Tears were shed as junior Executive Vice President Sophie Barnes announced her sudden resignation during the final moments of the Student Government Association’s second senate meeting of the semester Oct. 1.
Barnes, who has served on SGA for two years, gave her final words from her letter of resignation to a room full of shocked faces.
“I must remind you that in order to be my best at this time, I must take a moment to consider how I should value myself and my happiness over how I believe I will make others happy,” she said.
She asserted her pride in the work SGA has put forth so far this semester and her confidence in the future changes they will accomplish.
“The connections I have made through this organization will stay with me for years to come.”
Barnes concluded her resignation with a stirring statement on her future.
“Remember that I love you each fiercely,” she said. “Sophie Barnes is a person with a lot of love in her spirit and a lot of fire in her soul. This is not the end of her. In fact, it is only the beginning of a long journey of evaluation and discovery.”
Before Barnes’ surprising resignation, UCA Dining general manager Jim Nabors shared an update on the Aramark food service provider at UCA. In addition to fielding inquiries on how Twisted Tacos and the new Einstein Bros Bagels were faring, he also answered a pressing question for the student body: When will the newly renovated Starbucks open?
Nabors said the Starbucks in Torreyson Library will open its doors Oct. 15, shortly after Fall Break.
Nabors also spoke about the food quality at Christian Cafeteria, meal plan changes and vegan options.
As well as the cafeteria opening late on a recent Sunday and the inconsistency of the website, students have also complained about the food’s poor quality.
Sophomore Class President Jamaal Lockings questioned Nabors on specific complaints of quality.
“For the weekends, a lot of students feel there is a lack of quality. I know one complaint [is]that we had pork chops Friday and also Saturday. So, students feel as if we’re just getting the leftovers.”
Nabors dodged the question.
“That’s something I need to to talk to my production team about. ”
Barnes also led discussions over the upcoming replacement of Valor, the bear sculpture outside of Wingo Hall that is carved out of a sick UCA War Memorial tree.
Nature has taken its toll on Valor’s physical appearance, and UCA plans on replacing it with either a newly planted tree or a permanent metal sculpture.
Though Bror Thirion, senior class vice president and a cadet with the ROTC, said, “There’s one thing we like to say in the military: We’re all a part of a team. So, when [the veterans are]all recognized as trees in a memorial, [Valor] needs to be another tree.”
The senators also addressed a new golf simulator which will open from 3-4 p.m. Oct. 8 in the HPER Center, a new roundabout at College and Donaghey avenues and the winter break Bear Boots on the Ground trip to the Carolinas Dec. 9-14.
