SGA continues business despite opposition

One down, one dead and two to go. With the academic year more than halfway over, the Student Government Association's plan to improve campus through four major goals is making progress. In August, SGA planned to hold the Hoggard Lawn Hullabaloo, create the Teal Taxi, host a regional sustainability conference and implement a week of diversity of programming.

Student Body President Dan "Tango" Thorpe has been the biggest supporter of SGA's four goals.

"We laid out four tangible things we wanted to this year - things we could look into, research and change for students," Thorpe said.

The Hoggard Lawn Hullabaloo, intended to support the beginning of basketball season, attracted more than 600 students. Held Nov. 9, the event was a campout on Hoggard Lawn with live performances and games for students.

"I think it was a huge success," Thorpe said. "That program showed that if students have a vision, they can make it happen.

Organizers for next year's event have already begun their planning and are currently working on funding. Thorpe's only hope for 2008's Hullabaloo - warmer weather.

SGA's arguably largest and most controversial goal was the attempted implementation of the Teal Taxi. After the months of research and a campus-wide survey, Thorpe presented a 25-page proposal to SGA outlining his plan for an alternative shuttle system. The proposal, unanimously approved by SGA, called for a shuttle going downtown on weekend nights to pick up students and return them to drop-off points near area apartment complexes and on-campus.

After returning from winter break, administrators informed Thorpe and SGA they could not approve the alternative shuttle due to safety and liability reasons.

"I really don't think it's a failure," Thorpe said. "We did everything we needed to do, and I'm proud of SGA."

For those students curious about where the shuttle proposal stands now, Thorpe said, "If numerous students come to me or to SGA or the administration, we'll continue to look into it, but students need to do something."

SGA is also in the process of planning a regional sustainability conference, called the 2008 Carolina Collegiate Conference on Sustainability. The conference planning got off to bumpy start with leadership changing hands, but is now set for April 5. SGA has invited schools from across North Carolina and parts of South Carolina to participate in the drive-in conference.

"This is a great opportunity to talk about sustainability," Thorpe said. "We're not trying to tell people what to do, we're just trying to share ideas and gain knowledge."

Student Body Vice President Will Dennis has concerns about the prospect of UNCW holding such a conference.

"I don't think our community is as sustainable as should be a conference like this," Dennis said. "I know that it's going to happen, but I just don't know how good it'll be."

Finally, SGA has planned a series of diversity programming entitled Breaking Down Hate, organized by Vice President of Multicultural Affairs for SGA Stephen Greenwood.

A committee of students has been meeting since the beginning of the semester to outline programming opportunities. Beginning last week, the committee began passing out "diversity jelly beans." In March, the committee will host a presentation on intercultural conflict. The most contentious component of Breaking Down Hate is the hate wall, slated to hung in various areas of campus for a week beginning March 31. The wall will act as an uncensored forum where students can paint offensive terms they've experienced.

"I want people to have a better understanding of the implications of their speech," Greenwood said. "When you say something, it affects other people … it may have a significant impact on someone else."

Thorpe recognizes the challenges of implementing SGA's goals but maintains that it's possible with hard-working, dedicated people.

"Everyone's worked so hard this year," Thorpe said. "They're an amazing group of individuals."