60 Things Your SGA Is Doing For You!

You asked and we answered...

After polling students this fall to find out what changes they wanted to see, here is a brief update of where we are at with all of the initiatives students proposed. Click on the individual iniative to see details.

1. Get More Money in the SIC Fund for Organizations
2. More Than One Cobber Expo Per Year
3. More Communication for Underclassmen
4. Hot Tub at the Pool
5. Better Communication about What SGA is Doing
6. Increased Government to Student Dialogue
7. Create a List of Ongoing SGA Projects and the Results
8. Political Awareness on Campus
9. Core Curriculum - Make More Classes Count for Requirements
10. More Deals for Students Throughout Moorhead


11. Smoother Registration Process
12. Campus Worship on Sunday Mornings
13. Give Everyone a Puppy
14. Coffee Shop in the Library
15. Get Rid of Pop in DS
16. No Dining Service Requirements for Freshmen and Sophomores
17. Less Parking Regulations
18. Food Court Over by Hallet and Erickson
19. Dance Room in Olson
20. Eco-Friendly Showers in the Dorms


21. Better Campus Map
22. More Left-Handed Desks in Classrooms
23. New Seating in Ivers Science Building
24. More Picnic Tables Around Campus
25. Drinking Fountains in Hallet and Erickson Halls
26. Drinking Fountains on Olson Balcony
27. Free Laundry
28. More Desk Hours in Residence Halls
29. Instead of a Skyway, Have a Waterslide
30. More Water Bottle Stations


31. Printer in Boggs Apartments
32. New Printer in Park Region Hall
33. Intervisitation Policy Eliminated
34. More Laundry in Boggs Apartments
35. More Prox Entrances on Wing Doors
36. Better Recycling
37. More Bike Racks
38. Shades in DS
39. Longer Hours in the Maize
40. Meal Plans Accessible


41. Give Leftover Food to the Homeless
42. Dining Dollars Carry Over
43. Dining Services Open Later
44. More Volunteer Advertisements
45. More Student Involvement in Choosing CEC Events
46. More Student Involvement in Choosing CEC Speakers
47. Start a Cycling Class
48. More Workout Classes for Fun
49. More Dances
50. MSNBC on Cable Networks


51. Have Cheesecake More Often
52. Larger Weight Room
53. Better Weight Room Equipment
54. Longer Hours in Olson Forum and Olson Balcony
55. 5-lb. Dumbbells in Olson Forum
56. Air Conditioning/Better Ventilation in Olson Forum
57. Compost
58. Eliminate Cobber Water
59. Better Training for Baristas in Coffee Stop
60. Make it Cheaper

1. Get More Monday in the SIC Fund for Organizations
Status: Pending

The money Student Involvement Council has to allocate to student organizations comes from the Student Activity Fee. Currently, students pay $210 each year, which goes to auto-dispersements like MAT Bus and Doyle’s Cab usage, Newspaper Readership, The Concordian, the Sustainability Fund, Undergraduate Research, LeadNow, Residence Life Programming, and Olson Forum Fitness. Then, large-scale organizations and projects like Homecoming, Orientation, SGA, CEC, CSC and CMC submit their budgets for the year. The remainder is what other student organizations apply for. In order to be able to facilitate more funding for student organizations, SGA is proposing an increase of $15 to the Student Activity Fee to account for the smaller remainder caused by lower enrollment. We will let you know if this gets approved.

2. More Than One Cobber Expo Per Year
Status: Completed

You got it! Student Involvement Council is planning CobBRRRRRR Expo, taking place on Jan. 13, 12:00-2:00 p.m. This will be an event for organizations that have large events primarily in the Spring to recruit members, for transfer students to become involved, and for students to look for new involvement options mid-year.

3. More Communication for Underclassmen
Status: Pending

SGA created a new position this year – the Director of Communications – to help alleviate this problem. Through better utilization of social media, increased tabling initiatives and better publicity, we are hoping to do just that! Contact sga@cord.edu if you have any ideas as to how we can better inform all students.

4. Hot Tub at the Pool
Status: No Change Expected

We wish! However, this would require funding and space. There is no expected installation of such a relaxing feature anytime in the near future.

