Spring Break
Student Government to hold student forum
Bob Bajek / Student Government Editor
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
Students who have concerns they would like to address to Student Government will have the opportunity at the Student Relations Student Government Forum.
The forum starts at 6 p.m. today in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Student Senate members and Student Government executives will be available at that time to field questions about a situation or students can speak their minds during audience participation.
"Even though people are welcome to come any week, this way we are hoping to get a bigger draw at a new venue," said Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin. "It's a way for the students to effectively utilize their Student Government."
This forum is an offspring from former Student Senate member Eric Hiltner's "What's Your Beef?" held Oct. 29. Students are encouraged to participate in the meeting and bring up concerns to the Student Senate.
At the last open forum, only Ashley Nolan, a senior English major, participated by voicing concerns with the Electronic Writing Portfolio. Her concerns resulted in an EWP Forum sponsored by Student Government that was held Feb. 17.
Mike Hilty, chair of the Student Relations Committee, said he hopes students will take advantage of this opportunity.
"It's important for students to come to meetings to get a sense of what we do because there isn't a lot of clarification on what we do," Hilty said. "I think what Eric did last semester was very good, giving people the opportunity to speak their minds and let Student Government know what they need to address."
The only major difference from "What's Your Beef?" is that this time, food will be provided as well as additional microphones.
Hilty said he would want to do this more than once a semester. This is only the second Student Senate forum during a meeting.
"We want to get a decent base and get comfortable with doing one," Hilty said. "Ideally, I want to do this once a month, but right now we are establishing a base with a new meeting location and a bigger stage."
To have more forums during senate meetings, Hilty said the senate needs to go out to student organizations and meet with the campus community more frequently.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
The forum starts at 6 p.m. today in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Student Senate members and Student Government executives will be available at that time to field questions about a situation or students can speak their minds during audience participation.
"Even though people are welcome to come any week, this way we are hoping to get a bigger draw at a new venue," said Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin. "It's a way for the students to effectively utilize their Student Government."
This forum is an offspring from former Student Senate member Eric Hiltner's "What's Your Beef?" held Oct. 29. Students are encouraged to participate in the meeting and bring up concerns to the Student Senate.
At the last open forum, only Ashley Nolan, a senior English major, participated by voicing concerns with the Electronic Writing Portfolio. Her concerns resulted in an EWP Forum sponsored by Student Government that was held Feb. 17.
Mike Hilty, chair of the Student Relations Committee, said he hopes students will take advantage of this opportunity.
"It's important for students to come to meetings to get a sense of what we do because there isn't a lot of clarification on what we do," Hilty said. "I think what Eric did last semester was very good, giving people the opportunity to speak their minds and let Student Government know what they need to address."
The only major difference from "What's Your Beef?" is that this time, food will be provided as well as additional microphones.
Hilty said he would want to do this more than once a semester. This is only the second Student Senate forum during a meeting.
"We want to get a decent base and get comfortable with doing one," Hilty said. "Ideally, I want to do this once a month, but right now we are establishing a base with a new meeting location and a bigger stage."
To have more forums during senate meetings, Hilty said the senate needs to go out to student organizations and meet with the campus community more frequently.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
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