Discussions on housing, summer events and hurricane relief, as well as the second piece of legislation for the 54th General Assembly, topped the Student Government Association Senate meeting Wednesday night.

SGA President James Orr explained the various events SGA undertook during the summer break.

Orr said he met with administrators over the summer to discuss the construction of a possible new student recreation center, which was prompted by similar discussion last year. Orr said senators will be traveling to Murray State University to look at their facility.

SGA hopes to have the project complete by 2009.

Orr also said he hopes to continue the Presidents’ Roundtable started by his predecessor, Dusty Dean. He also hopes SGA will be able to have a permanent place on UTM’s new computer portal.

A short-term goal for SGA, said Orr, will be to fund an internship coordinator who would help students in all colleges find internships.

Orr said the travel study fee that passed last spring has already generated $55,000 for students who want to travel-study. One hundred fifty scholarships could be given.

Finally, Orr charged the senate to focus on the students.

“Our job is to make sure that we serve the student body,” Orr said. “We have to make sure we are extremely visible and let the students know whatever they hear or read about SGA may not be true.”

Director of Housing Earl Wright explained housing delays to the body and told senators that everything is being done to finish the behind-schedule University Villages as soon as possible.

Wright said plans are moving forward to raze McCord and build another new dorm. The new dorms will not be apartments, but rather of the more “traditional” style.

Senators also pledged to help the campus raise $30,000 for the American Red Cross to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief.

SGA’s first piece of legislation for the semester, brought to the floor from Sen. Jeremy Johnson, Campus Observation Committee chair.

The resolution, which passed unanimously in a voice vote, requires that The Pacer, UTM’s student newspaper, “publish a weekly editorial ... which is to be published without any changes or alterations by the Pacer staff.”

Johnson said the resolution was necessary for students to receive a “fair, balanced and consistent” report of SGA news.

Senators applauded as the resolution passed.

The Pacer has challenged the SGA resolution as being a violation of the First Amendment and discussions are ongoing.

SGA also accepted resignations from Sens. Kevin Anderson and Jake Dunavant.

SGA’s election commission and executive assistants were sworn in by Chief Justice Erin Young.