5. Better Communication about What SGA is Doing
Status: Pending

We have created a new position this year – the Director of Communication – to do just that! Through better utilization of social media, increased tabling initiatives, more Town Hall Meetings and better publicity, we hope to help students be more involved and knowledgeable about what SGA is doing for them!

6. Increased Government to Student Dialogue
Status: Pending

We want this too! We are increasing our tabling efforts this year in order to make representatives more accessible to the students. We surveyed students at the beginning of the school year to get suggestions for projects, which is what you are reading now! We also are holding multiple Town Hall Meetings this year, the first of which was Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m. No students that aren’t involved in SGA were in attendance, and we would love to change that! Be on the lookout for SGA tabling initiatives and Town Hall Meetings, or feel free to email sga@cord.edu with any ideas.

7. Create a List of Ongoing SGA Projects and the Results
Status: Completed

Bam! Done. Read on.

8. Political Awareness on Campus
Status: Completed

We agree! Not only did we just hold a debate between the Campus Democrats and Campus Republicans on Oct. 31 at 7:00 p.m., but Concordia is also a voting site this year!

9. Core Curriculum – Make More Classes Count for Requirements
Status: Pending

The Core Curriculum meeting is in charge of processing these requests, and they meet Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Two SGA members are on this committee – Meagan McDougall and Cole Kantos. If you think a class should count for a core credit, encourage that professor to submit a request, and the Core Curriculum will process it and establish whether or not it meets the requirements needed.

10. More Deals for Students Throughout Moorhead
Status: Pending

Interestingly enough, Concordia’s Marketing Club sold Discount Cards the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 2 for college students in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Additionally, a member of SGA is looking into the possibility of providing students with free discount cards for the entire student body. We are in the beginning phases of this project, but we will keep you updated!

11. Smoother Registration Process
Status: Pending

While this was not an SGA initiative, we are glad to report that multiple Concordia groups teamed up to present a Registration Workshop to help alleviate problems!

12. Campus Worship on Sunday Mornings
Status: No Change Expected

Members of SGA met with Anastasia Young and Nicki Stulac, the Lead Commissioners of Campus Ministry Commission, to address this concern. They reported that they receive this request nearly every year, but they continually choose to not provide on-campus worship at that time. Rather, CMC wants to encourage students to go out into the community and get involved with a church. In order to facilitate this and make students more comfortable, they are working on a project that would help students find a church and create groups to go together. We will let you know when we hear more!

13. Give Everyone a Puppy
Status: No Change Expected

While this would ensure that everyone is happy, all the time, there are a few logistical issues that stand in the way. First, some people have allergies, and we as SGA need to encourage and fight for the safety and well-being of all students on campus. Second, nobody would sleep in the residence halls, as they would constantly be playing with little bundles of joy. Grades would go down, people wouldn’t graduate – it would be disastrous.

14. Coffee Shop in the Library
Status: No Change Expected

While we love the idea of providing students with their caffeine more readily, putting a coffee shop in the library won’t be happening anytime soon for a variety of logistical reasons. However, there will be a coffee shop going into the Offutt School of Business, which will not only be convenient for all students in that building, but it will be closer for student in the Townhomes, Hallet and Erickson so they need not traverse all the way to Knutson Center to meet their coffee needs.

15. Get Rid of Pop in DS
Status: No Change Expected

Simply put….no. There would be an uprising in every district.

16. No Dining Service Requirements for Freshmen and Sophomores
Status: No Change Expected

Because Concordia wants to ensure the health and well-being of all students, freshmen and sophomores must have a meal plan in order to facilitate their nutritional needs are being met. While each dorm is equipped with a kitchen area, one is not enough to meet the dietary needs of every student if they were to choose to not have a meal plan.

17. Less Parking Regulations
Status: Pending

Parking is an issue that Campus Facilities has been working on for quite some time. A large-scale parking survey was conducted for the City of Moorhead last year, and the implications of what was found in that survey are still being discussed. Changes to parking lots and parking availability are likely, but details will come with time.

18. Food Court Over by Hallet and Erickson
Status: No Change Expected

Concordia can only afford one nationally-recognized dining center, but don’t fright! A coffee shop will be going into the Offutt School of Business, which will also have small snack-like products much like the Coffee Stop.

