Featured photos by Ethan Schmidt
Story by Ethan Schmidt
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The Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday that calls on MTSU administration to implement biweekly pay.
SGA Sens. Jorge Avila and Jenene Grover sponsored the resolution, and Sen. R.J. Ware co-sponsored.
“I think it’s necessary, definitely, for the student populace,” Sen. Avila said after the meeting. “This has been a huge issue for months now — maybe even a year now.”
The SGA voted 19-0 in favor of the resolution. However, its efficacy is yet to be determined.
“My hope is always that University leaders will take heed to the recommendations that SGA makes,” SGA President Michai Mosby said after the meeting.
“Sometimes, they may not see them as the best practical resolutions. But I also think that an effort is always appreciated on our end to try to address some of the issues that we bring up to them.”
The SGA will have their semesterly joint meeting with MTSU President Sidney McPhee soon, though the date and time have not yet been set. Sen. Avila said he plans to discuss the issue with McPhee.
The resolution arrived after the United Campus Workers circulated a petition that received roughly 700 signatures this school year, prompting a meeting with President Sidney McPhee in late October, an address from former UCW secretary Ashton Beatty to the SGA and a speech to the MTSU Board of Trustees from a UCW-affiliated Walker Library employee, which received no response from the board during the meeting.
“You can’t just ignore 700 students like that — and a lot more students who agree, who just probably didn’t get to signing the petition,” Sen. Avila said.
UCW Vice President Spencer O’Neal celebrates the SGA’s unanimous approval of the resolution.
“SGA choosing to officially throw their support behind our efforts is incredibly heartening,” he said in a text message on Friday.
“You’d be hard tasked to find a more powerful and significant force on campus than the student body. I’m hopeful that such an overt show of support from SGA will force MTSU’s administration to reconsider the cavalier attitude they have displayed towards establishing a fair pay schedule thus far.”
At its next chapter meeting, the UCW will consider further action to push MTSU administration to implement biweekly pay.
Ethan Schmidt is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact News Editor Alyssa Williams and Assistant News Editor Zoe Naylor, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.
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