Building unity in the Westminster community
SLATE CARPENTER: OUR PLATFORM
Find the Slate Carpenter platform below. Our entire platform is budget dependent. Each new point is denoted by a dash (-). Every line ending with a star (*) indicates a Slate Carpenter addition.
PRESIDENT- CARL CARPENTER
-Look into installing a water feature in Lake Brittain for the enjoyment of all Westminster and the Community*
-Serve as a representative of SGA to the Board of Trustees, College Administration, faculty, college community, student body, and the public
-Work to assist Special Events with planning the Big City Trip*
-Research, organize, and oversee the spending of rollover funds in a way that will best serve the student body and campus community
-Utilize SGA funds in the most efficient way and valuable manner possible to ensure the greatest benefit to students
-Serve as ex-officio, non-voting member of all SGA committees
-Preside at all Executive Council and Senate Meetings
-Sign and approve all Senate legislation
-Continue to act as a liaison between the Slate, Senate, Student Body, faculty, and administration
VICE PRESIDENT- ANNA DANIELS
-Oversee the standing committees of the slate, including platform goals of each committee head
Meet monthly to check in on progress
Attend committees’ mandatory monthly meeting (when possible) and meet with each committee head*
Work with the President to keep all members on track
Assign each senator to a committee
-Oversee the planning and coordination of Volleyrock with Volley rock Committee
-Outdoor volleyball tournament (weather permitting)
-Look into continuing and adding more events to Volleyrock*
Loser bracket activities
DJ playing music the whole event
Look into new food options (possibly free)
Create a Volleyrock committee involving students at large and senators
Look into inflatable obstacles course/bounce house*
Look into getting lawn games (cornhole, ladder ball, frisbees, etc.)*
Incorporate new ideas from the Volleyrock Committee*
Look into having more food, activities, etc. throughout the day in order to have consistent participation for the entire duration of the event*
Look into food trucks*
-Continue to recognize Senator of the Month with help from the Slate
-Continue and Improve Fallfest*
Look into event being the Saturday after SGA Day (scheduling permitting)*
Continue having extra events
Balloon Artist
Inflatables
Free buffet
Face painting
Bring back cornhole tournament*
Have student performers*
Have a DJ for after the student performers*
-Create senator folders with outlines of their duties
-Assume all duties of the President if he is unable to do so
SECRETARY- RACHEL TRAUNER
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
Work alongside committee chair members to reinforce attendance and participation in mandatory monthly meetings*
Keep a detailed record of attendance from each monthly meeting and minutes recorded by each committee chair*
-Record and announce the attendance of senators during Student Government Meetings
This includes documenting and displaying attendance of the SGA independent committee meetings held throughout each month
-Take detailed records of each Student Government Meeting
-Provide Westminster Campus with accurate minutes of each Student Government Meeting
-Reinstate Student Liaisons from each class to attend Slate meetings*
These students will be nominated during meetings and voted on and elected by a majority vote of the senate*
These students will act as the voices of their class, both for the senators and students at large*
-Recognize senators for perfect attendance
Reward each senator with perfect attendance for the month with gift cards from slate designated locations
-Recognize the birthdays of each senator
Each Birthday will receive a candy of their choosing
Birthdays that do not fall within the academic year will be celebrated at the last meeting of each academic year*
-Implement a Compliment Jar*
Have each senator write, anonymously, something positive about another senator and then deposit it into a jar*
After each meeting, a list of compliments will be compiled to display to the senate at the following meeting*
-Start the process to enact a Bylaw revision that calls for a mandatory Attendance Policy*
This Policy would require senators to attend a mandatory number of Student Government events in order to receive their SGA apparel*
Senators would need to attend four SGA sponsored events, two of which must be outside of their designated committees*
The attendance of each event would be documented on a sign in sheet at each event and then tallied into a master sheet that would keep track of each member's’ overall attendance*
TREASURER- NATALEIGH KERR
-Work closely with the Student Concerns Chair to assess and address larger campus projects which can be brought to fruition through excess/rollover funds from the SGA budget*
-Provide acute attention and responsibility in developing and maintaining a functional, balanced budget for SGA
-Present weekly updates during my executive report on monetary transactions that occur, sharing organization spending and revenues
-Assist the Finance Chair with oversight for the Audits & Allocations process
Continue the previously instilled informational session in the spring prior to A&A to inform organization treasurers on how to prepare for the process
Host an informational workshop in the fall for SLAC-approved organization treasurers and/or presidents on how to maintain their budget, better organize their financial materials, and have a roundtable discussion on ideas of how to increase the success of fundraising on campus for the upcoming academic year*
-Provide individual executive and committee chairs on Slate Carpenter with a running balance of their budget throughout their term
Affirm that each Slate chair has a clear understanding of Business Office deposit, check disbursement, and reimbursement procedures so that organization invoices can be paid in a timely fashion
-Serve as a continual resource for campus organizations concerning fiscal budgeting, processes, and concerns
-Evaluate and authorize all contracts and receipts related to SGA
ACADEMICS- AUSTIN ARRIGO
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Keep SGA present during finals week for students
-Look into faculty/ department chair “fireside chat”*
-Work with library and learning center to see what is working for them and the students and what is not working to see what needs changed (hours, tutor availability etc.)
