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SGA gives update on parking, health care by Peko Tsuji Secretary, Student Government Association The MUSC Student Government Association’s primary goal is to represent student concerns and interest on the university level.   In order to achieve this goal, we strive to increase student involvement on many university committees with the help of MUSC administration. For example, several SGA members have been a part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools re-accreditation process for the university, helping faculty to describe what makes MUSC a unique and outstanding university so that we can maintain our accredited status.   Also, the MUSC SGA continues to push for the adoption of a universitywide Student Mistreatment Policy that would provide a means for students to report unfair treatment by the faculty to the appropriate channels for investigation. Library and Education Building The SGA worked with the university administration in finalizing the Education Center/Library, and continues to address student concerns and issues throughout the semesters regarding the building, e.g., operating hours, cleanliness, technologies, and key card access.   The academic affairs committee worked with the library staff to open the second and third floors of the library 24/7, to increase the number of journals available, and to allow students and faculty to access many of these journals from offcampus. Additionally, we worked with the library to furnish two-sided printing at a reduced cost, while also reducing wasted paper.   The committee also worked with the Center for Academic Excellence to scan old test files into portable document format (PDF). This makes them available online, allowing students to use the materials at any time. We hope that we can expand the number of test files to all six colleges, which will also be added to the online collection.   After polling SGA representatives, the communications committee set channels on the  televisions in the student lounge to news (CNN/FOX), sports (ESPN), and Discovery Health/Travel Channel. The fourth one is used as a SGA Bulletin Board. Student Life The Student Academic Series featured the Thomas A. Pitts Lectureship, which is planned through the Institute for Human Values, focused  on theme, “Reflections on emerging technologies at the centennial of organ transplantation.” Also included in the Student Academic Series was a webcast of a seminar entitled, “Intentional and Inclusiveness: From Collaboration to Community Building” given by Dr. Jamie Washington, which was attended by students, SGA representatives, faculty and MUSC administration.   This was a very successful semester for social events. The fall semester started off with a well-attended Back-to-School Beach Bash at the Harbor Hilton, followed by some of MUSC’s favorite events, including Oktoberfest, and the Halloween Horror Cruise.   SGA continues to work with the Cultural Projects Council, and sponsored two concerts in St. Luke’s Chapel, one of which featured the MUSC Gospel Choir and filled the chapel to capacity. The second concert was “Food for Love,” a Baroque musical evening.   The MUSC SGA works hard at coming up with new locations for some of the events, and providing more great food and entertainment while keeping our admission prices reasonable. At this time, the programs committee is working to prepare for a great spring semester, which we hope will be even more successful.   The communications committee maintains an “SGA Bulletin Board” channel on one of the TVs in the Student Lounge area in the Education Center/Library Building announcing these upcoming universitywide events. Service As part of being on SGA, representatives are required to participate in community service projects on and off campus. Last semester, SGA representatives committed 267 hours of their time to service around the community.   Volunteer projects included: the renovation of an elementary school playground, Beach/River Sweep, Taste of Charleston (benefiting the Ronald McDonald House), Race for the Cure (benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation), Sugar Free Fall Festival (benefiting children with diabetes at MUSC and the community), World AIDS Day Commemoration and Vigil, and the Holiday Lighting Ceremony at MUSC.      Students also donate their time and money to assist with the Katrina Relief Fund through the American Red Cross. Increased collaboration among universitywide organizations will be a key initiative this year. Parking and Safety MUSC SGA senators, after polling their classmates, voted in favor of a Returning Student Parking Registration determined by seniority with built-in longevity, which will be implemented during the online parking registration system in the spring. Health Care SGA senators voted in favor of a smoke-free campus minus designated smoking locations and are working on a bill to submit to the S.C. Legislature asking to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding to outdoor smoking.   Student concerns regarding the hours of the nurse practitioner at Student Health Services were addressed and resulted in an increased number of appointments.   For information on SGA and its committees, visit its Web site at http://www.musc.edu/sga/. Friday, Feb. 3, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778, ext. 201.