The Student Government Association passed Resolution 4-25-S during its Tuesday meeting which supports forming a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Board to increase access to mental health resources on campus.
The Mental Heath and Suicide Prevention Advisory Board would advise upper-level administration on policies, initiatives and changes surrounding student mental health. Vice President of Student Experience and Dean of Students Martha Sales is planned to oversee its formation.
“There is no central location for students to find any of this information (mental health resources),” said Emma Harris, Resident Staff Association president and co-author of the resolution.
Harris said the Counseling Center’s staffing shortage has caused students to turn to Residence Hall Advisors for help. She said this has caused stress and pressure on the position, resulting in some advisors quitting their jobs, according to Harris. The advisory board’s formation is aimed to change that, she said.
The board will be made up of representatives from the student body, the Counseling Center, the Office of Scholar Development, the Mahurin Honors College, full-time faculty, Housing and Residence Life, the WKU Police Department, local professionals and other departments as needed, according to the resolution.
“How many of my residents do I have to watch struggle without functioning mental health support to direct them to?” asked Harris. “How many do I have to watch drop out of college because they didn’t have the resources they needed to survive to thrive here? How many RAs do I watch struggling under the weight of being on the frontline of this mental crisis?”
Also at the meeting, Assistant Vice President of Government & External Relations Jennifer Breiwa Smith spoke on WKU’s latest step in becoming an R2 institution. Smith said the biggest hurdle that prevents WKU from reaching this status is offering PhD programs. The recent passage of Senate Bill 77, which authorizes WKU to offer PhD programs.
Smith said a PhD in Data Sciences is in the works.
“It opens the door to allow us to offer whatever programs it is that the economy and the workforce in Kentucky needs,” Smith said.
SGA Pollooza will occur on Sunday, April 13 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring a Battle of the DJs and a Battle of the Bands. First-round voting for who will perform is live Tuesday and Wednesday.
SGA said the event is meant to uplift and inspire students on campus.
“It’s going to be super fun,” said Student Body President Sam Kurtz. “You’re able to set up on the lawn, so if you want to bring a little yard chair, sit out there, bring a little cooler and snacks.”
SGA spring election applications opened Monday and can be found on the SGA website and in the SGA office in Downing Student Union room 2045.
SGA also passed eight bills at the meeting:
- Bill 9-25-S allows SGA to allocate $115 to fund the Subs and Scholarship workshop. The workshop is an effort to assist students applying for SGA scholarships and takes place Thursday, April 3.
- Bill 10-25-S allocates $125 to fund the STEM Starry Night, an event open to all students interested in a STEM field. The event aims to bring together minority and underrepresented students in STEM to foster connections and build a sense of community. It will be held on Wednesday, April 2 at 6 p.m.
- Bill 11-25-S allocates $50 to purchase candy to distribute at the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Bunny Hop Trail. The event will take place at Preston Miller Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.
- Bill 13-25-S allocates funding for SGA to purchase four Adirondack chairs to be placed on campus for student use.
- Bill 14-25-S allocates funding to purchase four hammocks for the Borrow a Hammock Program, which allows students to check out a hammock for campus use.
- Bill 15-25-S allocates more funding for the Borrow a Calculator Program to purchase three scientific calculators and three financial calculators that can be checked out by students.
- Bill 17-24-S allocates funding for tabling at the Power Up for Finals event. SGA will provide canned soda and testing supplies at the tabling event, set to occur from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5.
- Bill 16-25-S allocated $200 to help fund the Asian Student Organizations Banquet, an event that aims to provide a space for students to celebrate their culture and foster unity.
