Wednesday’s SGA Campus Forum focused on the issues of visitation, campus lighting, student activities, the proposed new dorms and SGA itself.

President Jennifer Ogg opened the discussion on visitation, noting that visitation rules are a matter of state law and that it would be more effective to lobby for change with the rest of the University of Tennessee system than it would for UTM to work alone.

While opinions on round-the-clock visitation varied, a general consensus was formed that freshman visitation in particular was unfair. Haley Robinson, an SGA student justice, said that the rules for freshman visitation were “too strict” and that “a big part of college is learning how to be an adult.”

Lisa Evans, a member of a previous year’s Freshmen Council, drew on her experiences as a resident assistant when she offered a dissenting opinion, saying that visitation is a matter of consideration of a roommate.

Ogg closed the dialogue, saying that considering Martin’s geographical location 24-hour visitation would be unlikely and that UTM has more restrictive visitation rules than do most Southern universities.

Campus lighting was the next item on the agenda. Sen. Jeff Hall expressed interest in lighting around the fitness trail. Sen. Joey Pierce said that since no electrical wiring is in place near Pacer Pond, such a project would be extraordinarily expensive.

Evans said that she had observed lights on timers that were not activating after dusk, stating fear for personal safety as her primary concern.

In the matter of student activities, Sen. Beth Parnell suggested a wider variety of events offered to students. Hall concurred, stating his desire that UTM not be a “suitcase college.”

Pierce said that efforts to keep students on campus and/or in town over the weekends have failed repeatedly in the past.

Sen. Matt Maxey suggested that activities not be so focused on greek organizations, saying that other organizations need to be reached as well. Parnell agreed, saying that activities such as Homecoming are “overrun by greek competition.”

Ogg ended the structured discussion by asking those in attendance what SGA should be doing.what SGA should be doing.

Evans said, “We don’t see enough of SGA … it doesn’t seem like you’re doing very much,” but that it “surprised [her] to get an e-mail from SGA” about the Harber resolution over the campus listserv. Ogg said that information on all future bills pertaining to student life will be sent out to students via e-mail.

Suggestions were made on how to gather student input, from making more students aware that Senate meetings are open to the public to actually opening the floor to the public during Senate meetings.

Sen. Jacob Crouch said he felt that the most effective way of doing one’s job as SGA senator is to speak “man to man” with students, adding, “You’ve got to be willing and able to do your job. You’ve got to be thinking, ‘SGA’.”