Candice Karas and Matthew Elsroad were appointed to two senate vacancies last night during the Student Government Association’s first meeting of semester.

President Jennifer Ogg said that SGA's goal for the semester would focus around communication with the entire student body. Ogg then went on to thank those who helped out with freshmen studies week and then announced a publicity position was open in SGA.

After addressing the open positions, Ogg approached the students about the facility fee of $25 that had been included in UTM's tuition this fall. She said that this fee is not uncommon at other universities, and that in the midst of UTM's budget crisis, it is a necessary fee. To address the use of the funds a council is being put together to meet with faculty to address how to put these funds to best use.

Dr. Katie High announced to the floor the next LEAD academy meeting and announced that as of spring 2004 the Washington Center Internships will be available. Furthermore, Dr. High went on to explain that these internships were located in Washington, D.C., and counted as 15 credit hours towards a degree. Dr. High further explained that financial aid and students that qualified for scholarships could use that funding to assist them in paying the $10,000 tuition fee, and that UTM would put up $4,000 of assistance.

Jeremy Elrod presented SGA's 2003 governmental affairs goals for the semester. "I want to get students together for the important meetings, and to meet some important people," said Elrod.

SGA then acknowledged a plan of action to take place on September 11 to honor the victims of terrorist attacks that occurred two years ago. SGA heard and agreed to an idea of creating and distributing red, white and blue ribbons to students to wear.

Following these elections, the Maxey Bill was presented. Matt Maxey explained that this proposed bill would give SGA preparation of future bills to be proposed before they were to be and after being voted up or down by council. Maxey stated that, "the main goal of this bill would be to make more productive ways to tell senators of what's coming up, and to avoid discussing bills on the floor by keeping them in committee."

The next issue of new business was creating an elections commission. It was stated that they were also looking for new senators and freshmen council members.

The topic of SGA's Pacer articles was then brought up. It was made known that SGA's former mandatory articles would now be made voluntary, and it was then defined that the subject of the articles could be about more than SGA. It could also include various student issues.

During the announcements, Kevin Teets presented Samantha Young, technical editor of The Pacer, to the floor to present to SGA the controversial events that have been taking place in Ellington Hall. These events involved students' rights to privacy and their personal computers being invaded. SGA agreed to get a committee together to speak with faculty about this concern.

The next SGA meeting is at 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 in the legislative chambers of the university center.