Student Government Association members remained active during winter break, initiating changes around campus and planning future events.

On Dec. 21, SGA transitioned the student body from WolfMail to Gmail and has been working on another project over the break that students may not have noticed. SGA allocated funds from its budget to sponsor a new American Elm tree in front of the Danna Center to replace another that had to be removed as it was going to fall.

Ellie Diaz, SGA president, said that was just one way SGA is contributing to the effort to keep Loyola’s campus beautiful, sustainable and environmentally conscious.

SGA also sent out a campus-wide email Jan. 12 promoting its first service event in the spring semester, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 16. SGA hoped to honor Dr. King by teaming up with Tulane, the University of New Orleans and Xavier University. This year will mark the 31st year of the MLK Day of Service.

Although SGA President Ellie Diaz said that students should not expect tremendous change this semester, she confirmed that SGA will remain consistent with many of the programs it has worked to put on during the fall semester.

“We are making sure that our senate meetings are occurring every week and that we are putting on great programs with the University Programming Board and having Third Fridays,” Diaz said.

Diaz also mentioned that students can expect a town hall meeting hosted by SGA this spring. Student attendance is encouraged to express their comments and concerns to the senate.

Loyola’s first Third Friday of the semester will be Jan. 20 and Diaz said the theme is Bounce Back and will be a late night Loyola event. Bounce Back will showcase silent disco, a photo booth, free food and glow-in-the-dark tattoos.

Diaz said the event she is looking forward to the most is the Dance Marathon, which will be hosted by SGA on April 1.

Students can put together teams to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and dance through the night. The money raised from SGA’s event will directly benefit the New Orleans Children’s hospital. Diaz said that the programming board and every cabinet member will be working to recruit students from various organizations across the campus to take part in this event.

“What better way to have Dance Marathon to include a bunch of teams that are made up of our different organizations on campus?” Diaz said.

Diaz said the Dance Marathon was spearheaded by Omicron Delta Kappa last year, but when she attended she felt very passionate about the fundraiser and wanted SGA to take on the challenge of hosting it this year.

“I hope it is as successful as some other schools and that we reach our goals,” Diaz said.