SGA Senate met in regular session last Thursday night to discuss a full agenda concerning Homecoming, Diversity Week and yearbooks.

SGA President James Orr announced and congratulated the newly elected Executive Council of Freshman Council. Orr also stated that every officer spot in SGA has been filled. Orr’s main report focused on career development. SGA is striving to do more in the way of internships for UTM students.

Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Gerald Ogg reported that The Tennessee Emergency Management Center has visited the UTM campus in hopes of preparing everyone for an earthquake. A drill was ran and all faculty and staff showed they were “very prepared” in handling the earthquake drill that would have registered a 6.7 on the Richter Scale.

Ogg also stated that two new search committees are being formed. The Coordinator of Student Organizations and Chancellor search committees are getting formed and making strides towards finding new professionals for each spot. The Chancellor search committee should be put together in one week, and they should be looking for candidates within one month.

Committee reports showed that students proposed there should be a drop box located somewhere on campus that students could drop résumés in for future employees.

Also, the faculty and staff of UTM are being asked to look at putting lights in two fairly dark places on campus for safety issues. First, SGA wants lights put up around the walking trail by Pacer Pond. SGA would like more lights and an earlier start time for the lights between the Elam Center and EPS.

Another big focus of the committee reports was the upcoming Diversity Week which will be Nov. 6-10. Monday will consist of a Diversity Bowl; Tuesday, an International Forum; Wednesday, a Diversity Rally; Thursday, a Global Studies Seminar, and Friday, a Mixer with international music.

The yearbook issue also dominated discussion during the committee reports. In surveys, students showed they wanted to keep The Spirit yearbook. Totals for the survey are as follows: 61 percent didn’t care about paying a fee, 58 percent wanted a hard-bound copy, 55 percent wanted a hard-bound copy every year, and 64 percent wanted to use their Skyhawk card picture in the yearbook.

The Spirit will be kept in a hard-bound style, with Skyhawk card pictures, and will be given on an annual basis.

The final report from the committee reports was that Homecoming elections will be held the week of Homecoming.

The next item of new business was from Information Technology Services Chief Information Officer Shannon Burgin. Digital printing services have been updated. Also, March 6 has been set for the Spring Technology Showcase and Trustee meeting.

The resignation of a Senator from the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences was passed.

Appointments of Senates at Large, two vacant seats in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Justices, and Bachelors of University Studies were all sworn in by Chief Justice Audrey Smith. The next SGA Senate meeting will be next Thursday at 9 p.m.