Thursday’s Student Government Association Senate meeting looked both at the past and towards the future, as it told of SGA’s accomplishments thus far, and their aspirations for the spring semester.

SGA President James Orr gave a special presentation listing the accomplishments SGA has made thus far. Orr mentioned contributing to various scholarships such as the Quiz Bowl and Diversity Week Travel Study scholarships and providing monthly forums, which included this year’s enticing Yearbook Forum, among many.

Orr said he made “incredible efforts” to speak to as many student organizations as possible this semester.

“I don’t think we can effectively represent our students without talking to our student organizations,” Orr said.

He continued by saying he has spoken to over 30 different student organizations thus far.

Orr said that while this is a very fulfilling semester, SGA will aspire to have an even more fulfilling spring semester. Orr said that there are several projects that he still wants to do before his term as SGA president is up, including gaining more information on internship opportunities and providing them to students, setting up a résumé drop box and taking part in the chancellor search, which is a big priority.

Another priority of Orr’s is to expand the UTM’s voter turnout for SGA elections. Orr said only 20 percent of the national student body comes to the polls for SGA elections, and UTM only has a 12 percent voter turn out.

“We have to do something to make sure that our voter turnout improves,” said Orr.

As a result, the first thing that SGA is doing in hopes to improve this percentage is to advertise the SGA elections more by the way of three gigantic banners being placed on campus.

In other news, legislation to implement a Merit-Based Scholarship Program for International Students was presented to the Senate. This piece of legislation would provide at least ten merit-based academic scholarships, each worth $3,000 per semester (including summer semesters), to be awarded to the most financially needy international students. These students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and show some other remarkable academic merit.

This piece of legislation has not, yet, been passed. Rather, it has been referred to the Multicultural Affairs Committee for further revision and research.

The Student Organization Coordinator search has been extended to the second week of January.

Erin Smith of the Academic Affairs Committee informed SGA that West Star will not be participating in this year’s Youth Leadership Summit. This will not affect UTM’s participation, however.

“It [Youth Leadership Summit] is a major recruitment opportunity for our school,” said Smith.

Coordinator Laura Humphrey is encouraging all individuals to become Pep leaders next year. Pep leaders are a way to interact with different sets of students that you would otherwise not see on a daily basis. They are looking for a two-week commitment at the beginning of the next school year. This is for a week of training and the Freshmen Welcome Week. Pep leaders should also keep Mondays at 12 noon open for the General Studies session, where you will further guide your incoming freshmen.

“It’s a very rewarding experience to know that you’ve helped a new group of students,” Humphrey said.

Pep leader applications are due by December 15 at 5 p.m. and are available online. Old pep leaders need not re-apply.

Josh Isbell informed SGA that Greek Life Coordinator Louis Ragdale agreed to give Greek points for a recycling competition during Greek Week. Whoever brings in the most recycled goods will receive Greek points and awards. The money gained from the recycled goods will go directly back into the recycling program, in hopes to make it bigger and better.