19. Dance Room in Olson
Status: No Change Expected

Members of SGA met with Richard Glas, the Athletics Director. He said that while this won’t be happening in the near future, he would like to see the current wrestling room turn into a group fitness room, while moving the wrestling room to a bigger area. Once funding is secured for Olson updates, this will likely be discussed further.

20. Eco-Friendly Showers in the Dorms
Status: Pending

While replacing showerheads in each dorm would be costly, Facilities and Services Commissioner Kate Engstrom has submitted a request to purchase shower timers to go into each shower stall. These timers will help students monitor the length of their showers in order to be more conscious of their water usage. If approved, these should be installed in the near future.

21. Better Campus Map
Status: Pending

After much deliberation, members of SGA concluded that the best location for a new and improved campus map would be at the Campus Information Desk located in Knutson. In the upcoming months, the Office of Communications and the Information Desk will be conducting a cost assessment so a Special Projects and Initiatives Fund can be submitted.

22. More Left-Handed Desks in Classrooms
Status: Pending

23. New Seating in Ivers Science Building
Status: Pending

24. More Picnic Tables Around Campus
Status: Pending

Members of SGA spoke with Campus Facilities and found out that facilities will be able to fund half of the project if a student organization can fund the other half. Currently, a Special Projects and Initiatives Fund is being drafted to supply half of these funds.

25. Drinking Fountains in Hallet and Erickson Halls
Status: Pending

A member of SGA met with Jasi O’Connor, the Director of Residence Life. The cost and capability of installing drinking fountains is being investigated.

26. Drinking Fountains on Olson Balcony
Status: No Change Expected

There are no water lines running near the balcony, so putting in drinking fountains is not possible without major renovation to the facility.

27. Free Laundry
Status: Completed

Surprise! You already have free laundry as of Fall 2011.

28. More Desk Hours
Status: No Change Expected

Members of SGA discovered that desk hours in residence halls used to be from noon until 6:00 a.m. the following day. The hours were changed to 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. during the week because few students were utilizing the desk resources during the noon to 6:00 p.m. time frame. Cutting these hours also saved money by decreasing the hours desk workers would need to be paid for, and reinstating these hours would be quite costly.

29. Instead of the Skyway, Have a Waterslide
Status: No Change Expected

This idea contains an abundance of logistical concerns. First and foremost, you would only be able to travel one direction, unless we installed two, which would be more costly. Second, we would also need to provide more clothes dryers in each residence hall so students can dry their clothing after each trip. Third, insurance would be through the roof to protect the college from all of the lawsuits from citizens trying to drive underneath and getting suddenly splashed. Lastly, it would freeze in the winter.

30. More Water Bottle Stations
Status: Completed

Three water bottle fill stations are being installed in Bishop Whipple in the near future. Further, Concordia’s Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Brethova, is working to install more fill stations across campus in other buildings. A map indicating the ideal locations on campus to have these stations has been created, and this will help with deciding where the additional stations will go. Some of these locations would require entire walls to be removed, so Campus Facilities and Kristin are working together to decide the best locations with the least structural impact. In the more tricky locations, attachments for water bottles can be added, and they are looking into this option for certain areas.

31. Printer in Boggs Apartments
Status: Completed

A new printer will be installed this semester.

32. New Printer in Park Region Hall
Status: Pending

A member of SGA met with Jasi O’Connor, Director of Residence Life, about the issue. It is being investigated as to whether the current printer can be repaired or if a new printer needs to be installed.

33. Intervisitation Policy Eliminated
Status: Pending

Members of SGA have drafted a policy as a continuation of the research done last year. Concordia administrators will soon see the policy and declare a verdict.

34. More Laundry in Boggs Apartments
Status: No Change Expected

Due to spacial constraints, it is impossible to fit more washers and dryers into the facility.

35. More Prox Entrances on Wing Doors
Status: Pending

Each year, Campus Facilities and Residence Life reviews which wing doors have prox access and if there are any that should have it installed. Because prox access installation costs about $4,000 per door, they must install them progressively and as they see fit.

