With several students in attendance, members of Barnard’s Student Government Association discussed ways to move forward from Barnard’s housing shortage, approved funding for clubs, and signed up for the new SGA office hour format, known as power hour. The News Desk’s Emma Goss reports:

• Lingering questions: Members of SGA’s Housing Advisory Board asked students to talk about how they were affected by this year’s housing crunch. Check out the full article for details on the heated discussion that ensued.
• Chime in with Hinkson: Barnard Dean Avis Hinkson is holding group office hours today from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Anna Quindlen room on the first floor of the Diana Center. This forum for students to take their concerns to Hinkson was developed after SGA gave her feedback on administrative transparency.
• Capping money for clubs: As the Columbia College Student Council did on Sunday, SGA agreed to donate up to $15,000 for a Capital Investment Fund and up to $8,000 for a Travel Fund for student groups. The money will be distributed by the Joint Council Co-Sponsorship Committee.

• Uniting lions and bears: SGA’s junior class council is teaming up with Columbia’s junior class councils to sponsor a town hall discussion on the Barnard-Columbia relationship. The date of the town hall has not been determined yet, but students on both sides of Broadway are encouraged to join the conversation in the Diana event oval.
• A date with DSpar: This Thursday is fire safety day at Barnard, with educational activities taking place on Lehman lawn and outside Barnard’s gates. Participants will receive raffle tickets for a chance to have lunch with Barnard President Debora Spar. Additionally, Spar will be the administrative guest at next Monday’s SGA meeting.
• Power hour: SGA has redesigned the format of its office hours from being a time for individual office work to a time for SGA group discussions and student outreach. The representatives determined the new times for groups of them to convene throughout the week.
• Fliering fun: More information emerged about Barnard’s unpopular new fliering policy for students living in residence halls, which required Barnard Student Life to approve all fliers. After fliers are approved, resident advisers will post them on bulletin boards on their designated floors, creating additional locations for students to post fliers other than the ones enumerated in the new policy.
• Represent: Two students joined SGA: Candace Fox, BC ’14, who is now vice president of finance, and Mia Cooper, BC ’14, who is now the diversity representative.