Senate is beginning the long proposal process in hopes of changing the rule that doesn't allow shorts in Mercer/Triangle photo by Andrew Wilber

Temperatures in Dayton can reach well into the 80s this time of year, but because of Bryan’s policy regarding dress in Mercer, students are often forced to spend most of the day wearing pants. SGA Senate is making an attempt to change this, setting in motion the long proposal process that they hope will allow students to wear shorts in Mercer.

The proposal in its latest revision calls for students to be allowed “to wear to class, chapel and in Mercer at any time loose fitting shorts that are no shorter than two inches above the tops of the kneecaps,” said Dean of Community Life Bruce Morgan.

In order for a proposal from senate to become part of the student handbook, it must be approved first by the Student Life Council, which includes the voices of staff, faculty and students. If approved, it is then sent on to the Administrative Cabinet for final review.

The proposal, which was submitted several weeks ago, has now passed its first test––being approved by the Student Life Council––and has been submitted to the Administrative Cabinet, which may prove a more daunting obstacle.

“It still has a way to go,” said Freshmen Representative Joseph Murphy.

The proposal, which was written by Senior Representative Alaina Woodall and revised by the Student Life Committee, follows a long tradition of appeals by SGA Senate, according to Student Body Vice President Amanda Elswick. Some proposals, like the proposal to loosen regulation on body piercings, have been successful. Others, like proposed changes to church attendance and curfew, have been rejected.

In an article earlier this semester, Triangle Staff Writer Jesse Murray, a junior, asked whether or not SGA and students have a voice in policy on campus. The Administrative Cabinet’s decision on the shorts proposal will answer to that question.

Regardless of the outcome, students will not be allowed to wear shorts in chapel or Mercer during what’s left of this semester.

“The Administrative Cabinet will have final say on this, and the Cabinet does not meet again until next month,” said Morgan.

SGA may be adding two amendments to its constitution this semester in order to improve protocol for replacing class presidents who step down and to clarify the role of the class vice president.

Senate is considering a new means of appointing a class president in case of circumstances when the current president is no longer able to fulfill his duties, according to Vice President of the Student Body Amanda Elswick, a senior.

In the past, when a president has stepped down from his position, the vice president has taken the role of president and appointed a new class vice president. However, the functions of class president and vice president are totally different.

“Vice president is very task-oriented,” said Junior Class President Sarah Becker, who was initially elected vice president. “Being president is more about leading a team of leaders.”

Becker switched from being junior class vice president to president when junior Aaron Heidorn was disqualified from the position over the summer.

“At first I was upset about the change,” said Becker, “but over the summer God molded me to the office of president.”

Becker said that similar situations have not worked out as well in the past when class presidents have stepped down.

SGA is also considering altering the title name of “vice president” to a name that more accurately describes the position.

The role of class vice president is not necessarily to assist the class president, according to Elswick. It’s mostly to plan events. If SGA makes the amendment, the title of class vice president will be renamed to emphasize its event-planning role.

In order to make the amendments, a proposal must be made to the senate for discussion, according to Elswick. Members of SGA may voice their opinion on it, but the senate has the final decision in the amendment’s ratification.

The purpose of amendments is to correct the SGA Constitution so that SGA best serves the student body. Sometimes this means correcting mistakes, but it can also allow for changes as student needs vary from different years, according to Elswick.

Some Bryan students may recall making rather significant decisions about this time their freshman year. Remember? This week used to be election time for freshman SGA.

Well, it’s mid-September once again; however this week, there will be no elections. In fact there will not even be elections this month. In a collaborative decision by executive and Senior Class SGA members, freshman elections will not take place until Oct. 18, the day after Fall Break.

Triangle photo by Lana Douglas

The decision will hopefully result in a more prepared Freshman Class SGA, according to Senior Class Female Representative Alaina Woodall.

“We want the freshmen to understand why we do this,” Woodall said, referring to running for SGA. “We [SGA] don’t have power; we have influence. We provide a voice to the administration.”