36. Better Recycling
Status: Pending

A Special Projects and Initiatives Fund was recently submitted by SGA to purchase more outdoor recycling bins. Additionally, Concordia has hired a fulltime Sustainability Coordinator and has created the President’s Sustainability Council in order to look into and facilitate increased sustainability across campus.

37. More Bike Racks
Status: Completed

Campus Facilities will be placing four more bike racks around campus in dense bike areas. Additionally, a few SGA members are working to include Concordia in a Fargo-Moorhead Bike Share program that would allow students to check out bikes and check them back in at a variety of locations, such as at NDSU and MSUM. This project is similar to the Nice Ride initiative started in Minneapolis, MN.

38. Shades in Dining Services
Status: No Change Expected

Because installing shades would be extremely costly on just the upper section of the window alone, it will be quite some time before shades will be purchased and put in place.

39. Longer Hours in the Maize
Status: No Change Expected

When the Maize first opened, it was open until 1:00 a.m. However, it was used minimally after 10:00 p.m., so they changed the hours to be more financially savvy. Increasing the hours again would require an increase in meal plan cost in order to pay the student workers.

40. Meal Plans Accessible
Status: Completed

Just this past year, Dining Services revamped the meal plans in order to provide more options for a variety of student needs and lifestyles. They have seen positive results on the annual Dining Services survey from this change. No plans of changing the meal plans again are set in the near future.

41. Give Leftover Food to the Homeless
Status: Completed

Concordia has been doing this for years. In fact, Concordia is one of the founding members of the Daily Bread Program, which donates untouched food that is leftover from each meal every day. This program has been in place for 23 years.

42. Dining Dollars Carry Over
Status: No Change Expected

Because students choose meal plans each semester and not for a whole year, each semester is paid for on a different meal plan contract. A carryover is impossible between the two contracts because they have different Dining Dollar allowances.

43. Dining Services Open Later
Status: No Change Expected

Concordia’s Dining Services is open longer than most other schools in the MIAC. Because staying open later would require Dining Services to employ more workers during that time, it would be quite costly. Staying open later would ultimately require tuition to increase.

44. More Volunteer Advertisements
Status: Pending

Most, if not all, volunteer and service projects and initiatives fall under the real of Campus Service Commission (CSC). CSC is part of the collective of Student Government and dedicates tons of hours getting word out to students about volunteer opportunities. They are in the process of planning more transparent and visible initiatives, including talking to professors at the beginning of each semester, pairing with SGA, campus organizations and the Career Center, tabling in the Atrium, and hosting a panel about volunteer opportunities. Keep an eye out for these new initiatives in the near future as Moriah Nelson steps into her position as the new Lead Commissioner of CSC after Christmas Break.

45. More Student Involvement in Choosing CEC Events
Status: Pending

SGA members contacted Campus Entertainment Commission (CEC) to field this question.  Nick Bainer, the Lead Commissioner of CEC, said that they have surveyed students in the past and that they haven’t received many ideas for new events. He said that  most of the events are very well-attended, and that the CEC crew reviews the events at the end of each year to determine what to change and what to keep. He encourages students to email ideas to cec@cord.edu for the team to take under consideration.

46. More Student Involvement in Choosing CEC Speakers
Status: Pending

Members of SGA met with CEC Commissioner Nick Bainer to investigate. He informed us that CEC attends a conference every year, at which they find most of the speakers for each year and book them in advance in order to keep prices low. Student input is welcome, and they can email cec@cord.edu with suggestions for what types of speakers they would like to see. If a group wants to bring a specific speaker to campus, they have the option of submitting a request to the Special Projects and Initiatives Fund, if it fits the requirements, to help alleviate the costs.

47. Start a Cycling Class
Status: No Change Expected

We do not have cycles at this time in order to facilitate this class. If the funding were acquired, the possibility of a class could be again addressed.

48. More Workout Classes for Fun
Status: Pending

Members of SGA met with Nick Bainer, the Lead Commissioner for CEC. He told us that this has been on their agenda to address, and that a new program is still being formulated. He said that specific requests for classes can be sent to cec@cord.edu, but to keep an eye out in the upcoming months for these types of events.

