Student senators had the opportunity to converse with WKU President Timothy Caboni at SGA’s 9th meeting of the 23rd Senate on Tuesday.
At the start of the meeting, Caboni recognized SGA for all they have accomplished this semester.
“Thank you for the time, effort, and energy you put into this organization, and for helping us be successful,” Caboni said. “What you do is, for me, really about quality and culture.”
Along with passing legislation to improve campus life, SGA has also been involved in sponsoring events such as the Pink Walk, a breast cancer information, recognition, and fundraising event, and Topper Tuesday, tailgating on South Lawn before Tuesday football games.
Caboni went on to address “improvements” that have occurred since the start of his presidency, such as campus statistics and the construction of buildings like the Commons.
Additionally, Caboni touched on his ideas for replacing campus buildings including Hugh Poland Hall, Douglas Keen Hall, and Grise Hall, and constructing facilities such as a fieldhouse and press box and a new Gordon Ford College of Business building over the upcoming years.
Caboni then opened the floor for individual student senators, where they asked various inquiries regarding election day.
Caboni stressed the importance for students to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election even though WKU is still in session on election day, and said there are plans to provide transportation for students to polling locations using the Historic Railpark’s BG Trolley.
“For those folks that don’t have transportation or don’t know how to get to State Street, the trolleys will be able to do that. So I think that’s an important way for us to be engaged,” Caboni said.
SGA senators also asked Caboni questions regarding student accessibility, campus culture and what general changes he would like to see campus-wide.
He shared how ramps have been put into place to assist students with mobility issues, how he plans to improve sustainability on campus through community partnerships and his hopes to increase student engagement through evolving Living Learning Communities.
Ultimately, Caboni said he believes his relationship with SGA has continued to improve in the duration of his presidency.
“It’s important for me to come and talk with you, to listen to you, at the least at the beginning of each term. But more importantly, to have a good relationship with your leadership team,” Caboni said.
News reporter Ali Costellow can be reached at [email protected].