WKU’s Student Government Association Hosts Halloween Festivities and Plans Community Initiatives
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The Western Kentucky University (WKU) Student Government Association (SGA) recently organized a festive event dubbed “Hill-O-Ween” to celebrate Halloween and engage students on campus. The festivities took place on Tuesday in Centennial Mall and included candy distributions, various activities, and student organization booths.
According to Rush Robinson, a junior senator and chair of the campus improvement and sustainability committee who helped organize the event, the turnout exceeded expectations, with over 100 students participating. Various student organizations, including the Hilltopper Organization of Latin American Students (HOLAS) and the Accessibility Ambassadors, were present to join the celebration. Activities included painting succulent pots and making candy apples, creating a lively atmosphere where students could socialize and collect candy.
SGA Approves New Bills for Community Events
In addition to the Halloween celebration, the SGA also held its weekly meeting Tuesday night. During the meeting, the SGA passed four new bills aimed at funding future events that will benefit the campus and the community. One such bill, Bill 11-24-F, allocated $325 for a “Pack the Pantry” food drive that will take place throughout November. This initiative, in partnership with the WKU ROTC, aims to collect food items for the WKU Food Pantry to help fight hunger among students.
Tiffany Jessup, a graduate student and active-duty service member at WKU, stressed the importance of supporting the community. “We have to support the community. It makes families at home feel like you’re taken care of,” she shared. Donations will be accepted at various events across campus and can also be dropped off at the SGA Office in Downing Student Union starting next month.
Celebrating Culture and Honoring Veterans
Another bill passed during the meeting, Bill 12-24-F, allocated $200 to fund decorations for a Day of the Dead celebration organized by the Modern Languages department. This event will take place on Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. in the Mahurin Honors College Multipurpose Room. The goal of the celebration is to encourage students to explore different cultures and learn more about the significance of the Day of the Dead.
Bill 13-24-F focuses on a more athletic initiative, as it allocated $600 to support the Veterans Day 5k Race, which will occur on November 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kereiakes Park. Participants will pay a $15 entry fee, with an additional $5 raffle for a chance to win a 9th Generation iPad. All proceeds will go to support veterans and the WKU ROTC program.
Spreading Kindness
Lastly, Bill 14-24-F allocated $80 to fund an SGA table outside of the Downing Student Union for World Kindness Day on November 13. The table will feature a “take a note, leave a note” activity designed to encourage kindness among students, and there will be complimentary donuts available for attendees.
All bills were approved unanimously, highlighting a collaborative effort within SGA to create a sense of community on campus and engage students in various initiatives. With these events lined up for November, students at WKU can look forward to opportunities for fun, learning, and supporting one another.
