By: Nelson Solomon
Posted: 11/16/07

UCO sent the largest delegation to the fall conference of the Oklahoma Student Government Association on Nov. 10 at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City, according to Student Body President Jason Hines.

"The fall conference is useful to talk about things that are a direct benefit to OSGA, things like funding for higher education, wireless internet on campus and library academic resources," Hines said.

Hines said the conference is "a great forum for students across the state to get together, talk about these issues and create constructive ideas and give a unified opinion on the matter."

Hines said most of the issues are dealing with higher education, as that is what OSGA is concerned with. OSGA makes resolutions that communicate to the State Legislature the issues that must be addressed to help college students.

Resolutions that were passed included topics such as implementing Dead Week on campuses, increasing on-campus availability of electronic research materials and urging the State Legislature to make funding for Higher Education a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

A resolution was also passed to honor the George and Donna Nigh Leadership Academy and to encourage university presidents in the state to take a significant personal interest in the selection and evaluation of quality Nigh scholars.

Because of a growing trend of university presidents delegating the appointment of Nigh Scholars to other University staff, the bill w, according to the resolution.

A resolution involving a petition to the State Legislature to offer tax exemption to teachers in the state, as many a time teachers will spend out-of-pocket money in order to provide a better classroom environment and learning space for their students.

Other resolutions passed involved recycling programs on campuses in the state, investing in nanotechnology as a way to diversify the state's economy and create jobs for Oklahoma graduates.

The nanotechnology bill's author, Micheal J. Davis, Research Director for OSGA, said nanotechnology was said by some to be the state's "next oil boom, and should be invested in."

A resolution involving the OSGA applying for membership in the United States Student Association and becoming a dues paying member also passed.

A total of 14 pieces of legislation were passed by the end of the conference, according to Hines.

Hines expressed his satisfaction with this year's fall conference.

"I thought the fall conference went very well, and I enjoyed the privilege of chairing the legislative session," Hines said.