All Events (Non-SGA related)
Feedback Summary Regarding events as a whole, a variety of opinions were found in the tabling survey. To start, students expressed the wish to have more events. Of these students, many had specific recommendations. To start, many students expressed interest in the Dragon Boat festival (They did not elaborate on what about this event they liked). Others discussed socials and dances hosted around campus. Students liked these events, but wished there would be better music at them. Additionally, students voiced interest in having school-wide socials as, in general, these socials tend to be class or club/organization specific. Another event students talked about was the Spring Fair. Many of these concerns were related to some of the shortcomings found in this year's fair. Students stressed the need for a rain backup plan, the want to move the beer garden to the center of campus, and for the Spring Concert to be free of charge. Other students discussed how they wanted to have more class traditions. A final concern found within the tabling report regarding events was from graduate students. They expressed the need for better communication to them about campus events so that they can feel more involved and a part of the student body. These comments present future polling ideas. Specifically, what about the Dragon Boat festival appealed to the student body, and what kind of class traditions students would want?
SGA Response The above issues related to school events fall under the responsibility of Chair of Programming and the Student Organizations Committee. In addition to these two groups, the Finance and Student Services Committees would likely be required to weigh in on specific issues regarding the logistics and feasibility of many of the recommended improvements. Additionally, the Graduate Student Caucus Representatives would be relevant in relaying more information about school events to the graduate student body.
Student Organizations
Feedback Summary The student organization and all events comments had significant overlap. Many of the concerns about student events could be relayed to student organizations in order for solutions to be found. Comments not previously mentioned include a need for more publicity surrounding student events, more cross-student organization collabs on events, and more collaboration in general between cultural organizations. Criticisms voiced that are not entirely, directly addressable by the student organizations themselves are fixing the purchase-process requests/funding system, making student organizations more accessible and open to graduate students, and more student involvement fairs (SIF) per semester. Additionally, it was voiced that RSOs should not have to pay for Shriver hall use for any student led events.
SGA Response Just as with the events section, the Chair of Programming, Student Organizations Committee, Finance Committee, and Student Services Committee would all be important resources. In addition to these, the Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Asian, Pacific Islander, & Demi-American caucuses should all be included in planning more cross-cultural events. The RSO Category representatives should also be included in a conversation with the Finance Committee in order to discuss if it is possible for RSOs to not have to pay for Shriver hall use. Furthemore, the Graduate Student Caucus Representatives would be relevant in relaying more information about school events to the graduate student body. It is important to note though that these comments should be relayed not only to the SGA, but the student organizations themselves.
Dining Halls
Feedback Summary Students suggested a variety of changes that could be implemented to improve the dining services offered on campus. To start, students requested that Hopkins provide more food options during normal meal times. Of these increased food options, students have also requested that there be more vegetarian-friendly options, and healthy food options. Another complaint regarded food safety. Students reported a need for an increase to food safety. There have been many recent claims about improperly cooked food and independently reported claims of food poisoning. A situation like this is incredibly important to be solved rapidly, as it is an issue that affects student health and wellbeing. Regarding specific dining halls, students requested that Levering hall offer longer hours. Levering Hall was only previously open from 11:00am-2:00pm Monday through Friday, so many students wished that it would be open for the weekends and dinner. However, this adjustment has already been made by administration and Levering will be open for dinners starting Fall 2023. Students also noted that Nolan’s should be open for Late Night, just like Hopkins Cafe. Overall, there are a variety of complaints that need to be reviewed and addressed. These issues are predominantly centered around expanding food options and dining hall accessibility, but also include investigating the food safety levels of our dining halls.
SGA Response Because there are multiple issues that have been voiced regarding the Dining Halls on campus, multiple committees have jurisdiction in finding solutions. Firstly, the Health, Safety, and Sustainability Committee should be involved in investigating the food safety concerns that have been voiced by the student body. As of now, this should be the first priority as it pertains to student health, while the other complaints relate mostly to student comfort and convenience. In relation to the comments about dining hall food options and hours, the committees of Finance and Student Services would serve best in finding solutions that are feasible and benefit the students. Because this is a matter that deals directly with school administration though, it would likely involve all branches of the student government to pass legislation regarding these issues. Presenting a united front in student government on these issues to the school administration would likely result in serious consideration towards any proposed changes.
Dorms
Feedback Summary In the tabling report, a couple dorm related issues were voiced. To start, people complained about the temperature-control ability in dorm rooms. In terms of freshman year housing, the AMRs only have in-window units for air conditioning and Wolman & McCoy only have 4 degrees of fluctuation on the thermostats that students can adjust between. Students find this frustrating, and frequently complain about the impact this has on their comfort within the dorms. Another complaint heard during the tabling report was about signing people into dorms. They did not specify what about signing people into dorms the complaint was about, but they did mention that the procedure may have been different before COVID. It would be valuable to look into this and to investigate what other methods of signing people in that students would prefer better. The final complaint related to the dorm buildings was about the laundry rooms. Students expressed that they want the laundry rooms to be cleaned more often. It was not clear what about the laundry rooms needed more cleaning, which introduces another future polling topic.
SGA Response In regards to these issues, the Health, Safety and Sustainability committee as well as the Student Services committee would need to be involved. They would be responsible for discussing the complaints and planning the changes needed. They would need to work directly with the Finance committee and the executive branch of the SGA in order to determine the feasibility of solving these complaints. This is because many of these issues would need to be solved by school administration and cost substantial amounts of money to fix, thus requiring the entire SGA to be united in their address to administration.