus. Several members from Penn State Harrisburg’s SGA were in attendance for the event including President Lee Cutchall, Senator Ted Miller, and Senator Michael Green. The students were on the steps for approximately 45 minutes. need to be done to make this sys tem fair. I say if you are going to give money to one club, you must also give money to another and if you are going to cut money from one club, you should cut from another.” CT: What is your plan in imple menting Operation Increase on a campus with such low student involvement? HORTON: “After I am sworn in, I will meet with my executive board and institute an incentive plan to be implemented at the OAB meetings next year. I would like club presidents to market their clubs and whoever raises the most members in their club will receive a dinner with SGA. Part of the reason we have apathy is that clubs don’t market themselves properly. My target market is the people who have the time and want to be involved, such as the stu dents on campus. Marketing graduate students or even night students is a lost cause because they do not have time. We have to start with the traditional on campus students, then have them work to bring the graduate students on board.” CT: What do you sight as your biggest challenge as SGA president? HORTON: “The graduate student involvement. I don’t think we have one program for graduate students. The biggest challenge will be getting them involved on campus.” CT: What do you foresee in the 2004- 2005 school year for SGA? HORTON: “I am planning and hoping an SGA that works together with one another, with no intimidation or cliques. I don’t want us to be separated in terms of Democrat or Republican, but rather one kind of focus: the student body. I also plan to see a full senate and a full court, as well as, a committed executive board that will benefit all stu dents.” Over 150 students attended the Rally HORTON photos by Kathryn Herr
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