Make sure resources provided are actually useful to students
Make a system that easily allows students to tell us what is working for them and what we could do to help them academically (possibly a twitter account for Westminster academics that post reminders about resources and other useful things, but also acts as a way for students to easily tell us what they like and don’t like)*
-Continue maintenance of Keurig in library
-Westminster Academic Twitter account (or other form of social media)*
College students are always on their phones so that is our best way to reach them*
Have an account that post reminders about academic events, academic opportunities, library hours, learning center hours, remind them of academic resources, and any academic related information
Ask them if they want changes or something new to aid them in their academic success at Westminster*
-Act as a liaison between the students and faculty and slate and present the students concerns
-Continue mentor program for exploratory students to let them see what major fits them best
Continue mentor program where exploratory students can be paired up with upperclassmen in their potential major to give them a better idea what the major holds for them
Hold an open house for exploratory students allowing them some time to go around and talk to all the professors of different majors and get a better understanding of what each major holds for them (even open up open houses for prospective students to exploratory students to allow them to interact with our professors)*
Allows for exploratory students to see a major from the students eyes and from the professor’s*
DIVERSITY- JORDAN SHERMAN
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Promote diversity on campus in a positive manner.
-Look into the completion of the “Safe Zone” certification*
Possibility to make the “Safe Zone” training mandatory for large campus groups: FreshStart, S.W.A.T., RA/RD, etc.*
-Work alongside diversity organizations to bring SLAC-approved diversity centered speakers, and events, to campus.
-Further build relations with Diversity organizations on campus*
Work with the Public Relations chair to include a “Diversity Spotlight” in the Toilet Paper each week that either gives a short excerpt about the different organizations, or highlights the diversity organization's upcoming events*
-Serve as a liaison among the Office of Diversity Services, diversity organizations, and the student body to promote and highlight diversity on Westminster’s campus.
-Establish more participation with diversity on campus. Push towards inclusion, proactiveness, and desire to listen and learn about all the different types of diversity*
-Work to continue bringing diversity events on campus throughout the year, especially during November (Diversity Awareness Month).
“Tour the World” trip at the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.
Guest speaker (poet, dancer, singer, etc.)
Large cultural event towards the end of the month
Continue to help Diversity Services, and other organizations involved, make “Celebration: An International Festival” a successful event.
