Last night’s Student Government Association meeting lasted just
about an hour, but it was important one all the same, with
discussions concerning the effectiveness of Saint Louis
University’s new mail system, students’ recent registration
problems and SLU’s hosting the upcoming National Seminar on Jesuit
Higher Education.

Members of SGA also discussed the creation of a coffee shop and
late-night study space.

International Student Federation Senator Joel Samuels outlined
plans for the designation of a space on campus to be used as a
coffee shop and late-night study location for students. Samuels
informed senators that there are currently two spaces being
considered for the coffee shop–the former DeMattias Hall cafeteria
and the Billiken Marketplace in the Busch Student Center.

President Nick Sarcone suggested involving the student body in
the decision. “I think it’s important to get student feedback
concerning what we should provide to students in the old DeMatt
Cafeteria space,” Sarcone said.

Addressing the issue of mail on campus, Arts and Sciences
Senator Vince Giacabazi read a statement voicing his concerns with
the effectiveness of SLU’s mail service and INDOX.

“But supposedly this new, one, single location was supposed to
have worked out all the kinks,” Giacabazi said, adding that INDOX
does not process mail quickly enough. “It was supposed to make
things easier, on everybody. My friends, I would offer that, as it
stands right now, INDOX and the current campus mailing system still
needs a lot of help.”

Sarcone promised senators that he would address this concern in
his weekly meeting with school administrators.

Senators also discussed registration difficulties students had
reported. They discussed a few rare instances of the University
accidentally withdrawing students from all of their classes, to the
equal befuddlement of students and administrators.

It seems that no one has been able to fully explain the
problem.

Asked for a number of affected students, Sarcone simply said,
“suffice to say, more than there should be.”

SGA also discussed SLU’s hosting the upcoming National Seminar
on Jesuit Higher Education, set for noon this Saturday.

The national seminar meets three times a year, and this
weekend’s will host representatives from 28 Jesuit colleges and
universities.

Staffers from Conversations, a national magazine published
bi-annually by the seminar have requested the opportunity to meet
with a group of undergraduate students to discuss: SLU as an
academic institution; the school’s Jesuit, Catholic identity and
the issues that impact its Mission, according to Sarcone.

Sarcone said anyone interested in attending the Seminar should
contact him as soon as possible, as space for SLU students is
extremely limited. If interested, contact SGA President Nick
Sarcone by e-mail ([email protected]).