These lil' guys make their toys only from conflict-free plastic.

Bwog’s A-list correspondent Renée Kraiem tells you what went down at SGA’s final meeting of the semester.

Last night’s SGA meeting, the last of 2011, began with a joyful round of Secret Santas and Channukah Harriets. The evening’s first guest complemented the inclusive theme of the evening.

She was Pamela Phayme, Barnard’s Director of Diversity Initiatives for Student Life. Ever heard of Barnard’s Biased Reporting Incident System? Yeah, nobody else has either—but that’s probably because it doesn’t exist yet. These days, the handling of a bias report varies based on the location in which the report is filed, and, obviously, communication between each reporting body is pretty minimal. Believe it or not, though, bias reporting isn’t the primary challenge that Phayme sees facing Barnard. The greatest issue is that of “micro-aggression,” or the little things that we do each day that point to the larger, often unspoken, conflicts among us.

The second guest to pass through the evening’s meeting with holiday tidings was Shelby Layne, BC ’13. Shelby stopped by to propose action from SGA on behalf of a not-so-micro cause that she has spent the semester investigating as part of a class called “Environmental Leadership, Ethics, and Action.” She explained that we, as Columbia students, shouldn’t support the conflict mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose minerals make up the electronics that play an increasingly macro part in our lives. Instead, we should look to companies like Dell, whose products don’t support conflict mines and with whom Barnard has a contract. Interested? Dig through Shelby’s blog. Even more interested? Shelby presents her project, hopefully on a Dell computer, at her class’s culminating panel tomorrow.

The evening’s last guest was a representative from Barnard Intramurals and Recreation. Apparently indoor soccer is popular among the male population across the street, and BCIR hosts open gym hours at LeFrak on Saturdays from 3 to 6 and Sundays from 3 to 7 pm. If you’re into that whole “athletic” thing, then you should probably check it out.

Speaking of open, you probably know that, starting next Tuesday, the fifth and sixth floors of Butler will remain open 24 hours a day until the end of the year as part of a pilot program driven by the CCSC. The continuation of the program is contingent upon student response, so after you practice archery in LeFrak this Saturday, run over to Butler with your Dell computer and make your presence known.

Finally, to prepare for your finals hibernation on one of these newly-opened library floors, sample some free treats from Desserts Around the World, an SGA-sponsored event from 7:30 to 9 pm tonight in the Diana Center.

Santa’s plastic workshop from Flickr/Loodogs