Alexa Shockley, News Writer On Wednesday, March 11, Emory & Henry Student Government Association met to discuss the college’s plans concerning COVID-19 and the college’s Office of Violence Against Women grant. The SGA senators also participated in a focus-group study for campus diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dean of Students Ryan Bowyer began the meeting with a session for the senators to ask any questions they had concerning the college’s plans surrounding COVID-19. This session was arranged after Bowyer sent an email to students that said, “As a result of all of the available information at this time, the College has made the decision to extend Spring Break for students on the Emory campus for one week… All College-sponsored travel--travel that is funded by or on behalf of the College--is cancelled indefinitely,” earlier in the day. Vice President Braxton Justice posed the questions, “What are the odds that, during the extra week we’re not going to be here, you guys will decide to keep us away from school even longer?” and “How will this affect upcoming campus functions like Greek life?” Bowyer responded, “I think right now we are operating full force as if we are going to come back on the 30th. I think we’d have to see significant changes [in the COVID-19 situation], which is entirely possible, but we’d have to see those changes to make that kind of move [to keep students off campus longer]. We’re doing the best we can with the information we have.” Bowyer also shared that campus Greek life specialist Sam Amos will be sending out an email soon in regards to Greek life functions and the college’s ban on domestic travel. Bowyer then discussed E&H’s grant from the Office on Violence Against Women stating, “We have a national grant of $300,000 over three years. We have what is called a CCRT, a Coordinated Campus Response Team, and we are looking for a volunteer to assist us in that work.” Senator Jaynae Wright volunteered to fill the position. As stated on the United States Department of Justice website, “The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers 19 grant programs … These grant programs are designed to develop the nation's capacity to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services to victims and holding offenders accountable.” The CCRT meets twice a semester to discuss policy, activity on campus, and new programming funded by the grant. Bowyer said, "As we look to build out our … Coordinated Campus Response Team, we wanted leadership from the student government. Their input is critical in the work that is being done." The SGA senators also completed a focus group survey with professor Krystin Krause, who has her doctorate in political science, and admissions counselor Fred George. Krause said, “We’re looking at Diversity, Equity and Inclusion … We have gotten a grant to do an assessment [of the college] using specific rubrics to look at what things need to be addressed on campus.” Vice President Braxton Justice closed the meeting with an update on his goal to organize past bills and the constitution. He said, “I am currently taking all the bills of the past and deciding which ones have been redundant and which ones counteract each other. I’m going through that so we can reorganize the constitution a little bit. That should be done later this semester.” There were no current committee reports discussed, and the Senate was adjourned.
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March 2020
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