“Service above Self” is a motto that Elizabethtown junior Johnathon Boles tries to live by.

“Sometimes you have to, for the betterment of the group that you are a part of, rise above that and provide service,” Boles said.

Boles’ self-proclaimed mantra comes from the motto of his high school’s Interact club.

Students cramming for final exams at the library next week will be able to fill their heads, and now their stomachs, because of a bill passed by the Student Government Association.

SGA passed a bill giving money for refreshments for students at the library during finals week.

While many students are scrambling to find textbooks to study for exams and preparing for the end to the year, the Student Government Association is planning for next year.

Some of the executive board’s initiatives for next year include increased student involvement, a strict enforcement of the attendance policy and scholar initiatives.

The Student Government Association executive board vetoed a bill that would give money to the Academic Advising and Retention Center.

The bill passed during Tuesday’s senate meeting and would give $2,000 to AARC to buy 1,000 datebooks for students in the Best Expectations Program.

The Student Government Association elected next semester’s speaker of the senate at its meeting on Tuesday.

Louisville sophomore Wade Pierce, an SGA senator, was elected speaker.

He said his goals for next semester are making sure more legislation gets written and encouraging senators to be active.

Curly, Larry, Moe, Shadrach, Meshach and “A Bilie Goat” found a home that isn’t a stomach with 3-year-old Carrington Coppinger on Friday.

“Mommy feeds them way too much food,”she said with a giggle.

Carrington’s mother, Kelley Coppinger, an advertising professional-in-residence at Western, was given seven goldfish by one of her students who’s a member of Delta Tau Delta.

Legislation at the Student Government Association meeting dealt with extending benefits and opening doors.

SGA passed a resolution supporting domestic partner benefits at Western and a bill to install an automatic door opener on campus at its meeting Tuesday.

The University Senate passed two resolutions and voted for new executive members at its meeting on Thursday.

Senate members want tenure to be restored for Kentucky Community and Technical College System faculty members and they want more Western faculty to be able to vote for faculty regent.

Student Government Association members are taking a stand against what they’re calling back door tuition increases this week.

But some plans for the action members will take have changed.

The Board of Regents will vote on a $30 charge for each credit hour exceeding 15 hours at its meeting Friday.

Students voted for a new face over a familiar one in the Student Government Association election.

Danville junior Kevin Smiley was elected SGA president on Thursday.

He beat current President Kayla Shelton, a junior from Gallatin, Tenn.

A crowd of more than 60 loud and bubbly supporters crowded downstairs in the Downing University Center to hear the election results.