Elon University’s Student Government Association held their first business meeting of the 2021-22 academic year on September 2.

The business meeting opened with a moment of silence to remember victims and those affected by the recent high school shooting in Winston-Salem. Members of SGA then heard senior Trinity Dixon speak about mandating weekly campus-wide testing for COVID-19. Two new appointments also were made during the meeting.

Discussion of weekly campus-wide testing

In an open forum during the meeting, Dixon shared her thoughts about why the university should implement weekly mandatory COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff on campus. 

In her speech, Dixon spoke about the possibility of contracting COVID-19 after vaccination and strains the U.S. and North Carolina healthcare systems are currently experiencing as a result of an increase in COVID-19 cases from the Delta strain. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and death and are effective at preventing most infections but, like most vaccines, are not 100% effective.

Dixon said implementing weekly mandatory COVID-19 testing would help keep students, faculty and staff on campus safe and also set an example for other institutions in the state to follow suit.

“Elon did really well with testing when they did mandating in the past,” Dixon said.

Associate Vice President for Student Life Jana Lynn Patterson spoke about the university‘s efforts to expand symptomatic COVID-19 testing for students, which is offered through Student Health. Patterson said the university hopes offering more symptomatic testing for students will help them with accessibility to receiving tests, especially when they are experiencing symptoms but are not sure if they have contracted COVID-19.

Patterson noted the university is continuing to monitor active COVID-19 cases on campus and will adjust operational plans accordingly.

Appointment of two new positions

Senior Ireland Horan was appointed as the class of 2022 vice president. The appointment of Horan comes after the resignation of Andrea Sheetz, who previously served in the position.

Prior to her new appointment, Horan served as the Academic and Honors senator. Horan has been involved in SGA since her freshman year at Elon. Horan said being a member of SGA is one of her favorite experiences at Elon and she loves meeting new people from different areas of campus.

Senior Madison Holmes was appointed as Elections Chair. In his new position, Holmes will work with the Elections Committee, which manages both fall and spring elections for SGA. The appointment of a new Elections Chair comes after Sheetz's resignation from the position.

Holmes said he became involved with SGA last spring and is looking forward to working with the Elections Committee on the upcoming fall election for SGA positions.

“This is my very first time in SGA and learning about the elections process. It’s a pretty cool experience to learn on the go,” Holmes said.