Editor's note: A previous version of this article conflated the Elon University Student Life Committee and the Outdoor Infrastructure Committee. The Outdoor Infrastructure Committee has $60,000 extra funding for projects, not the Student Life Committee.
Student Body President Jack Corby said that the Outdoor Infrastructure Committee has $60,000 extra funding from leftover or incomplete projects. The committee will meet in the coming weeks to decide what to do with the leftover funds, with the deadline set in May 2023. If the funds are not used, they will be reabsorbed into SGA’s reserve fund.
Originally there was $30,000 allocated to incomplete projects such as swing sets and the outdoor gym, according to Corby. The committee is also creating an outdoor patio behind the Martin Alumni Center, an outdoor classroom by Belk Library and built in seating and fireplaces in the patio.
Elon University’s Student Government Association met for its final meeting Thursday, March 24. At the meeting Dean of Students Jana Lynn Patterson gave an update on student health and Executive Treasurer Caroline Penfield talked about SGA’s Acorn Fund.
At the meeting, SGA unanimously passed a request for $6,500 to Spectrum – Elon’s Queer-straight student alliance – for the Spring Pride event put on by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center on April 14. The request was to fund drag queen Aja LaBeija, former star on RuPaul’s Drag Race, who will be performing at the event.
According to Patterson, the Jed Foundation – a nonprofit focused on preventing suicide and bettering mental health in teens and young adults – was implemented on Elon’s campus four and a half years ago. She said the program will continue through the summer and will likely see some additions in the fall.
According to Patterson, the goal is to increase accessibility to mental health resources for students, such as potential renovations to the Koury Center, telehealth and the Ellington Center.
“We've dealt with mitigating strategies … but certainly one of those that we focused a lot on was not only this concept of making sure that students understood what resources were available to them, but also to increase capacity for students and increase access and reduce barriers,” Patterson said during the meeting.
Patterson also said no surges have been seen in COVID-19 cases with the lifting of the indoor mask requirement. She said the university will follow the CDC’s guidance and thinks in the future that Elon may not require vaccinations depending on CDC policies.
During her update, Penfield said there are openings for the Acorn Fund, an endowed SGA fund to support student entrepreneurial ideas and businesses. Previous businesses funded are Nate’s Cookies and Good to see You.
SGA elections are March 28 at 8 a.m. through March 29 at 5 p.m. Students can vote on PhoenixConnect.