The WKU Student Government Association held its 20th meeting of the 23rd senate on Tuesday, March 12, passing legislation to provide funding for several upcoming events.

Bill 34-23-S: Funding for Student Government Association DEI Week allows $150 from the legislative discretionary budget to fund SGA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion week from March 25 to March 28. Tabling throughout the week will focus on a different daily initiative relating to DEI.

The March 25 “Mental Health Matters” initiative will focus on the importance of mental health and available campus resources. SGA will have dogs from the Humane Society available for students to interact with and hand out materials from the Talley Family Counseling Center. 

The March 26 “Multicultural Day” initiative will promote diverse demographics of students on campus. Students will have the opportunity to spin a wheel to answer questions about campus student demographics and culture for prizes.

The March 27 “Safe Sexual Health” initiative will work to destigmatize STDs/STIs and promote safe sexual health. SGA will partner with Health Education and Promotion to hand out materials about safe sex, free HIV testing and free resources to students. 

The March 28 “Deaf Awareness and Hearing Education” initiative will educate students about the deaf community. SGA will partner with the American Sign Language Organization and SARC to give out information on how hearing people can create a more inclusive environment for deaf individuals and give out informative resources.

The bill, written by Senator at Large Karley Solorzano, Senator at Large Megan Farmer, Senator at Large Layne Pea, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Senator Kayla Distler and International Student Senator Guan Zhou Sim, passed the senate unanimously.

Bill 35-23-S: Funding for the SGA Spring Fling Event allows $450 from the legislative discretionary budget to spend for the SGA Spring Fling tentatively planned for March 27 on the South Lawn. 

The SGA Spring Fling will consist of a cookout, kickball and cornhole tournaments and raffles for Uber vouchers. SGA will also be promoting their upcoming election season and two $100 scholarships during the event.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kids Cancer Alliance.

After much debate due to concern among some senators with the amount being spent for the event, the bill, written by Ogden College of Science & Engineering Senator Madison Payne, Senator At Large Ryan Dilts, Gatton Senator Livi Ray and Graduate Senator Elizabeth Gannon, passed the senate 28-2.

Bill 36-23-S: Funding for the Hope Harbor X Denim Day Event allows $280 from the legislative discretionary budget to fund supplies for “Hope Harbor X Denim Day: Inspiring the Next Generation of Volunteers” on April 24 as part of Sexual Assault Prevention Month.

SGA has an annual history of participating in educational events for Denim Day, an international day dedicated to wearing denim in support of survivors of sexual assault.

This year, SGA’s Senators At Large Sophia Bryant and Maiah Cisco, WKU senior public relations students Alex Cissell, Andrea Diaz and Savanna Stinnett and local non-profit Hope Harbor have teamed up to host a Denim Day event to bring awareness to campus about sexual assault, Hope Harbor and Denim Day, and will use SGA funds to purchase jeans, ribbon-making supplies, educational pamphlets, decorations and items for giveaways.

The bill passed the senate unanimously.

Bill 38-23-S: Funding for the Mental Health Week 2024 allows $650 from the legislative discretionary budget to fund SGA’s annual Mental Health Week from April 22 to April 26.

The event on April 22, “Mindfulness Monday” will include sunset yoga on the South Lawn with Amy Winiger, college of health and human services student health navigator. Water and Alani will be provided to attendees.

SGA’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing committee will table April 23 and April 25 with coffee and donuts for students passing by.

A Denim Day Walk will occur on April 24, followed by a guest speaker and a dodgeball tournament. All proceeds from the event will go to Hope Harbor.

On April 26, SGA will host “Dog Day,” allowing students the opportunity to interact with dogs from the Humane Society. 

Throughout the week, students will receive an entry ticket for each SGA Mental Health Week event they attend. These tickets will be used as entry for a Stanley Cup raffle.

SGA will also be giving out mental health awareness items at the events, such as wristbands, lanyards, pins and stickers.

The bill, written by Senator at Large Sophia Bryant, Senator at Large Thomas Pabin and PCAL Senator David Darnell, passed the senate unanimously, with immense support from several senators.

“When we [SGA] talk about working on behalf of the student body, investing on the mental health, I think, personally, is one of the most important things we can do,” Gordon Ford College of Business Senator Connor Ferguson said. “I think this whole week, in general, makes a big difference on the lives of students on campus.”

At the end of the meeting, Administrative Vice President Salvador León gave a report on the legislative discretionary budget, stating SGA had $761.29 left to spend on legislation for the 23rd senate.

SGA will meet next on Thursday, March 28, where they will vote on amendments to the SGA Constitution.

Assistant News Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at [email protected]