by LaShawn Oglesby

On Mon. SGA’s committees and various senators were all ablaze with information pertaining to possible and upcoming events, such as an Easter egg hunt contest, changes in VSU housing on campus, and a possible proposal to raise the GPA requirement for incoming students.

The student affairs committee wants to raise the GPA requirement for incoming students so that when students graduate from VSU their degree will be taken more seriously.

“I think if we go ahead and start weeding out those people who really don’t want to be in college by raising that GPA, then we’re helping out everyone in the institution,” Senior Senator Quineshia Claiborne said. “However, I do understand that that’ll probably raise tuition if our enrollment starts to go down because of that, but I feel like at some point it’s give and take.” Claiborne said.

The current GPA requirements to get into VSU can be found on VSU’s website on the admissions page. (LOOK UP GPA REQ)
Senior senator Briana “Cheree” Copeland discussed the spring 2015 VSU housing newsletter. According to the newsletter, prices for rent are being reduced 3.5-11 percent for the 2015-2016 academic year.

These price changes will be for the Centennial, Converse, Georgia and Hopper residence halls. The newsletter can be found on VSU’s website on the Housing and Residence Life page.

The civic services and finance committee introduced ideas for a candy bag and balloons energizer booth and also a fundraiser at The Mix. The public relations committee introduced a contest idea that would be an Easter egg hunt with first, second and third place winners. The safety and security committee is in the process of discussing an armed robbery at VSU.

SGA also heard about an event honoring black history month. The event, “Black History Month Kick-Off,” will be Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the UC Magnolia Room.

According to an email sent by Trisha Taylor, there will be “various presentations and performances from VSU faculty, students and organizations, a very special performance by students from the
Valdosta community and a keynote address from Dr. Shirley Hardin. This will be a program to celebrate our past, critique the present and to ignite change to move forward.” The dress code for the event is business casual.

Media Art Geniuses asked SGA for nominations for its upcoming awards show. The “Evening of Geniuses” will be March 6 in Whitehead Auditorium.

For this awards show, there are nine categories total, including a humanitarian award, favorite residence hall, favorite Greek sorority and best photographer. SGA nominated three potential winners for every category and then narrowed it down to one nominee per category by voting.

Other student organizations are welcome to send in one nomination per category as well. Organizations can submit nominations until Feb. 6 at 11:59 p.m. If anyone has questions or concerns, they can email MAG at magvsu@gmail.com.