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Legislation the focus of final SGA meeting

Cougar News Staff

Amid allegations that its president committed fraud when she filed financial documents for her election campaign, the Student Government Association will convene its last meeting today. The SGA will try to focus its business on getting the remaining pieces of legislation through a senate vote and not on the investigation into the allegations against Dawona Miller.

David Burkley, the speaker pro tempore in the absence of Senate Speaker Jeff Hill, told The Daily Cougar after the previous meeting he expects todayis meeting to deal with a lot of legislation as itis the senateis last chance to do so until the 40th administration convenes. SGA committees have until 5 p.m. today to submit any remaining legislation.

Nonetheless, the two-minute public forum before every SGA meeting is a part of the meeting ­ as it is a mandatory segment before every senate meeting. Members of the general student body may attend the session and use that time to voice their opinions regarding SGA legislation or the investigation of Miller.

Rob Klementich, an officer for the SGA as student regent, said Dawona Miller should be present at todayis meeting, which is being held at 7:30 p.m. in the SGA conference room in the University Center Underground. The meeting will go on until all items of business ­ which includes every piece of legislation on the docket ­ are addressed.

Klementich, the only officer present in the SGA office Tuesday evening, said the meetingis purpose was not to deal with Milleris investigation, but rather to tie up loose ends on the legislative front.

"The investigation is still ongoing, so there might be some tension in the room, but itis not the focus of the meeting," he said.

At the last meeting, held March 12, two pieces of legislation met senate approval, including one that approved putting a bus stop at the temporary Honors College location. The stop has since been approved by the Universityis Transportation and Parking Committee and put in place.

A campus "Walk in the Dark," announced at the last meeting by SGA Vice President Jon Quintanilla, scheduled to coincide with todayis meeting, will highlight areas around campus that receive poor lighting after sundown ­ a cause of complaint from some students who fear being victims of nighttime crime. The campus survey will be held in conjunction with officers from the UH police department.

Another vote at that meeting made "Walk in the Dark" an annual event in an effort to bolster campus security.

One piece of legislation pending a vote would make SGA suggestion boxes available throughout the campus to increase communication between the student body and the SGA. The plan was discussed in the last meeting and could be voted on today.

Burkley did not return phone calls Tuesday night about details of the meeting.
 

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