Broaden “Don’t Categorize, Individualize”*
Look into the creation of a campus-wide organization
More marketing (shirts, buttons, bracelets, etc.)*
Continuing incorporation into Diversity Awareness Month*
FINANCE- TYLER SHEETS
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Hold informational meetings for club presidents and treasurers early in the spring semester to discuss the Audits and Allocations process
-Create a form of communication between finance chair and all organizations of Westminster which can be used to send out information and answer questions that may arise*
-Create an Audits and Allocations worksheet that will be distributed to each SLAC-approved organization prior to the informational meeting to facilitate the audit/allocation learning process ahead of time
-Ensure allocation times and dates are beneficial and convenient to the various organizations on campus
-Ensure requirements for receiving allocated monies are fair and sufficiently distributed
-Keep financial records in order to discuss financial situations in the future
-Train the Finance Committee on the auditing and allocation procedures
-Audit SGA
-Be more accessible to SLAC-approved organizations that are in need of financial assistance
-Hold the Audits and Allocations meetings together in early to mid April for all SLAC-approved student organizations that are eligible for SGA funding and ensure that each organization is treated as equal as possible while following proper procedure and protocol for auditing each organization and reviewing allocation requests
SERVICE- LIZ SMITH
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Love a Grandparent*
Reach out to local nursing and assisted living homes to form relationships between Westminster students and the community’s elders*
Take them to appointments, grocery shop for them, and spend time with them*
Be a local grandchild to them if their’s are not around*
-Continue the Titan Service Cup in the fall semester
Show appreciation and recognition to the service work at WC
Have different organizations compete with service work for donations to the philanthropy of their choice
-Continue the Lakeside Craft Fair in the fall semester
Donate the proceeds of admission fees to Stop Hunger
Revamp admission and fees to receive greater monetary donations to the cause
-Continue the Service Drive during Greek Week
-Create a recycling competition among the dorm buildings*
Keep track of each building’s recycling collections*
The building with the most recycling will get money donated to a philanthropy of its choice*
-Continue Finals Fairy and Finals Elf on the Shelf
Send requested gifts throughout finals week
-Continue to work with the Agape House to raise money
Go beyond the dollar a day, what can we DO without spending money
Increase our involvement
-Prince of Peace Clothing Drive*
Collaborate with ENACTUS* Employment Workshop to collect professional clothing to donate to Prince of Peace*
Involve the faculty, staff and community to donate clothes. Put collection boxes in local church and businesses (if allowed)*
-Continue to write letters to the troops
Have all organizations write letters to the troops for the holidays
-Collaborate with SPARK for service projects and support*
-Look into working with Sodexo and the Sustainability Committee to donate unused food*
Use the scraps and unused food for compost with the Field Station*
Work with Dr. Krantz*
Work with Sodexo to promote the green to-go containers for food*
Incorporate a green cup to save money and reduce waste*
-Implement any feasible service ideas that are brought to SGA
-Collaborate with PR Chair to run an awareness campaign on social media on campus about The Trevor Project*
Suicide prevention on college campuses*
SPECIAL EVENTS- MACKENZIE BASALLA
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Work closely with Vice President to plan Volleyrock in the spring semester (2017)
Providing further entertainment or activities for students no longer participating in volleyball tournament*
-Possibly have an event to kick off the New Fall semester: “Who Let the Dogs Back?”*
Have professors bring dogs on campus if they have them*
Look to see if local shelters will participate*
This could be a great way to promote/help out the shelter with adoption of dogs*
Have the event set up in the quad with different sections of dogs*
Students would be able to go around and play with the dogs provided*
Allows them to get to see friends, de-stress as classes are starting, and get acclimated back into the swing of school*
Possibly have other organizations set up stands with how to de-stress during the school week/different ways to stay positive*
Possibly have Titan Radio set up a live remote interviewing students, playing music, and promoting Titan Radio*
-Continue the Pirates Game trip in the fall semester (2017)
Look into free t-shirt days and food discounts/packages
-Look into a Halloween haunted trip for the fall semester (2017)*
-Work with the Vice President and Public Relations to plan and promote a successful Fall Fest
Possibly include:
Painting pumpkins, carving pumpkins, haunted bio trail
Possibly have the even on a Saturday afternoon
Have every organization on campus have a booth with a different activity*
Organizations would sign up prior to the event so they are insured a spot*
They would be scattered around the Fall Fest area so that students are not crowded/will stay longer because they would want to see every table that is there*
Encourage the whole community and faculty to come out
-Provide more options for trips to Pittsburgh throughout the year
For example:
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Various museums (Warhol, Natural History, etc)
The Waterfront
Market Square
Ice Skating at PPG
-Look into planning a Big City Trip to be held in the spring semester (2018)
Create a poll on my.westminster for student body to vote on location of spring city trip
Cities may include New York, Chicago, Niagara Falls, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
Once a city has been chosen, work on a list of fun/affordable restaurants and attractions to provide to students attending the trip
Utilize the various forms of social media to possibly incorporate the list on twitter, Facebook, etc.
