SGB focuses on national, Board elections

Two Board members were absent as the Student Government Board met Tuesday night, leaving the remaining seven to discuss the upcoming homecoming events on campus and the national and SGB elections.

Board President James Landreneau announced to about 20 people gathered in Nordy’s Place that the Board is officially endorsing Board members Alex Murdoch and Olivia Armstrong, who could not attend the public meeting because they were at Meet the Candidates event for homecoming, in their bids for homecoming court.

Board member Gordon Louderback took the opportunity to reiterate Landreneau’s endorsement, and to remind students of homecoming events on campus, as well as a special halftime presentation during Saturday’s football game against Louisville. Louderback urged Student Alumni Association members to sign up through the SSA website for halftime field access to sing happy birthday to the University.

“Everyone get excited, because it’s going to be a very long and fun weekend for homecoming,” Louderback said.

Landreneau outlined SGB’s presidential election plans, announcing that they will hold their first student watch party for the vice presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 11, at 8:45 p.m. in Nordy’s Place. He encouraged students to attend even if they aren’t politically active, adding that future events will include another student watch party for the final presidential debate on Oct. 27 and a final results watch party.

“It will not be political, besides watching the debates on the TV screen. We won’t be arguing or anything,” Landreneau said.

Board member Halim Genus said the specific voting locations within the William Pitt Union for registered students residing in the Litchfield Towers or the Schenley Quad are still under discussion, but that the combination will most likely include the Ballroom and Assembly room.

Upcoming elections discussion turned to the SGB election taking place on Nov. 15, as the Judicial Committee introduced a voting referendum to the audience.

An identical version of the referendum, which proposed that students would have the ability to vote for eight Board members and a president — instead of five members and a president, as it currently stands — was rejected by the previous Board last year.

Within the reintroduced referendum, the Judicial Committee argued that “students at the University should be allowed to put together a vote that consists of a Board that they find to personally meet their needs.”

The Board chose to table the referendum, which will be put to a vote next meeting, but Landreneau stressed its timeliness.

“I want to get these introduced, because our time is dwindling as a Board,” he said. “I want to make sure that there is enough time prior to the SGB election to sort this out.

Allocations

Engineers for Sustainable Medical Development requested $1,884.23 to attend a conference in Seattle, Wash. The Board approved $1,884.13 and denied 10 cents due to rounding in line with the Allocations recommendation.

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers requested $547.68 to run two soldering workshops. The Board approved $175.20 for soldering irons and denied $372.48 for one-time expenses in line with the Allocations recommendation.

Read the rest of the allocations notes online at pittnews.com.

Plant to Plate requested $1,902.38 for operational supplies for the year. The Board approved $1,853.73 and denied $48.65 for rounding and unneeded supplies in line with the Allocations recommendation.

Quidditch Club of Pittsburgh requested $1,164.44 to attend a competition in Maryland. The Board approved the request in full in line with the Allocations recommendation.

Pitt Club Cross Country requested $1,000 for two teams to compete in a competition. The Board approved the request in full in line with the Allocations recommendation.

Alpha Phi Omega requested $2,966.56 for three registration fees, three plane tickets and a hotel room to attend a conference in Anaheim, Calif. The Board approved $2,341.56 and denied $625.

STAND requested $3,100 for an Afro-pop music group and a dance company for a cultural event. The Board approved $2,000 and denied $1,100 for refreshment expenses.