Student Government Association Blog

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Archives for November 2011

SGA Asks Bookstore to Make Fair Trade Clothing Available

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In an effort to promote better trading conditions and allow students to support higher social and environmental standards, the Student Government Association’s Sustainability Committee recently introduced a resolution asking the MSU Bookstore to carry Fair Trade clothing options.

Fair Trade companies differ from many manufacturers in that they pay their employees a “living wage”, which means employees are paid enough to provide food, clean water, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care for themselves and their families.

Several other universities have taken actions similar to what SGA is proposing, by making Fair Trade clothing options available in addition to the apparel currently offered. Director of Sustainability Kara Andres explained that while Fair Trade options are sometimes more expensive than other apparel, many students are interested in the opportunity to promote better working conditions for employees overseas.

The MSU Bookstore has already expressed interest in carrying Fair Trade clothing, listing Alta Gracia, a Fair Trade company specializing in university apparel, as a possible provider.

For more information, please contact Paige Oxendine, Chief Communications Officer, at Oxendine100@live.missouristate.edu.

Sustainability Commission Approves Purchase of Additional Bike Racks for Campus

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The Student Government Association’s Sustainability Commission recently approved an initiative to purchase additional bike racks for campus. The initiative was brought to the Commission by SGA’s Student Affairs Committee, which drafted the initiative in response to student concern over a lack of available bike spaces on campus.

While the number of bike riders on campus has increased, the number of bike racks has not been adjusted to deal with the influx of bikes on campus. As a result, students have taken to attaching bikes to trees and lamp posts, causing accessibility problems.

The approved initiative allows for the purchase of nine new bike racks, which will be divided amongst three locations, creating 100 new bike spaces. The three locations include: behind Plaster Student Union, between Strong Hall and Glass Hall, and in front of Plaster Student Union on the Northwest side.

For more information, please contact Paige Oxendine, Chief Communications Officer, at Oxendine100@live.missouristate.edu.

Nearly 1,000 Donor Funded Scholarships Available to Students

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As college expenses rise, Missouri State University donors have generously donated more than 1.2 million dollars to be awarded in scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.

The Missouri State University Foundation has made these scholarships easier to apply for than ever before, by using an online tool known as the Scholarship Manager. The Scholarship Manager allows students to review all available rewards and apply for nearly 1,000 scholarships with a single application.

The online application process opens to students on November 1, 2011 and will remain open through May 1, 2012. However, students are encouraged to submit their applications by March 1, 2012.

The Scholarship Manager can be accessed through My Missouri State, by selecting the General and Departmental Scholarship Application link in the Financial Aid box on the Profile tab.

Students can direct questions about the application process to: FNDScholarships@missouristate.edu