After Much Debate, Chick-fil-A Likely to Leave Trinity

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By KaDarius Lee, Meredith Peckham and Isabelle Weston

The spring semester of 2019 has been marked with the debate of whether or not to remove Chick-fil-A from Revolve.

Revolve is one of the dining options in the Coates University Center. Food served at Revolve changes every day, including Luciano's, Panda Express, and Which Wich.

In fall 2018, Chick-fil-A became one of the options at Revolve. It was chosen to be included through a student survey. In other words, the majority of the Trinity’s student body voted to have Chick-fil-A as part of Revolve.

SGA Weighs in on Chik-fil-A Controversy

By Will Hinman

Should or should not Trinity take Chik-fil-A out of the Revolve? The SGA had a debate about it on Wednesday.l

The discussion didn’t come up until toward the end of the meeting. After other businesses were dealt with, SGA President Ty Tinker told the senate that he had set aside the last few minutes of the meeting for a discussion on Chik-fil-A. Quickly the counsel came to life.

SGA Deliberates on Several Campus Improvements

SGA meeting on April 3 (photo by Luke Dias)

By Colton Hawkins, Erin Crooks, Matt Thomas, Luke Dias and Isabella Weston

At the SGA meeting on Wednesday, senators contemplated several areas of improving campus life at Trinity.

Changes to the upper campus was part of the discussion. The senators agreed that more furniture and sitting areas are needed there. Currently, there are only some benches and white chairs. “We have received a $1,000 donation that we hadn’t even known about,” said SGA President Ty Tinker. He hoped to use this money to add more chairs and tables around campus to create a more “community vibe.”

The senators also talked about adding more lighting to the upper campus since it gets rather dark in the late night. Students could feel unsafe with the dimness and not enough emergency poles.

New SGA Committee Aims to Improve Relationships with Cultural Groups on Campus

SGA Diversity and Inclusion Committee meets on Thursday 

(photo by Alex Gereda-Gordon) 

By Abby Holland and Alex Gereda-Gordon

The Student Government Association (SGA) Diversity and Inclusion Committee met on Thursday evening to discuss measures of bridging the disconnection between Trinity student cultural groups and SGA.

“One of the main purposes of this committee is to make SGA more for the students,” said Taylor Volzer, Class of 2020 senator and head of the committee. “Right now there is a lot of miscommunication and SGA is missing a lot of issues on campus. A purpose of this committee is to be on the forefront and stop some of these issues from happening in the first place.”

One of these issues is unequal funding for cultural groups compared to that for other student organizations.

SGA Discusses Funding and Bringing Scooters to Campus

By Makenna Bentley and Samuel McWhorter

SGA did not approve funding for the Henna Night, for now, but pushed forward the discussion of bringing Trinity branded scooters to campus.

At the SGA meeting on Wednesday, Muslim Student Association (MSA) presented proposal for funding for the annual Henna Night, featuring performances, traditional costumes fashion show, and free food.

Maggie Cheatham, senior Psychology and Art major, was a volunteer for last years fashion show. “Each piece in the show was more beautiful than the next. I had a wonderful opportunity to wear a hand sewn piece from Nigeria,” she said.

Simone Washington: Brings Activism to Trinity’s Campus

Simone Washington, center, was key in organizing Trinity's
involvement at the March for Our Lives in San Antonio.
(Photo by Julia Weis)

By Julia Weis

If you’re a student involved on Trinity’s campus in some way, then you probably have run into Simone Washington at least once. The sophomore is active in the Student Government Association (SGA), Black Student Union, and Trinity Progressives. She has been active on campus for as long as she’s been at Trinity.

Washington, 20, organized Trinity's first ever Activism Fair as a part of the university's celebration of the Martin Luther King Week. The fair, held on January 18, showcased about a dozen activist organizations from San Antonio, such as MOVE San Antonio, RAICES and Haven for Hope, encouraging students to volunteer off-campus.

SGA Held Marathon Meeting to Decide on Funding

SGA members at Monday's meeting (photo by Victoria Abad) 

By Victoria Abad, Sophia Scearce and Sarah Wysocki

The SGA voted to cut funding for most University Sponsored Organizations (USOs) ​and other campus organizations ​at their last meeting of the semester Monday ​night. The cut was due to a $20,000 deficit SGA was facing as a result of the funding requests for the 2018-2019 school year.

The meeting, which Senator Emeritus Samy Abdallah, a senior, described as “the biggest budgeting meeting ever,” lasted more than three hours and went through several waves of heated debates.

SGA Debates on More Funding for SPB

SPB representatives Magdalena Blancas (back left) and
Logan Felton (back right) make their presentation to the SGA on Monday
(Photo by Emily Bae)

By Joy Yauger, Emily Bae and Marina Schweitzer

Trinity’s Student Programming Board (SPB) asked Student Government Association for $40,000 additional funding at Monday’s meeting, sending student senators into a round of heated debate.

