SGA passes bill seeking improvements to SAC
Unpacking the newest SGA proposal and the process of passing a bill to administration
If you are a student who frequently uses Lipscomb's Student Activity Center, then you've probably experienced an overcrowded gym and limited space to work out. Many students have voiced frustration with gym congestion and difficulties with equipment usage during peak hours.
Kate Muller, the current sophomore class president of Lipscomb's Student Government Association, is one of several SGA officers who have heard these voices and sought ways to fix this issue by bringing it to the attention of the Lipscomb administration.
"SGA and I have been thinking about ways in which we can improve Lipscomb so that it can better accommodate our growing student body," Muller said in an interview with Herd Media. "We thought that improving the SAC in some aspect would be a good way to continue to help accommodate students and make sure they have the student experience that they came here to have at Lipscomb."
Earlier this school year, Muller proposed an idea for a bill that would convert one of the three glass racquetball rooms found in the SAC to a new exercise room. She remembers immediately receiving support from many other SGA representatives, and the process of passing the bill began.
"Based on student feedback, we saw one practical way to better the SAC by converting one of the racquetball rooms into another weight training space," Muller said.
This isn't necessarily a novel idea; in fact, a similar undertaking occurred just a few years ago when Lipscomb turned the first of four racquetball rooms in the SAC into a cross-fit style fitness room with different types of weights offered apart from the main gym.
"In 2019 a parent of a student donated money for the renovation," said Kegan York, the director of Campus Recreation & Wellness. "The reconstruction of the floor was finished around May of 2019, and the equipment came in around July of that year."
The "Rogue Room" room has become an integral part of many people's exercise routine, with many students going back and forth from it to the main gym during a workout.
The idea is that the racquetball room conversion will serve the most good for the most students, because the usage of the racquetball rooms from Lipscomb students is very low.
"I'd say about 10-12 people per week go to the racquetball rooms," York said. "We get a couple of outside groups using them, but students rarely do."
Converting one of the three remaining racquetball rooms still allows for the playing of that sport, but having an added training room will help clean up traffic in the main workout areas.
Muller said that she uses the SAC daily.
"Working out and physical activity have always been a big part of my life," she said. "It's a great stress reliever and just something I enjoy doing. I know what it's like to use the gym during peak hours, and I remember being frustrated when the SAC was busy and I couldn't exercise in the way I wanted to."
Muller, along with SGA representatives Natalia Calderon, Janeyah Anderson, Braxton White, Abby Powell and Rachel Shannon, drafted the bill by compiling student interviews and feedback, creating a petition that was signed by 255 students and citing research regarding the importance of exercise upon mental and physical health.
The proposed bill detailed the construction of a new multi-purpose room with rubber floors, mirrored walls, free weights and stretching space that would take the place of the second racquetball room, next to the Rogue Room.
After the bill was finalized, the next step to its passage was SGA Senate voting. The group presented the bill at last week's meeting, and the council of student senators voted shortly after. The results came in with unanimous support, allowing the bill to advance.
Once a bill passes through the SGA Senate, the student body president is responsible for bringing it to Lipscomb's administration with the SGA stamp of approval stating that this bill is beneficial to the Lipscomb student body.
That means SGA President Liz McKell will present it to Dr. Candice McQueen before the conclusion of this semester.
Once a bill is presented to administration, there is no guarantee that any change will happen. Muller said that capturing student voices in a bill strengthens it and will increase the likelihood of change.
Students looking to add their feedback to the petition can find it at Lipscomb Student Activity Center Improvements petition.
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