As the members of the Northern Kentucky University student government complete their semesters they leave many of their goals uncompleted and ready for a fresh start next semester.

Updates were provided on two of those goals at its end-of-the-semester meeting on Dec. 6. Student Rights Committee member Senator Adam Acree announced that he met with Arne Almquist, associate provost for the library, to discuss expansion of hours for the W. Frank Steely Library. Secretary for Student Involvement Dustin Robinson announced that he met with University Advancement to discuss plans for implementing the Norse Nights community incentives program where students and alumni could receive discounts for wearing NKU gear on game nights.

Acree said the he learned the library has done its own extensive research and trials on expanding library hours and found that an insufficient number of students used library services, such as checking out materials, to justify the expansion. SGA President Kevin Golden asked Acree to investigate those numbers further to see if students might feel otherwise.

Additionally, Acree said he believed the library was more open to the suggestion of opening earlier than staying open later. The discussion also considered other options for students who just need a late night place to study or early morning place to print assignments, such as expanding the hours of the library atrium computer lab instead of the entire library.

Acree and Senator Mikey Adkins are planning on sending out a survey they are drafting to all students once it is finalized to get a better indication of how students would be best served.

For the Norse Nights project, Robinson said that NKU staff in University Advancement have identified 56 businesses that may be interested in the project.

Another goal of the organization is to get more involved in civic engagement. Vice President Danielle Hawks encouraged all SGA members to sign up and participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan.17 when students will travel to various community organizations and complete work projects. The event is coordinated by the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and any student can participate by contacting them prior to the Dec. 17 deadline.

Other senators introduced the body to a service trip being organized on campus to send students to Nicaragua to help a family build a home, a project which still needs additional funding and volunteers. People interested in learning more or signing up for the project are asked to contact kremerc2@nku.edu.

University Improvements Chair Michelle Forlenza also updated the progress made on the improvements to the Campus Recreation Center, however, she did not update the members of the Senate on their findings during campus safety walk.

SGA created an ad-hoc committee to determine whether or not the organization needed to create more committees as it continues to address proposed changes to the constitution which could save money allocated to salaries and stipends which could be used for other purposes.

Also in new business, Erik Pedersen introduced an honorary resolution to “recognize the life and achievements of W. Frank Steely.“ The resolution passed unanimously.

Story by Jesse Call