Representatives from SPB told the senators that they needed a bigger budget to keep up with students demand for events. The group is involved in organizing several big campus events including the annual Welcome Week concert, Tiger Fest, and Chocolate Fest, to name just a few. Monty McKeon, the director of SPB, said the organization tried to “keep up with the quality of events and quantity.” SPB already has a budget of $87,000 for the Fall Welcome Week concert.

SGA Discusses Funding for Organizations

SGA financial meeting on Monday. (Photo by Bret Smith) 

By Bret Smith

The Coates University Center was the center of much debate last night as the Student Government Association had their last financial meeting of the semester.

Representatives from Trinity University Sponsored Organizations (USOs), including the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), Trinity University Latin Association (TULA), and Outside Recreation (O-REC) all gathered at the meeting to propose budget requests for upcoming events in this semester and the next semester.

The most debated item last night was funding for O-Rec, since the organization has already gone over their budget. "It became a situation of whether SGA should help reimburse them or if that cost should go to the general student population in the form of higher fees for O-Rec trips,” said Nick Santulli, Senator Emeritus and senior political science major, who now serves an advisory role for the SGA.

"Taste of Diversity" Slated for April

Left to right: Amulya Deva, Shannon Edmond, and Kezia Nyarko at the meeting
(Photo by Ruthie Rubin)

By Ruthie Rubin

Trinity Diversity Connection will be hosting the annual “Taste of Diversity” event in April, and other student organizations were called upon to contribute at a meeting on Thursday.

Representatives of the Trinity University Sponsored Organizations gathered at the meeting to give updates on their organizations and discuss future events.

Kezia Nyarko, a sophomore majoring in African Studies and French and president of Trinity Diversity Connection, announced that Taste of Diversity will take place in April on the Esplanade. Different cultural groups and organizations on campus will bring foods representing their respective cultures. The event is free and open to all students.

Trinity University’s First Dance Marathon Raised Thousands

SGA President Amulya Deva (holding the microphone)
and the rest of the Executive Board revealing the amount raised
up until the end of the event (photo courtesy of Allison Wolff).

By Victoria Abad

Webster Gym became a rave floor as Trinity students danced to celebrate about $7,300 raised for the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio on Saturday. About 100 Trinity students and families of children patients danced in TigerThon, Trinity University’s first Dance Marathon.

From 5 p.m. through 9 p.m., students kept busy with dance, competitions, games, and more dancing. Loon-E Crew and Momentum choreographers were among the dancers. As was 7-year-old Jagger, who has been cancer free for 13 months. He taught the crowd his dance moves.

Throughout the night, donations came through the Children's Miracle Network website and donation websites set up for each participating team. Various Trinity student organizations, such as the Student Government Association, registered to become fund raising teams.

New SGA President Discusses Agenda for Her Term

SGA new president Amulya Deva.
(photo courtesy of Yazmin Ramirez)

By Ruthie Rubin

Amulya Deva assumed the role of the president of Student Government Association (SGA) in January. During her one-year term, she plans to address both old and new agendas.

Deva, a junior majoring in finance and business analytics & technology with a minor in economics, is not a total new comer to SGA. Last year, she served as a SGA senator. She decided to run for the president because “I’ve learned that the best way to affect change on campus involves work over the course of multiple terms.”

In fact, one of such changes that Deva is pushing for, the Menstrual Product Initiative, was originated by her predecessor, Nick Santulli. Deva and her administration will continue to work toward increasing the number of tampon and sanitary napkin receptacles in buildings ​across campus, ​such as CSI and the library.

From Backstage to Front Stage: Lu​​nar New Year Celebration A Major Undertaking By Trinity Students

Lunar New Year celebration planning committee meeting.
(Photos by Sarah Wysocki)

By Sarah Wysocki

The lights change​d​ from white, to blue, to red. Fans twirl high above the performers' heads. The changing lights highlighted​ different colors of the fans. The dancers move​d​ their fans up and down, creating a colorful wave, astonishing and beautiful.

This is just one of the dazzling performances at the Lunar New Year celebration on Friday. About 700 people, including Trinity students, staff and faculty,​ and San Antonio residents, filled the Laurie Auditorium to watch the show.

All 12 performances were choreographed and performed by Trinity students. These numbers featured art and culture of China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, countries where the Lunar New Year is celebrated.

RETRACTED: B-Cycle Too Expensive for Trinity Students

This story has been retracted due to inaccuracy. Trinity students can actually obtain a free day pass to use the B-cycle service, as stated in the following segment from an email sent by SGA to the student body in February. The Roar apologizes for the mis-guiding information and inaccuracy in the previously published story. We strive for professional journalism with accuracy and fairness and do all we can to live up to that standard.

