The Student Government Association (SGA) passed the constitutions of two new clubs, Blacks Exceeding and the Black Student Union, during its weekly meeting Tuesday.
Megan Harper, a junior global business major from Atlanta and president of Blacks Exceeding, said the club aims to provide a community for all minorities on campus.
“Blacks Exceeding is a club for all minorities on campus, not just African-American students,” Harper said. “The club is a place for students from different minorities to bond through groups based on majors, network and bond over a common goal of excelling in college and after graduation.”
Harper said the club already has many ideas for activities and events.
“One of our main goals is to encourage student entrepreneurs,” Harper said. “One of the events we’re currently planning for is the Entrepreneurship Marketplace, where students get to showcase their startups and products.
“We are also planning events that focus on networking, career building and community service.”
According to Harper, Blacks Exceeding is different from other clubs on campus that cater to minorities.
“We aren’t part of a national organization, which gives us the freedom and autonomy allowing us to spread our wings and create a personalized experience for Troy students,” Harper said. “Blacks Exceeding concentrates only on academic- and career-building with little emphasis on social events, and that provides a focused force of support and motivation for our members.”
Harper also said Blacks Exceeding will be working with other clubs, not in competition with it.
An-Janeka Smith, a junior global business major from Valley, said the Black Student Union would “fill in a gap for African-American students on campus,” by organizing social, academic and community events for all students to enjoy and benefit from.
In other business, a resolution to preserve the naming of the Dorothy Kelly Adams University Center was also passed.
Senator Carter Ray, a sophomore geomatics engineering major from Troy and the patron of the resolution, said the resolution is more “preventing” a change rather than “protecting” the name of the Dorothy Kelly Adams University Center, unofficially referred to as the Trojan Center.
However, the resolution, like all other resolutions, serves as a “suggestion” to the administration, according to Ray.
Higher Education Day was briefly discussed. The day is organized for universities throughout the state to lobby the state government for more money for higher education.
It will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Alabama State Senate. Higher Education Day is a chance for all Alabama-based public universities to encourage lawmakers to increase funding for higher education.
Executive election applications are due Thursday, Feb. 15, by 5 p.m. in the SGA office. Students can apply for the positions of president, vice president of legislative affairs, vice president of campus activities, director of representation and director of administration.
The Tropolitan will have detailed interviews with all candidates in next week’s issue.
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