At the open senate meetings of Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, the TAMIU Student Government (SG) turned its attention to the importance of service and safety.
At the Jan. 28 open senate meeting, SG members viewed two presentations concerning community service initiatives. First, a representative from Junior Achievement of Laredo encouraged the organizations members to get involved as mentors to local youth and to spread the word on campus so that other students could do the same.
“We teach young people valuable skills for their future,” remarked Jesus Solis Jr., Junior Achievement Program Manager. “We teach fiscal responsibility, the difference between a want and a need. The basic and important things youth should know.”
Several Student Government members expressed interest.
The body then granted the floor to TAMIU’s Associate Director of Athletics Daniel Lathey, who spoke about his department’s involvement in Operation Home Front. The initiative assists the families of active duty military servicemen and women.
“These families are struggling to make it on one income,” Lathey said.
Asking the SG to spread awareness and possibly hold an event on campus, Lathey stressed that the need is constant, and the families often lack the basics. Diapers, household items and food are among the most needed.
Sen. Maritza Morris, senator for the College of Education (COED), suggested SG look into purchasing a palate of supplies.
On Feb. 4, Juan J. Castillo Jr., TAMIU Vice President for Finance and Administration, introduced TAMIU Pride. The goal of this initiative is to get all members of the university community to take pride in the school’s appearance and facilities.
“We need you to tell us what the problems are so we can fix them,” Castillo said.
Reporting torn carpets, malfunctioning projector screens in classrooms are two examples Castillo used as the kinds of things TAMIU Pride wants to get people to report.
College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) Sen. Juan Mendive suggested SG perform a night walk. He said student governments at other universities set aside one night a month to walk the campus and take note of anything that may need repair or cosmetic touch up.
Several student senators and executives took the opportunity to ask Mr. Castillo questions concerning the possible tuition and fee hike. Castillo empathized that nothing is set in stone, particularly since the Texas State Legislature may consider bills aimed at capping tuition.
“The bills have just been filed,” said Castillo. “We don’t start looking at them until the make it out of committee. Anytime you’re in a legislative year, things are uncertain.”
Castillo further pointed out that the increases are “modest.”
In addition, the Student Government spent some time discussing campus safety.
On Feb. 25, students are invited to view an instruction video dealing with how to handle an on campus shooting. The video comes to SG from the TAMIU Police Department, which first brought the idea to the senate last fall.
Members discussed spreading the video’s tips through the various student organizations on campus and even possibly holding a simulated shooting, as other colleges do, once more students have been exposed to this training.
At the Feb. 4 meeting, the group observed a moment of silence in honor of two recently deceased members of the university family: Dr. Annette Olsen-Fazi, Associate Professor of English and Georgina Vital, Staff Assistant for the Office of International Education. Both passed away within days of each other.
Speaker of the Senate Alfredo Jimenez (COAS) introduced Senate Bill 012, which would rename the Student Government Diplomatic Scholarship after Olsen-Fazi.
The scholarship is intended to give students the opportunity to study abroad for an extended period of time and to work with student-body representatives in whatever institution they visit.
SB 012, authored by Jimenez and Sen. Charlie Cantu (COAS), sites Olsen-Fazi’s career-long commitment to exposing students to new languages and cultures as the reason for the name change.
Matthew Hall, SG International Committee Chair, also suggested naming the diplomatic scholarship in honor of Vital. He said her day-to-day work helped make study abroad possible for students.
The senate tabled and pledged to resume discussion at the next meeting.