Editor’s note: The original version of this article incorrectly stated the purpose of Bill 4.22s. The Herald regrets the error.

The Student Government Association met on Tuesday, Feb. 1 to discuss a pair of bills and welcome former Tennessee state representative Debra Maggart as a guest speaker.

Maggart, a WKU alumna and representative in the Tennessee State Assembly from 2004 to 2012, came to the meeting to talk to the Senate about the importance of lobbying. Specifically, how it is not necessarily a bad thing to become a lobbyist. Maggart shared how being a part of SGA inspired her to begin a life of politics.

“All of you have the right to talk to your government,” Maggart said. 

She encouraged the senate body to get involved with issues that they are passionate about.“I have done things I never dreamed of being able to do while being a lobbyist,” Maggart said,

President Matthew Wininger nominated four individuals to become new members of SGA. Tyler Hopkins, Lauren Willet, Jack Galloway and Matt Brown were nominated to become senators. Current senators voted on their approval and all nominations passed with unanimous consent.

Executive Vice President Me’Lon Craighead announced 10 nominations for the newly created Faculty Awards Committee. The committee sets out to review certain professors at WKU and help students find professors that could be helpful to them.

Two bills were presented during this week’s meeting: bill 4.22s and bill 5.22s. Bill 4.22s sought out to remove the requirement of an author at LOC meetings. Bill 5.22s sought to determine when office hours are allowed to be collected. Both bills passed with unanimous consent.

As a reminder, senate election sign ups end on April 8 and elections will be held April 18-19.

News reporter Jake Jones can be reached at: [email protected]