49. More Dances
Status: No Change Expected

Members of SGA met with Nick Bainer, the Lead Commissioner for CEC, who said that there are a lot of dances put on in the fall already, including the Theme Dance, the Halloween Dance, Harvest Ball and Johnny Holm. Their budget typically only allows for three dances, but because of their popularity, the have made room to put on more each year. They said they will take this into consideration when they set events in the future, but to be on the lookout for the Back to School Bash Jan. 12, and two more dances scheduled Feb. 1 and March 15.

50. MSNBC on Cable Networks
Status: Pending

Members of SGA met with Nick Bainer, the CEC Commissioner, who said that MSNBC, ABC Family, and possibly FX are going to be added to the cable network. These stations were chosen based on a CEC survey sent out this summer. They should be added very soon, and we will let you know as soon as they are.

51. Have Cheesecake More Often
Status: Pending

Take the National Dining Services Survey that is sent out! This is a place for students to make requests for specific food items and to make other suggestions for change or improvement.

52. Larger Weight Room
Status: No Change Expected

A member of SGA met with Athletic Director Rich Glas to discuss this concern. Mr. Glas agreed that this was needed and has a vision for multiple building renovations, specifically with the Olson balcony. In order to evaluate the feasibility of many of these renovations, members of SGA will be meeting with Dr. Sue Oatey in Student Affairs. We will keep you updated on the progress of these conversations.

53. Better Weight Room Equipment
Status: Pending

A member of SGA met with Athletic Director Rich Glas to address this concern. The main concern is the necessity of funds to purchase new equipment with. To discuss options for facilitating this request, members of SGA will be meeting with Dr. Sue Oatey in Student Affairs and will keep you updated on the progress of these conversations.

54. Longer Hours in Olson Forum and Olson Balcony
Status: Pending

The cost associated with maintaining longer operational hours is the main difficulty with this request. Athletic Director Rich Glas has assured SGA that he is interested in making sure Olson Forum is being utilized as much as possible, and SGA will be adding this to the list of topics to address with Dr. Sue Oatey in Student Affairs regarding the Olson facility.

55. 5-lb. Dumbbells in Olson Forum
Status: Completed

Olson Forum just got new dumbbells that are adjustable in weight! Check them out!

56. Air Conditioning/Better Ventilation in Olson Forum
Status: No Change Expected

A member of SGA met with Athletic Director Rich Glas to address this concern. This project would combine the efforts of both Campus Facilities and the Athletic Director and would require structural changes to the facility. Because Mr. Glas said that a large student push for this would be necessary before any sort of funding would be applied, SGA has added it to their agenda for when they meet with Dr. Sue Oatey in Student Affairs about Olson Forum initiatives.

57. Compost
Status: Pending

Members of SGA met with Sustainability Coordinator Kristen Brethova to address this concern. She informed us that the Concordia Language Villages will be composting this summer for the first time. Additionally, this has been on the radar of Dining Services for quite some time. While Dining Services would love to be able to compost, there is no commercial composter in the Fargo-Moorhead area, nor is there a farm to compost at – both of which are base-level problems for such an initiative. She encouraged students to tackle this project and find a feasible option, but that for the time being, no plausible option for composting exists within the community.

58. Eliminate Cobber Water
Status: Pending

SGA, Campus Democrats and Student Environmental Alliance (SEA) are working together to make this happen! Members of the group met with Dining Services Director Janet Paul-Rice and learned that a large student push to stop buying Cobber Water and instead choose more sustainable water sources (like water bottle filling stations) will be needed. A task force including Kristen Brethova, the new Sustainability Coordinator, faculty, and students will be continuing to examine the water waste on campus and how to facilitate this change. In the meantime, use reusable water bottles instead of purchasing Cobber Water and help your friends eliminate waste!

59. Better Training for Baristas in the Coffee Stop
Status: Completed

A member of SGA has been in contact with Jason Giffey of Dining Services about this concern. Mr. Giffey explained that the baristas are trained by an employee of Caribou Coffee each year, and that this year, they additionally received a step-by-step manual to be able to reference. Further, to increase effectiveness, more members were involved in training in new baristas this year in hopes to have created a well-trained and ready staff. If there are specific concerns, Mr. Giffey encourages students to contact him, and they will increase training on a need basis.

60. Make it Cheaper
Status: No Change Expected

Encourage your friends to come to Concordia :)

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