Members of a new student group will leave chilly St. Louis to volunteer in tropical Central America this winter, thanks in part to a decision by the Student Government Association Senate.
At their meeting on Oct. 10, senators voted to charter Saint Louis University’s chapter of Global Medical Brigade. Now eligible for SGA funding, the group plans to send student volunteers to set up a temporary free clinic in rural Honduras.
Also at this week’s meeting, senators considered-and criticized-a proposed new classroom civility code.
SGA Executive Vice President Sam Howard submitted the bill to charter SLU GMB.
Founded in April, the group had planned, organized and recruited throughout the summer and beginning of the fall semester.
Howard said that she was confident that SLU GMB could succeed.
“My committee was blown away by [the group’s] 12-page constitution,” Howard said. “We were very, very impressed.”
SLU GMB President Anna Alexandrov and Executive Vice President Meghna Nagabhushan, both juniors, answered senators’ questions about the group. They said that 25 students had already committed to travel to Honduras from Jan. 13-20 next year.
As undergraduates, they will serve only in a support role. A nurse, second-year resident and doctor will accompany the group and provide medical treatment; the group is also trying to recruit a pharmacist and dentist.
Alexandrov and Nagabhushan said the group would be a valuable addition to the University.
“We will spread SLU’s mission, bring international publicity to SLU and offer an outlet for health majors, though everyone can be involved,” Nagabhushan said.
After questioning, SAG unanimously voted to charter SLU GMB.
Senators also discussed a civility initiative that Graduate Studies Director Paaige Turner, Ph.D., and Student Conduct Officer Sarah Klucker had presented at last week’s meeting. The proposal would formalize standards for student behavior in the classroom.
Many senators expressed concern about the potential reach of the proposal.
Arts and Sciences Senator Pat Devney asked whether the proposal might lead to the Office of Student Conduct punishing students for using cell phones in class.
“I don’t want the Office of Student Conduct in the realm of what I call ‘classroom management,'” said Dean of Students Scott Smith, who was present at the meeting. “I don’t want students to think, ‘If I text message in class, I’ll be hearing from Sarah Klucker.'”
Commuter Senator Paul Spica wondered whether the proposal would simply lead to more hassle and red tape.
“How do you think a piece of paper will solve this?” Spica said. “Why do we need this bureaucracy?”
SGA Academic Vice President Tyler Brownfield responded by saying that the proposal will offer professors guidelines on dealing with student misbehavior. Brownfield also said that it was “not a terribly bureaucratic process.”
The Senate will consider the measure further at future meetings.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting:
Michael Durbin of ITS gave a presentation and answered senators questions on the SLU e-mail service’s upcoming switch to Google. All undergraduates’ SLU e-mail accounts will transfer to Google accounts on Oct. 24.
Senators discussed a proposed amendment to SGA’s constitution. The provision would allow the Great Issues Committee to recommend that the Senate withdraw funding for speakers if the groups that sponsored them failed to cooperate adequately.
The Senate will debate and vote on the amendment at next week’s meeting.
