Rowan University’s Student Government Association (SGA) President Anthony Wolhrab addressed the student body at Monday night’s senate meeting in the Chamberlain Student Center’s Eynon Ballroom, stating that Rowan Relief donations are progressing. As previously reported by The Whit, a fire last month displaced five Rowan students and their possessions. The SGA began a donation relief program to support the students at their last meeting.

So far, as a result of the combined efforts of the Rowan University community, short-term emergency housing was provided by Dean of Students Richard Jones and The Office of Residential Learning & University Housing; meal plans have been supplied by Gourmet Dining, textbooks have been donated by the Rowan University bookstore and an assortment of other donations have been dropped off at the SGA office, Wolhrab said.

An SGA account was set aside for monetary donations that have been received, and those proceeds will be divided evenly among the students who were affected. SGA is accepting donations in the form of gift cards to electronic stores, so that the computers, calculators and other technology that perished in the fire can be replaced. SGA’s motto for this academic year is: “SGA has got your back” and Wolhrab felt that this type of support for students exemplifies it.

“I see this as a perfect example because we have the backs of our students, and when I say that, I mean that one hundred percent and I mean it very sincerely,” said Wolhrab. “If a student has a concern, an issue or anything, I want to know about it, and I will act immediately on it. If I can not fulfill it, [I] will make sure that someone else fulfills it.”

Two key SGA positions were filled Monday night as senior, marketing major Nicole Linder was elected Assistant Vice President for University Advancement, and Sophmore, marketing major Jenna Dickinson was elected Director of Public Relations and Special Events.

Three clubs were also approved for petition to SGA, including The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), Canine Companions for Independence and Rowan IX.

The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering is a nationally recognized society with over 20,000 members. On the Rowan University campus, the club serves as an outlet for engineering, biology and biochemistry students interested in Pharmaceuticals, since there isn’t a program on campus at the moment.

Canine Companions for Independence is a group that trains service dogs for use in assisting people with disabilities. The aim of this club is to maximize the amount of people potentially serviced by these dogs and use a college atmosphere to socialize the dogs in a way that prepares them as they complete their training.

Rowan IX represents Title IX, which is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination and harassment in academic activities. The club serves as a support system and a means to report discrimination because students are more likely to report these cases to their peers, rather than an authority figure.

The next SGA meeting will be on Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Chamberlain Student Center’s Eynon Ballroom.