President Gestring answers SGA’s questions, concerns

University president Sheila Gestring visited the Student Government Association’s (SGA) weekly meeting to answer student questions and concerns on Tuesday evening.

Gestring offered SGA updates on what she and her team have been working on this semester. After the updates, Gestring opened the floor for questions.

Questions included issues on enrollment for international students, the condition of the law school and the condition of the fine arts building.

Fine arts senator Kevin Huizenga asked Gestring about the funding on the fine arts building.

“I thought she was very well prepared,” Huizenga said. “I don’t think I could have asked her a question to surprise her, which I really appreciated.”

Gestring said efforts are underway to bring an art incubator to campus. Art incubators offer space for students to showcase their art and build up their organizations at a lower rate.

“The vision on the art incubator is fabulous,” Gestring said. “I think it would be really interesting and unique for us to do this downtown and it would really be a symbol for our college of fine arts.”

Huizenga said it was interesting to be able to ask a university president questions personally. He said he was satisfied with Gestring’s answers in relation to the fine arts building.

“I don’t feel like it is an experience that you get at a lot of different universities,” Huizenga said. “At this point, I am still optimistic that she does have the fine arts on her radar and does have plans to continue our growth and help fix some of our much-needed improvements.”

SGA president Josh Sorbe said he was impressed with the questions posed by the senators.

“I think she gives a broad overview of what her goal is for the administrations this year. She has great fundraising goals and I really appreciated that,” Sorbe said. “Having the university president sit in front of 30 students and answer questions for 40 minutes just shows the culture of community that we have here at USD.”

Gestring said SGA is off to a great start this school year.

“I have always been so impressed with our Student Government Association and our student leadership,” Gestring said.