Page 27 - mcdanielfreepress2009-10

New paperless SGA elections an improvement STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION DITCHES PAPER BALLOTS FOR HIGH-TECH VOTING SCOTTWELKOS McDaniel's IT Depanmenr. And the facts show elect one representative from each building on Pennsylvania Avenue is currently with- Staff Reporter rhar studenrs took notice. campus. OUt a representative, having had no candidate ~Online was a hig factor," said SGA Vice Under this structure, Gerl believes that volunteers. President Ben Cowman, commenring on the "students will be bener represenred than they've These senators are responsible for reaching lfle seemed empty QutsideofGlarrecenr!y, you're sizeable increase in voter turnout this year. He been in years." OUtto their constituents and ,ommunkating in- not mistaken. For the first rime, scudenrs waking explained that srudenc participation skyrocketed lliereprescntatives,otherwiseknownas~sen- formadon to RAs in their respective buildings. in line for dinner were unaccompanied by SGA from an avetageofS percent to 38 percenr fol- ators," rhar were elected on the !8th are: Jessica They also geTvortng privileges and are required voting rables. That's because in getring with the lowing the inrroducricn ofonlinfvoting. Schisler (Commuter Student Associarlon}, Bran- to serve on at least two committees. computer age, McDaniel College has moved its Dean of Student Affairs Beth Gerl said rhac don Campbell (Albert Norman w,1.rd Hall),Anna For students looking [0 get involved in rhe voringsY$remonline. the results of this year's elecdcn show a "renewed Moffet! (Blanche Ward Hail), Luke Schmidt SGA, Cowman says it's easy [0 do: "Ai;. long as The polls. which closed at midnight Friday, energy" in Mcl'Ianlel vorers. (Daniel Macl.ca Hail), Nicholas Bend~r (Garden ::%~~~::~an interest, anyone can serve on J September 18, were conducted enrirely on the Inaddidontothenewvotingmethod,stu- Apartments), Zech Weeden (McDaniel Hall), internet. This system, which was used for the dents were also inrroduced ro srrucrural changes Zach Swope (North Village), Ryan Spicer (Rou- The SGA meets Mondays at 9:00 p.m. in first time this year, was created with rhe help of in the SGA lrself This year, the SGA opted to zer Hall), and Hayoung Kim (Whiteford HaU). Ilill Hall, Room 110. 'Day of Peace' challenges students' worldview ---------------- Student edvcccte peoce at during the Internotional Doy of Peoce. ry of their Jives. There was also an informational poster about JENNALITTLE environmental degradation. A table was also set up where Staff Reporter "It's all about how we srudenrs could decorate and make peace pinwheels and have some cookies and cake. Walking through Red Square on Monday, srudenrs could tell all as members of civil 00 said "In a sense the international day of peace tries something was different. There was a calmer yet lively and to fulfill one of our liberal am learning experiences to be ac- peaceful atmosphere. Colorful chalk drawings covered [he society can strive to rive members in a humane environment and co prepare our- pathway, the Bearles' "Magical MYHeryTour" album could be selves to help towards building a wmmunity where dialogue the square among black and white graphiC pictures of prorrn- help towards a better is chosen over violence. We hope char as college students we heard, and brighdy decorated pinwheels could be seen aroun~ would learn to value chis diversity in opinion instead of being nen~~~~~~:g~::~ seen hula hooping and gathering around future." hostile towards it." Students who seopped by at rhe evenr in Red Square both the middle of The square in the grass to hang out and talk in enjoyed themselves and learned something. the spring-like weaTher. Despite the: rainy forecast, me weath- LIN00 Kaitlyn Vadenais, a freshman who was at the event said er seemed to be a sign that the event was supposed to be a "I loved the chalk drawings! I thought they were really well done." She said "I love peace! 1 scm my fTiends texts say- succ~ Monday September 21, the International Club, Envi- degradation, and irs cnrrelannn with confltcr." ~:~~~appy International Peace Day!' I was inspired by the ronmental Action Club, and Philosophy Club sponsored for The Environml:ntal Action Club helped with This aspect the first rime an information poster event in roo square for while the Philosophy Club and International Club focused Megan Rogers, a freshman, said ~I thought it was awe- the International Day of Peace. A discussion group followed on discussing peace and how to achieve it by listening to dif- some rhar a group of students came together to celebrate the at 6:00 p.m. hosted by the Philosophy Club. . ferent views on peace, free speech, and other relevant issues occasion." She enjoyed the chalk drawings and posters in red The International Day of Peace is held by the Umted Na- at the evening discussion. About rweney students went to the square most. "Both things caught my attention and from di$Cussion and three people stepped up to give three different whlu I saw, OIhers too." tiOnj~~nc~:t~~::::~~:;:~~dt~:s~::I:'f the Internatio.nal views aboUi peace. The students were encouraged [0 stand up She also learned about the mining of the mountains in Club and the Environmental Action Club, said that KI thlllk on a chait in order to give their opinions freely. Sierra Leone. "I knew that there were poor work condidons most people realized mat there is a microcosm of ~tudent$ The discussion included rwo main topics on the actual- btl( I was ~ever exposed to the denruction of the environ- ity of peace in the changing world. The first discussion was mentpart ~~:.Jru~:r:~t~~:~~~:~~~c:t ~;s:~!i~o:~~cr~~J~:~~ called ~Tran$Cend The BullshiT: Deactivate Your Facebook!" 00 said that many studentS mentioned that they would The second discussion included a "know your rights" session like to SCi: this type of event more in The future. arou~!~, :n~~~~~~co-president of me Internario~al Club where students were able to ask twO campus safeI:)' officers Sullivan said ~1he event was a hug~ success and I feci that and president of the Philosophy Club explained that -:s part about the rights of students dealing with searches, drugs, al- everyone who helped out used their best smiles and laughs to of McDaniel College, we thought it wo~ld "be appropnate to cohol and other issues. make the event a great feat for the participating dubs." In red square posters of figures such as John Lennon, 00 said that Mit'sall about how we alJ as members of civil hold~~e:~nMt;: ~~~~~~~tS ~;~~:~~·(O (he world m~~ Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Norman Ernest Borlaug, society can strive to help Towards a benet future, whether we there are prOminenT figures of peace Out there in the w~th that it would resonate with our lives. We also wanted to hlg i Harvey Milk, Nelson Mandela, Desmond TUTU,Aung San arc in Westminster or in any part of the world. As club mem- light the correlation berween resource $Carchy,environmenm Suu Kyi, and me Dalai Lama were shown with a brief summa- bers we hoped 10 convey [hat message.~