If this past year’s faulty election process couldn’t stop Lyne Mugema from becoming SGA president, there is nothing that can slow her down while in office.
Mugema, a California native, was elected last year during an election wrought with problems. “There were no real details regarding a tie in the [SGA] constitution or bylaws,” says Mugema. The tie led to a second vote, which had even more difficulties surrounding it. Information used by the voters to cast a vote on the computers on campus was accessible to students working for BC. “This information was not as secure as was thought,” said Mugema. “We had to go back to paper ballots.”
To prevent another fiasco, one of the major changes to come from SGA is the organization of the election that will take place next semester. The election process is encountering even more problems with the introduction of wireless Internet to the BC campus.
“There is a rule saying that candidates cannot campaign within 100 feet of a polling place,” said Mugema, “This makes things difficult when somebody can vote anywhere on campus.”
SGA plans to have one central polling place for BC students to vote for next year’s SGA officers.
Already this year, Mugema and her fellow officers have made an impact on campus.
Aside from providing refreshments and information at booths scattered about campus for the start of the semester, SGA has also provided students with a look at what clubs are on campus.
Booths for clubs were spread around campus the second week of school to show students what is happening at BC. “We have also included clubs who have not yet finished the club registration process,” said Mugema. She hopes that including these clubs will increase their initial membership.
“Our theme for this year is environmental awareness,” said Mugema. “We got a lot of positive feedback from the faculty and have their support.”
Keeping with the theme, SGA is placing 10 recycling bins on campus and hopes for more to come. Other activities planned to increase environmental awareness are working with Global Inheritance to have an Eco art show where students will have the chance to paint the recycling bins on campus as well as a car and bike show promoting “green” vehicles.
“We have three basic goals that are behind all of our decisions,” said Mugema. “To increase the use of facilities on campus, to increase communication between the students and faculty, and enhance the reputation of BC.”
When asked what goals she had for herself as a philosophy major, Mugema responded, “I’m hoping for UCLA… Columbia is on a list of possibilities, but that also means $40,000 a year, so we’ll see.”
For updates on activities on campus and decisions made by SGA, search for SGA Bakersfield on either facebook.com or myspace.com.