How would you like to have no school the Wednesday before Thanks-giving Break? How about having built-in funds on your Skyhawk card so you can use your student accounts in many more ways?

Well ,good news UTM, that all could happen in the fall semester of 2003.

At Thursday night’s SGA meeting both the Raby Bill and Balestrini Bill were passed without contest.

The Raby Bill proposed by Sen. Elaine Raby will push back Thanksgiving holiday break for one day, allowing students and faculty to travel to their destinations in a suitable amount of time.

The Davis-Balestrini Bill proposed by Jason Balestrini will allow students to use an $8 portion of their $100 technology fee (per semester).

This can be applied to the computer lab printers, copiers on campus and UTM’s Printing and Duplicating Department.

Both of these bills that were passed are pending university administration ap-proval.

Not only was tonight’s meeting a success for the SGA Senate but Freshman Council had a very active night.

Freshman Council submitted amendments to their by-laws and all were passed.

Chief Justice Bo Pemberton praised the Freshman Council on its hard work, saying “ the meeting was very productive, the by-laws were updated and the legislation is really working for the students.”

Other matters of business that happened at tonight’s SGA meeting were:

· Voting for Senator of the Year will be announced at the SGA banquet.

· An Academic Affairs Bill that was proposed by Kevin Anderson did not pass. If it had, this would allow the Freshman Council one vote at SGA Senate meetings.

· The Balestrini Bill proposed by Jason Balestrini passed. This bill states SGA will not give out money to other organizations unless there is a joint project with SGA.

“The meeting went very well; a lot of new bills and ideas were presented,” said President Eric Tolbert. “I am very proud of how the Freshman Council conducted themselves.”

So what is next for UTM’s SGA? Electronic voting ballots with elections coming just around the corner.

SGA will meet again at 9 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in the Legislative Chambers.