In the past, freshman SGA elections have usually ended up being more like popularity contests than elections for student government positions, according to Woodall. She attributes this trend to the fact that most freshman candidates simply don’t understand the specific positions, and the responsibilities of those positions, well enough this early in the semester.

Pushing the elections back a month will do two things, according to Woodall. First, it will give students and candidates about a month longer to get to know each other. Secondly, it will allow SGA more time to both communicate and demonstrate the importance of the individual positions to candidates.

“Over the last few years, freshman SGA has seemed to struggle, although some struggling is to be expected,” said Vice President of Student Body Amanda Elswick.

Putting together huge events can be daunting for students, particularly their first year of college, she said.

“There’s so much growing and changing that goes on freshman year. There are some things they [candidates] think they want, then when school starts and they get into the swing of things their feelings about it change,” Elswick said.

Sometimes the titles of individual positions can be deceiving according to Sophomore Class Male Representive Jonathan Warner.

“Those who are interested in being president may view the position as something prestigious and powerful, but it’s really a servant role,” Warner said. “Senators have the most power as far as polices and making decisions.”

The role of vice president is “decisive,” according to Warner, because it’s mostly an events-planning role. The vice president has a significant hand in the freshmen-led events such as the Freshman Talent Show and the Spring Banquet.

Warner said he believes there will be “a noticeable difference” in the freshman SGA’s ability to work together by giving them more time to prepare.

Freshman Scott Rieckhoff, who is planning on running for class treasurer, said he is in favor of the new election date mostly because it’ll give freshmen a chance to get to know each other a little better before elections.

“[As a freshman] you meet new people every day,” Rieckhoff said. “You also meet other people who are running.”

Until elections start, SGA representatives will be making themselves available for any freshman considering running for office, according to Woodall. Potential candidates will be allowed to sit in on SGA meetings this month Sept. 13- 25.

Alison Young, student body president

“SGA is more than a bunch of people who sit around a room and discuss issues of the school; it is people who are proactive about the school and have a passion for the students,” said junior Allison Young, student body president-elect.

“Servanthood through leadership” is Young’s vision for SGA next year.

Young’s biggest passion is volleyball. She is co-captain of the Bryan volleyball team and has been to several European countries including Austria and the Czech Republic to compete

She likes to spend her free time reading, playing Wii Sport and Rockband. Her favorite book is “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers.

Amanda Elswick, student body vice president

Senior Amanda Elswick, student body vice president-elect, grew up on a horse farm in Richmond, Va.

Elswick enjoys watching old Mickey Mouse cartoons. However, most of her free time is spent reading or playing her Taylor guitar.

“I’m kind of a bit of a coffee snob,” said Elswick describing her coffee preference, “I like to grind my own bold-flavored coffee and drink it black.”

Her favorite memories include cooking with her mom, going on mission trips with her family to El Salvador and learning to play the guitar from her Dad.

Amy Morris, vice president of on-campus events

Triangle photo by Staff Writer Lana Douglas.

“SGA’s purpose is not to dictate events; we would really like students to bring their own event ideas to SGA so that we can help coordinate them,” said freshman Amy Morris, vice president of on-campus events-elect.

One of the possible activities for next year is “Movies on the Lawn,” she said.

Some of the interesting things she has done include living in Cambodia, taking surfing lessons in Australia, jumping onto a moving train and eating a fried tarantula. She says she likes goofing off with friends and trying new things.

Her favorite Bible verse right now is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Morris’ favorite cartoons are “Arthur” and “The Magic School Bus.”

Chad Byers, vice president of off-campus events

Triangle photo by Staff Writer Lana Douglas.

Junior Chad Byers, vice president of off-campus events-elect, hopes to draw from his experience working for student life camp last summer to aid him in his new SGA position.

He enjoys hiking, being outdoors and playing ultimate Frisbee®. Byers said he is taking up art after attending the CLF “Arts and Missional Living” retreat last weekend.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 is one of his favorite Bible verses, and his favorite TV show is “Scrubs.”

Mostly, however, he said he enjoys friendly conversation and getting to know people.