The Student Government Association (SGA)’s most recent general assembly meeting saw the appointments of three new senators, the introduction of one new position, and continued debate over Emerson’s current attendance policy.
At their Friday meeting, DJ Mara, a sophomore political communications major, met with the general assembly via Zoom to be formally introduced for the abroad programs senator position. If elected next week, Mara will be the first abroad programs senator.
For eligibility on either the student experience or academic senate within SGA, a candidate must first be introduced to the general assembly and then appointed to the position through an official vote.
SGA’s Executive President Nandan Nair acknowledged that Mara’s introduction came at a later time than other introductions, citing that the abroad programs senator role was dependent on the passing of SGA’s new constitution because the role was created this year.
“We don’t get to hear about the abroad student experience here at SGA,” Nair said. “[It’s] a new program we’re piloting this semester.”
Following Mara’s introduction, three new senators—deputy spiritual life senator, transfer senator, and first-generation and low-income senator—were appointed to the student experience senate, each unanimously voted into their new positions.
The assembly continued with conversation of S.B.1, SGA’s proposed policy change that seeks to define excused and unexcused absences and protect students’ grades in the face of prolonged absence.
S.B.1, officially set for proposal to college administration following SGA’s vote, intends to create definitions of unexcused and excused absences. The initiative comes from concerns that Emerson’s current attendance policy is unforgiving towards students who face prolonged absences from class because of issues like medical concerns, religious events, and jury duty.
Angus Abercrombie, one of the SGA members who drafted the proposed policy, says that the current attendance policy is like “the Wild West,” and could benefit from standardization.
Abercrombie explained that some policies are often unfamiliar to students due to a lack of interaction with them.
“Some policies, people know about them because they interact with them all the time,” he added.
In reference to the current policy regarding absence due to jury duty, Abercrombie said, “You will almost never be called for jury duty and have a good idea of this [attendance] policy.”
S.B.1 also seeks to limit the number of points that a student may lose due to prolonged absence from class. While some Emerson professors take away points for low class participation or repeated absence, Abercrombie believes that professors should not punish students for being absent.
“If you can’t get points by showing up, then you shouldn’t lose them for not showing up,” he said.
After successfully passing through SGA on Friday, S.B.1 will next be proposed to the college administration, where it is expected to face re-drafting and negotiations. From there, S.B.1 has the potential to become Emerson’s official attendance policy.
