UM students do well at TISL
By: Kendall Jones
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 11/22/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Nearly two weeks ago, 11 delegates from The University of Memphis Student Government Association went to the Tennessee Intercollegiate Student Legislature (TISL) with hopes and dreams.
Last week they returned from the mock legislature with a plethora of awards, two members of the executive council for TISL and an increased knowledge of what it takes to be a real senator.
"Obviously our students did a great job participating in TISL and representing The University," said William Porter, Dean of Students and faculty advisor for SGA.
Kenneth Taylor, a senior political science major, was elected speaker of the senate and Lt. Governor while Gionni Carr, a senior business management major, was elected speaker pro-temp of the house.
For Kenneth, this means he holds the no. 2 position of power in TISL.
Two other participants, Jaqee Wiliams and KeeShanda Eddings, received awards for being outstanding delegates, while Tonya Kelley won a 30GB video iPod for designing a new seal for the conference.
"I think that those awards show that our students are real leaders not only on our campus, but also in our state," Porter said.
The U of M also tied with Union University for "Delegation of the year."
Taylor said he is eager to get to work in his new position on the TISL Executive Board.
"It's cool and exciting," he said. "I'm just ready to get a lot of my goals and things accomplished."
Increasing the diversity of everyone involved in the conference is one of Taylor's main goals. Taylor said he is the first black person to hold an executive position for TISL and the diversity at this year's conference was not very encouraging.
"There was literally one other black person and everyone else came from The U of M," he said. "It's important for African-Americans to get involved because the opportunities that TISL provides are just outrageous."
Williams, chief justice for SGA, said the numerous awards were not only good for the individuals, but also increased the reputation of The University.
"As soon as Memphis got there we were active, and we didn't just sit there and observe," she said. "In doing that we were showing our Memphis tiger pride."
The U of M delegates also passed six bills while they were at the conference. Ten of the bills that passed at TISL will be taken to the Tennessee general assembly and could eventually become laws.
Some U of M bills that weren't so successful include one advocating 24-hour visitation and one Williams sponsored for handicap accessibility to all public buildings - which is currently not a Tennessee state law.
Williams said she hopes a bill written by fellow delegate Jessica Gibbons - which passed through the house and senate at TISL -eventually becomes a law. The bill dealt with a mining procedure called "Mountaintop Removal" where miners use dynamite to blow the tops off the mountains, Williams said.
"It can be very dangerous for the environment," she said. "I hope that bill gets through."
Last week they returned from the mock legislature with a plethora of awards, two members of the executive council for TISL and an increased knowledge of what it takes to be a real senator.
"Obviously our students did a great job participating in TISL and representing The University," said William Porter, Dean of Students and faculty advisor for SGA.
Kenneth Taylor, a senior political science major, was elected speaker of the senate and Lt. Governor while Gionni Carr, a senior business management major, was elected speaker pro-temp of the house.
For Kenneth, this means he holds the no. 2 position of power in TISL.
Two other participants, Jaqee Wiliams and KeeShanda Eddings, received awards for being outstanding delegates, while Tonya Kelley won a 30GB video iPod for designing a new seal for the conference.
"I think that those awards show that our students are real leaders not only on our campus, but also in our state," Porter said.
The U of M also tied with Union University for "Delegation of the year."
Taylor said he is eager to get to work in his new position on the TISL Executive Board.
"It's cool and exciting," he said. "I'm just ready to get a lot of my goals and things accomplished."
Increasing the diversity of everyone involved in the conference is one of Taylor's main goals. Taylor said he is the first black person to hold an executive position for TISL and the diversity at this year's conference was not very encouraging.
"There was literally one other black person and everyone else came from The U of M," he said. "It's important for African-Americans to get involved because the opportunities that TISL provides are just outrageous."
Williams, chief justice for SGA, said the numerous awards were not only good for the individuals, but also increased the reputation of The University.
"As soon as Memphis got there we were active, and we didn't just sit there and observe," she said. "In doing that we were showing our Memphis tiger pride."
The U of M delegates also passed six bills while they were at the conference. Ten of the bills that passed at TISL will be taken to the Tennessee general assembly and could eventually become laws.
Some U of M bills that weren't so successful include one advocating 24-hour visitation and one Williams sponsored for handicap accessibility to all public buildings - which is currently not a Tennessee state law.
Williams said she hopes a bill written by fellow delegate Jessica Gibbons - which passed through the house and senate at TISL -eventually becomes a law. The bill dealt with a mining procedure called "Mountaintop Removal" where miners use dynamite to blow the tops off the mountains, Williams said.
"It can be very dangerous for the environment," she said. "I hope that bill gets through."