SGA president discusses election changes, housing issues at State of SGA Address

Student government President Annabell Liao informs students about what student government has been working on this year at the State of SGA Address. Photo by Kaitlin Homan

Student government President Annabell Liao discussed a range of topics – from changes in the election code to representation at Orange City Council meetings – at the State of SGA Address Dec. 9 in the Student Union. About five people attended the event.

Liao not only talked about the responsibility of student government senators, but stressed the importance of student involvement.

“Who is a member of SGA? All of you,” Liao said in her address. “All undergraduate students are members of and support SGA through the associated student fee that everyone pays, and a large portion of it is allocated by the Student Government Association.”

The presentation came a few days after English professor Tom Zoellner wrote an opinion column for The Panther Dec. 5 suggesting that student government be dissolved. 

Liao responded in her own opinion column for The Panther by discussing student government’s ongoing projects and said that it was up to student constituents to decide whether or not student government is successful, not faculty members.

City council representation

Liao said that students have been attending Orange City Council meetings for the past three months. She added that student government helped to clarify that an annual city-wide filming moratorium from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3 would not apply to students, many of whom are required to film their thesis projects during that time. 

Liao said that even when student government is unable to attend city council meetings, the university is always represented. 

“We will not have students (at the Dec. 13 city council meeting) most likely, because this is finals week, however, university administrators have also been there at each meeting, whether we attend or not,” Liao said. 

Liao also mentioned the university’s proposed $6.5 million purchase of land adjacent to Panther Village on Chapman Avenue. The purchase is recommended to be approved by council members at the Dec. 13 city council meeting. 

Changes in the election code and amendments

To increase transparency during the student government election season, Liao said that changes to the election code have been made. 

“We’ve extended the window to report election infractions from six hours to 24 hours,” Liao said. “We’ve also required that the director of elections (Chris Nelson) respond to emails or phone calls within 24 hours.”

Liao discussed implementing a year-long requirement for senators, instead of it being a semester, after three senators resigned this semester, prompting student government to hold a special election in November to fill empty seats. While senators have resigned for a variety reasons, including early graduation and study abroad plans, Liao hopes that a lengthier requirement will help prospective senators understand the responsibilities of the position before they commit. 

Each school is represented by two senators, but Liao hopes to reduce the number to one, which would open up nine senate seats for other advocacies and different types of student organizations. Liao also discussed the possibility of reducing the number of at-large seats to increase representation for groups on campus.

Housing issues

University administrators are discussing a mandate that would require all freshmen and sophomores to live on campus unless they receive a waiver for living locally with a parent or guardian, Liao said.

“Right now, we only have enough housing spaces for about 30 percent of undergraduate students,” Liao said. “So it wouldn’t be until additional dorms in Villa Park Orange or renovations in Davis Hall, Harris Hall and Morlan Hall were to be completed.” 

Villa Park Orange dormitories are set to be finished in the next two to three years, Liao said.

President Daniele Struppa told The Panther in September that he was in favor of requiring freshmen and sophomores live on campus

“I would say (that students don’t party as much) probably after a couple of years,” Struppa said. “We all mature, so when you arrive at the very first beginning, it’s the first freedom. You’re away from your parents, with people one or two years older that egg you on. It’s new freedom, and it’s difficult to manage. After a couple years, people kind of absorb (the freedom) and they realize that they can be free without being wild.”