SGA discussed funding requests for the Ghost-to-Gobble 5K and an International Studies Club cultural event, alongside the Office of Student Advocacy and Community’s new outreach initiatives for students during its Nov. 11 meeting.
Christopher James, a class of 2026 officer of the Department of Physical Therapy, requested $500 to help fund the hiring of a timing company for their Ghost-to-Gobble 5K. The Ghost-to-Gobble 5K is a Halloween and Thanksgiving-themed running event co-hosted by the Physical Therapy and Exercise Science clubs at UCA to raise funds for a local nonprofit organization supporting children with disabilities and their families.
“It costs $500, which is a good deal considering how many people are in the market for timing companies,” James said. “Generally, they cost $1,500 to $2,000. We lucked out that in one of the first years of the PT department, his family owned a timing company, so we lucked out with that.”
The International Studies Club at UCA is planning a cultural event focused on the Ivory Coast to raise awareness and educate students about the country.
The event has been held since 2012 and will feature souvenirs, cultural shows, food, and political history. The club requests funding of $350-450 for food, potentially from local restaurants or Aramark.
Ava Walker, the club’s treasurer, said, “Each year since 2012, the International Studies Club has chosen a country to examine its culture to increase cultural awareness among students at UCA. This year, it is Côte d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast in English.”
Associate Director Angela Jackson said that OSAC, formerly Diversity and Community, rebranded itself in August.
OSAC announced its new focus on outreach programs for all students, including first-generation, parenting, nontraditional and transfer students.
“We want you all to ensure you have a good experience here at UCA so you can proudly walk across that stage,” Jackson said. “One of our main goals is to help students succeed by providing you all with the most accurate and appropriate information possible so you can make informed decisions while you are here in college and, hopefully, once you get out of college.”