STUDENT CONCERNS- TANNER EASLEY
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Continue or improve Fireside Chats
Increase frequency or allow more opportunities for questioning
-Oversee establishment of a student pantry system*
Pantries would be located in every student resident building*
Anyone can donate food to the pantry*
A pantry would be kept stocked with items such as salt, pepper, sugar, creamer, flour, etc.*
Any resident of the building can take from the pantry and are encouraged to donate to it as it would be run on an honor system*
-Work alongside Diversity chair to increase handicap accessibility on campus*
Ensure all handicap doors are fully functional*
Advocate for elevators to be installed when dorms are renovated*
Add an additional handicap parking space outside the Titan Club or find an alternative solution to the lack of handicap parking*
-Investigate more parking options*
-Maintain relationship with Sodexo and negotiating dining options
-Research the implementation of security cameras in advantageous locations*
Student parking lots*
Outside student resident buildings*
Inside Mckelvey Campus Center*
-Guarantee accessibility to hear student concerns
Create a Student Concerns Facebook page*
E-mail
Personal messaging if necessary
-Look into providing more study areas*
Open up the lounge on the second floor of Eichenauer to students*
Ensure established study areas in buildings are always available*
Advocate for study areas when dorms are renovated*
-Promote additional off-campus housing options*
-Work to restore recreational equipment in the resident buildings*
Ping-pong table in Russell*
Pool table in Eichenauer*
Look into adding other recreational options in the resident buildings*
PUBLIC RELATIONS- MATT MCDONALD
-Uphold the bylaw revision for mandatory, monthly, committee meetings and keep written records of the information discussed for regular SGA meetings*
-Work alongside the Secretary to distribute minutes from the meetings via social media*
-Look into purchasing digital announcement screens to be placed in high-traffic locations throughout campus (ex. The TUB, Library, Titan Club, etc.)*
SGA announcements and reminders would appear on the screens*
SLAC approved organizations could send in announcements to appear on the screen*
By doing so, we would eliminate the waste of paper organizations use to make announcements/ advertise events*
Promote any event hosted by SGA*
-Develop a list of all SLAC approved organizations and the corresponding PR Chair/ Representative*
Send all SGA announcements/ event reminders to a network of PR chairs for them to disperse to students in their organizations*
Likewise, have organization representatives send their announcements/ reminders to be announced at SGA meetings during announcements*
In addition, representatives could send in announcements to be put on potential digital announcement screens*
-Work with Special Events and Vice President to promote Fall Fest and Volley Rock
Better promote Fall Fest, SGA Day and Volley Rock by giving incentives out via social media
-Better utilize social media to connect and build a better relationship with the student body*
Live tweet during SGA meetings to allow followers to know exactly what is going on and what to look for in the minutes*
Utilize Facebook and Twitter polls to give student body a say on relevant issues*
When available, use the live Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram features to live broadcast SGA and important school-wide events*
Create an SGA Snapchat account to advertise events in snap stories, as well as take live snaps at events*
Respond to tweets, repost Instagram photos, respond to Facebook comments
Create incentives for them to like posts and/or retweet them
-Continue an electronic version of the toilet paper to distribute via email and social media
Also hang the toilet paper in the MCC restrooms
In addition, have a daily news post on social media with the campus/sports events for the day*
-Work with the Holcad to have a Student Government column where important issues and concerns brought to the Student Government can be discussed*
-Encourage students to come to SGA meetings by utilizing all forms of available social media*
-Look into submitting Snapchat filters for larger events such as Fall Fest, SGA Days, and Volley Rock*
-Continue SGA Day each semester
Look into ways to better SGA Days such as bring food trucks to campus for the day*
-Work with the Service chair to run an awareness campaign about the Trevor Project on social media and throughout campus*
Work with the Diversity Chair to incorporate a “Diversity Spotlight” in the Toilet Paper*