"B-Cycle is a bike-sharing system with stations located throughout San Antonio's urban core. After paying a fee, people can check out bikes and return them to any station in B-Cycle's rapidly-expanding network. Here is a map of B-Cycle's current locations.

The station will be located just outside McClean Residence Hall and is slated to include 7 bikes. As part of the agreement, 25 "Trini-Bikes" that feature our school's branding will also float around the B-Cycle network. In addition to the station itself, funding has been approved for 500 day passes, which SGA will distribute amongst the student body over the course of the semester." 

Nick Santulli: President of Student Government Association

Nick Santulli (first right) with SGA members at the state capitol
Photo courtesy of SGA

By Andrea Acevedo

With a single Ron Nirenberg for Mayor sticker on his left shoulder and a cheering crowd to his side, Nick Santali stood nearby, carefully reading the results of the San Antonio mayoral election. Santulli is no stranger to political rallies or gatherings.

When Santulli, junior political science major and president of Trinity’s SGA, isn’t registering people to vote or lobbying at the Texas state capitol, he is working to get Trinity students involved in their community.

He joined SGA in hopes of making greater impacts in his community and with the desire to see those changes make a visible difference. “I craved more direct action and results,” he said.

SGA Failed to Vote Due to Lack of Quorom

By Joel Kumahata

The Student Government Association met Monday to reopen discussion on whether or not Greek Council, the overseer of campus fraternity and sorority organizations, would receive a budget next year.

Over 60 students from every Greek organization on campus made the trip up to the Waxahachie Room in the Coates Center to hear the decision. But as soon as the meeting was called to order, a problem became clear. Only about half of the senators were present, not nearly enough for a quorum to vote on anything.

Members from Greek organizations on campus
crowded the room of the SGA meeting Monday night

About halfway through the meeting, SGA Vice President Joseph Khalaf received an email from four of the missing senators, who were absent without giving excuses. The email read that they had elected to skip the meeting with the mindset that, in the shadow of finals, their time was better served as students studying, and not in service of their senatorial responsibilities.

Trinity Reacts to SGA Denying Funding for the Greek Council

By Carlie McCrory

Trinity’s Greek life community erupted this week after SGA voted 7-4 to not approve Greek Council’s funding proposal. Within two days of the vote, a meeting of the Greek community was organized and Greek life alumni were lobbying SGA senators to reverse the decision.

In an email to the student body, SGA president Nick Santulli wrote, “When the Senate denies the concept of an organization’s proposal, they are, in effect, stating that they are not in favor of the organization’s proposal or the idea of the organization receiving funding in the manner requested”.

He went on to say that the decision does not mean the end of Greek Council nor does it mean Greek Council is not able to receive funding from SGA. “If the decision stands, Greek Council will instead apply for funding on an ad hoc (or as-needed) basis, similar to the process by which Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) seek funding.”

SGA Denied Funding For Trinity Greek Council

Trinity Greek members at Greek U 2016

Photo by Jeremy Allen

By Taylor Moser

At Monday's SGA meeting the student governing body rejected the budget proposal of Trinity University's Greek Council, marking the first time in Trinity history of such happening.

Greek Council’s treasurer, Claire Poland, gave a seven-minute presentation of their 2017-2018 budget proposal, followed by approximately seven minutes of questioning from SGA senators.

But the senators decided not to give any funds to the Greek Council. Rather than receiving a budget for the year, the Greek Council will now have to apply for funding on a case by case basis. This decision could potentially change Greek life on campus.

Trinitonian Seeks School Funding to Become More Digital

Sophomore Jessye Castro is
 an avid reader of the campus newspaper
Photo by Kate Irvin

By Kate Irvin

Student Government Association held its regular meeting last night at the Coates University Center, where the student government body heard funding proposals from various campus organization.

Among the proposals, The Trinitonian, the campus newspaper, asked for more funding to advance the publication’s digital production.

Daniel Conrad, a junior and the chief editor of the newspaper, told the SGA the newspaper’s goals of becoming more digital and having a stronger online presence.

Mirage to Get Advancement Funding to Sell Yearbook Later Than Usual

SGA meeting on Monday
Photo by Emma Lucero

By Emma Lucero

Mirage, Trinity’s yearbook, asked for an advancement funding from the Student Government Association, as part of their funding proposal for the next school year presented to the SGA meeting last night.

The new proposal asks for an advancement from the budget to help print copies of the yearbook before students place their orders. Shelby Devore, a junior, presented the new funding proposal. Next year, Devore will be the editor in chief of the university yearbook.