News Release

Big SGA vote

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

One of the most important student elections in recent St. Cloud State history is April 12-14.

In addition to electing a president, vice president and 15 senators to the Student Government Association (SGA), students will vote on a proposed student-fee increase that could transform Atwood Memorial Center, the campus student union.

Visit the SGA voting web site.

The student fee increase question:

Shall the student union fee be increased by $2.70 with a potential maximum increase of $10.64 per credit, up to 12 credits per semester to upgrade and expand the Atwood Memorial Center so it may enhance services and opportunities?

A student-led campus committee, working with two architectural firms, has developed re-design proposals for Atwood that could become blueprints in 2012, construction in 2014 and new campus focal point in 2016.

A glass-enclosed area on the northwest corner could create a front porch for Atwood, offering a stunning vista to visitors entering campus along Sixth Street South.

A sun garden/winter garden on the south side would re-purpose 27,000 square-feet that now includes areas such as the Underground recreation center, Atwood Theatre and Alumni Room.

Also on the ballot will be a new SGA constitution which supporters say would streamline student government operations and better define the rights of St. Cloud State students.

The voting window is 8 a.m. April 12 through 3 p.m. April 14. SGA leaders will distribute a web site URL for online voting via students' HuskyNet e-mail, according to Lindsay Scherer, SGA public relations chair.

Plans call for a "Floats for Votes" online voting kiosk in Atwood 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, according to Samantha Ivey, SGA elections committee chair.

Students voting at the Atwood kiosk receive free root beer floots, courtesy of SGA, Scherer said.

The president serves as spokesperson, presides over weekly meetings and directs the work of SGA officers. The president also is a director for the Minnesota State University Student Association, which works on behalf of nearly 70,000 students attending Minnesota's seven state universities.

The vice president manages internal and day-to-day functions and maintains financial records and transactions.

Fifteen senators-at-large represent students. Write-in candidacies for senator are not uncommon.

An outdoor presidential debate, moderated by Sam Sterner, SGA vice president, was April 7 on the Atwood Mall. 

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