SGA Senate passed a bill requiring homecoming court nominees to go through an interview process before representing the court Thursday, Nov. 7.

Homecoming court nominees will be interviewed and judged based on university contributions, academic success, school spirit and leadership. The top ten  candidates will be placed on the ballot for the student body to vote on, according to the bill.

“This bill honors people who have been giving back to the community whether it’s through academics or engagement,” said Senate Pro-Tempore Sarah Emerson.

The new bill also requires the homecoming court nominees to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. 

“Everyone on the last homecoming court was very worthy to be on it, but it is time for a change,” said Tammy Jacques, director of student engagement. “The previous system we have used is unfair because there are always so many candidates to vote for.”

The judges’ panel will include the outgoing queen and king, two faculty members selected by SGA, two staff members, and three SGA representatives, according to the bill.

Once the selected court is announced, they will then be able to campaign for Homecoming King and Queen.

Senate members also discussed how they raised $596, after expenses, from the raffle ticket fundraiser they had in October. The proceeds from the fundraiser went to the Endowed Scholarship fund.

It was also announced that Senate will be co-hosting a financial literacy class with Listerhill Credit Union at 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.

“This financial literacy class will show students how to create a budget and to look at credit reports,” SGA President Laura Giles said. “It will be like financial literacy 101 to get introductory information about managing money.”

The senate’s Student Welfare Committee will be getting student input on what they want to see changed in safety on campus. 

“We (Student Welfare Committee) will be making safety cards to hand out to students on Dec. 5 (study day) using (the Student Night Auxiliary Patrol),” said Jacob Ezell, student welfare committee member.

The Student Welfare Committee is also looking into the idea of having gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. They are also trying to change the language of UNA’s non-discrimination policy.

“The language of UNA’s non-discrimination policy does not include sexual orientation and I feel like that needs to be changed,” Ezell said. 

Senate members also discussed how they raised $596, after expenses, from the raffle ticket fundraiser they had in October. The proceeds from the fundraiser went to the Endowed Scholarship fund.

In Freshman Forum news, members will be selling candygrams in the GUC for $1 from Nov. 21 through 26. They will be distributed via UNA campus mailboxes on Dec. 2.