Texas Wesleyan’s Student Government Association inducted Dr. Cary Adkinson as SGA’s new faculty adviser at Friday’s general business meeting.

Adkinson said he is very excited about taking on the role.

“I think student governance is one of the life bloods of Texas Wesleyan University,” said Adkinson, an associate professor of criminal justice. “(It’s) an opportunity for us to help the young people not only govern on our campus but also to help students develop leadership and communication skills for moving on and going on into the business and corporate fields. Those two things are primarily what I am most excited for.”

Adkinson said SGA reached out to him for the position.

“That means a lot to me when students will reach out and ask for me to be involved with things like this because that means I have developed a good relationship of trust and mentorship and for them to reach out,” he said. “That means that I have been doing my job.”

SGA President Alyssa Hutchinson said Adkinson brings a unique set of skills to the table since he worked in the criminal justice field as an officer and detective.

“I am very excited to have Dr. A as my advisor,” Hutchinson said.

SGA passed three bills, including one for the Student Theatrical Experience Fund, which provides a discount on Theater Wesleyan tickets for students. School of Arts and Letters Representative Kaylia Brown presented the bill.

“Students have expressed the need for financial assistance to accommodate Theatre Wesleyan ticket costs of $5 for plays,” Brown said.

During the 2017-2018 season, SGA provided more than 200 students with the opportunity to see productions at Theatre Wesleyan through the fund, Brown said.

“The Texas Wesleyan Student Government Association encourages the student experience with information and support for on-campus activities in every way possible,” she said.

SGA passed a participation bill that offers money to organizations that send a representative to general business meetings throughout the semester. Those who attend the most meetings will be granted money, Head Representative Taylor Peyton said.

“A participation program has proved to be effective in increasing student organization engagement with SGA in previous semesters,” Peyton said.

In order to qualify for a monetary award, organizations must be in good standing and have the participants sign in and stay for at least the first 45 minutes of general business meetings.

The last bill passed was for reusable SGA water bottles; it was presented by Freshman Representative Gregory Blaser.

“This will help the Student Government Association achieve their goal of putting more water bottle stations around campus and encouraging students to use them to help reduce the waste from plastic water bottles,” Blaser said.

Blaser said the bottles would help make Texas Wesleyan more sustainable.

SGA’s general business meetings are held every Friday at 2 p.m. in the SGA Chambers located in the Sid Richardson building.