Texas Wesleyan’s Student Government Association swore in Associate Professor of Microbiology Christopher Parker as a second adviser at Friday’s meeting.
Parker said he has a strong interest in making sure students are doing what they need to be doing. He also recognizes rifts between Wesleyan’s administration, faculty and staff, and students, and he wants to work towards mending them.
“I think that we all need to remember that we are all in this together. We are all trying to get to the same thing, we are trying to go in the same direction,” Parker said. “I think sometimes we get a little adversarial, and I am interested in seeing that be rectified.”
Parker said he supports SGA because representation is important in getting things done.
“Waiting for someone else to do it for you is not going to happen,” he said.
SGA President Alyssa Hutchinson said she is excited to have him as an adviser alongside Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Cary Adkinson. She expects him to be a cool head in SGA.
“He is one of my favorite people in the biology department,” Hutchinson said.
SGA Vice President Nicholas Davis said he is excited to see what Parker will bring to the table.
“We are poised to do great things for SGA this year, and I am looking forward to working and growing with Dr. Parker’s input in this administration,” Davis said.
At Friday’s meeting, SGA passed a bill to fund a stargazing party, authored by SGA Treasurer Anahita Keer.
“It is mission of the SGA to interact with the administration, faculty, staff, and students on behalf of the student body for the benefit of the students and student life on campus,” Keer said.
A better environment is one of SGA’s goals for the semester and this event will call attention to light awareness, Keer said.
“Stargazing will be a community building event,” Keer said.
SGA will purchase and provide two sets of binoculars for the event to better see the stars.
“This is going to be a community night,” Keer said. “People can get blankets, chill out, have snacks.”
The event will take place behind the library, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., the night of a crescent moon.
Keer also presented the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Tabling. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and SGA passed the tabling to provide purple stickers and candy.
“The reason why I am so passionate about this is because last semester I did a whole research project on it,” Keer said. “I think it is a good thing for student government to be a part of.”
SGA members discussed hosting an event for Domestic Violence Awareness.
Keer also presented a bill called The First TxWes Tailgate Party that SGA passed at Friday’s meeting which allocates $100 for items such as blue and gold bandanas and body paint.
“Tailgating is part of the American football culture, and tailgating will be (part of) an effort to increase school spirit,” Keer said.
The tailgate party will take place Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. at Farrington Field.
SGA’s general business meetings are held every Friday at 2 p.m. in the SGA Chambers located in the Sid Richardson building.