2008 Woodie Awards
SGA postpones relief trip to Union
By Morgan Loftin
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
The Student Government Association's trip to Union University, scheduled for Feb. 23, was cancelled Friday, due to schedule complications.
Jim Hicks, assistant dean of students and SGA advisor, said that the trip was cancelled for Feb. 23 because those already working on campus had just finished cleaning one site and were "in between projects" when the SGA trip was scheduled to take place.
According to Hicks, the group from UTC, which consists of about two dozen students, were "told to hold," and would be notified as soon as the volunteer hotline for Union could determine where they would use the UTC group.
The trip included both members of SGA and other students who volunteered to clean up debris.
Union University, located in Jackson, Tenn., was ravaged by a tornado earlier this month and after the students of Union returned Feb. 20.
UTC students had planned to make the trip the following weekend to help with the cleaning efforts.
Sue Brackett, secretary of student development, said that Union was finished with one site, and UTC is on the list when the university needs assistance.
"We need to wait for them," Hicks said. "We don't want to be a burden and students want to go to help.
The trip is set to be rescheduled when the volunteer hotline for Union contacts UTC.
Hicks said another concern is the safety of those volunteering and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has to make sure that the sites being cleaned are safe for volunteers to work on.
Bill Staley, Hendersonville, Tenn., senior and SGA president, said prior to the cancellation, the trip to Union would be a day trip.
The bus trip, about a four-hour drive to Jackson, would cost UTC about $1,300 and the funding for that would be made available by the student development department, the Chancellor's office and other donations received by students and student organizations.
Also, Hicks said Aramark has volunteered to donate lunch to the students of UTC when they make the trip to Union.
"About $600 to $700 was collected by SGA from students in the UC and around campus.100 percent of that is going to the students at Union."
Both Hicks and Staley said that students are eager to go and help and that there are a huge number of students at UTC that have been affected by this tragedy. "Students [at Chattanooga] could even be going on their own to help," Hicks said.
Hicks said that the cost of the trip is very small to UTC and there is a huge desire among students to volunteer their time and effort to the students and campus of Union.
Jim Hicks, assistant dean of students and SGA advisor, said that the trip was cancelled for Feb. 23 because those already working on campus had just finished cleaning one site and were "in between projects" when the SGA trip was scheduled to take place.
According to Hicks, the group from UTC, which consists of about two dozen students, were "told to hold," and would be notified as soon as the volunteer hotline for Union could determine where they would use the UTC group.
The trip included both members of SGA and other students who volunteered to clean up debris.
Union University, located in Jackson, Tenn., was ravaged by a tornado earlier this month and after the students of Union returned Feb. 20.
UTC students had planned to make the trip the following weekend to help with the cleaning efforts.
Sue Brackett, secretary of student development, said that Union was finished with one site, and UTC is on the list when the university needs assistance.
"We need to wait for them," Hicks said. "We don't want to be a burden and students want to go to help.
The trip is set to be rescheduled when the volunteer hotline for Union contacts UTC.
Hicks said another concern is the safety of those volunteering and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has to make sure that the sites being cleaned are safe for volunteers to work on.
Bill Staley, Hendersonville, Tenn., senior and SGA president, said prior to the cancellation, the trip to Union would be a day trip.
The bus trip, about a four-hour drive to Jackson, would cost UTC about $1,300 and the funding for that would be made available by the student development department, the Chancellor's office and other donations received by students and student organizations.
Also, Hicks said Aramark has volunteered to donate lunch to the students of UTC when they make the trip to Union.
"About $600 to $700 was collected by SGA from students in the UC and around campus.100 percent of that is going to the students at Union."
Both Hicks and Staley said that students are eager to go and help and that there are a huge number of students at UTC that have been affected by this tragedy. "Students [at Chattanooga] could even be going on their own to help," Hicks said.
Hicks said that the cost of the trip is very small to UTC and there is a huge desire among students to volunteer their time and effort to the students and campus of Union.
