The Student Government Association passed a bill Tuesday, allowing students to donate food for an exemption from a parking citation. 

The bill, coined Food For Fines, partners with both the WKU Food Pantry and WKU Parking and Transportation Services. Students have the opportunity to donate a $20 food item for the university food drive, and in return, the student will receive forgiveness on a parking citation of no more than $50. 

Caden Lucas, author of the bill and chair of the Legislative Operations Committee, said this will be a great way to get larger amounts of student engagement for the university food drive in a time when many need help.

Jade Ismail, chair of the Action and Opportunity Committee, proposed the only bill of the meeting that didn’t pass. The bill proposed a fundraiser event held in DSU to raise money for Hope Harbor through a raffle. Hope Harbor is an organization formed to provide counseling and resources to victims of sexual abuse. Senators felt the bill’s funding should be used for students on campus instead.

This comes after a censure hearing for Ismail, held on Nov. 12. There had been multiple complaints brought against her, including complaints from members of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, which alleged that Ismail had treated them poorly when they volunteered for the Oct. 23 pumpkin carving event she ran. The event acted as a fundraiser for Hope Harbor.

There were also instances of Ismail underspending the requested funds for a bill, which was described by Chief Justice Blake Graham as “undercutting the senator’s ability to use legislative discretionary (funds).” 

Another complaint alleged Ismail had “pressured the senate” by sending out a Registered Student Organization email before a bill had officially been passed. 

The hearing ended in a 7-0 vote from the judicial council not to censure. The Judicial Council agreed that most instances were examples of poor communication, and Ismail’s dismissal was not necessary. Associate Justice Hannah Hash encouraged Ismail to keep writing bills, describing her as “one of the most dedicated” senators.

“Like they (Judicial Council) even mentioned I’m one of the best senators in SGA. I do everything,” Ismail said in an interview after the hearing. “There’s not a day that goes by without thinking about SGA, and so I guess it’s a little bit disheartening.”

SGA President Rush Robinson said in an interview following the hearing that the purpose was not to dish out punishment but instead to have a “formal conversation.” 

SGA passed another bill to start a donation program. Students will be able to donate individually wrapped snacks to the SGA front desk from Nov. 19 through Dec. 3. The donations will go towards the Bowling Green Boys and Girls Club. The Boys and Girls Club is an organization set out to provide help and school care to at-risk youth.  

“The Boys and Girls Club has a really big need for these snacks around this time of year, especially,”  said author of the bill and Potter College of Arts and Letters senator Maggie Phelps. “For a lot of these kids, the only meal they get is at school and at The Boys and Girls Club.”

A third bill passed at the meeting will fund a tabling event titled Happy Holidays From the Hill. This event will give students the tools to write a Holiday Card that will be sent to Chandler Park Assisted Living. The bill also funds 60 new blankets sent to the assisted living facility as well. 

Sophie Stirling was officially sworn in as the new Chief Justice, with Veronica Butler being sworn in as the chair of a new committee titled the Ad Hoc Campus Safety and Security Committee, which will exist for the remainder of this academic year. This committee will create bills to promote students’ safety and well-being on campus. 

“I’m really excited for this opportunity, and I’m excited to get started,” Stirling said. 

• Bill 19-25-F passed funding for four new pickleball paddles and new pickleballs for the Preston Center.
• Bill 20-25-F passed, allowing a tabling event outside of  The Commons, providing free snacks to students studying on December 7 – 8 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.