Student Senate 1 9 9 4 1 9 5
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Volume 28 Lanthorn, 1968-2001 4-6-1994 Lanthorn, vol. 28, no. 26, April 6, 1994 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol28 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Lanthorn, vol. 28, no. 26, April 6, 1994" (1994). Volume 28. 26. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/lanthorn_vol28/26 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Lanthorn, 1968-2001 at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Volume 28 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Author Paula Giddings Memories and Rememberances i Comedy in G.R.? lectures at GVSU... p.3 r featuring student writing ...p. 9 It happens!... p. 13 Student Senate 1 9 9 4 1 9 5 Volume 28, Issue 26 bjr Kathleen Beatty (irand Valiev Male l niversilv Newt Editor After more than a month of intense numbercrunching, the Student Senate Allocations Committee released their 1994/95 budget proposal during a meeting of the General Assembly last Thursday. According to Scott Goldberg, Student Senate vice president and chair of Allocations, the committee made “the best recommendation possible under the circumstances." “I think that they looked at everything objectively and fairly,” said Goldberg. This year the Committee allocated a total of $230,000 in StudentLife Fee funds to 40 organizations. Forthe 1993/94school year, the Senate allocated $200,000 in funds and awarded another ■ju. *«*>«: ■ $140,173 in spontaneous requests from Senate reserves. Iliebudgetprocess began lastFebruary.wheneachorganization f - . •* [Swy»TrWJiv y V) j* applying for Student Life Fee monies filed a budget packet with the ' 'f ** Senate. Budget meetings were held for each organization and then %• v the Allocations Committee spent the rest of March in deliberation. According to Goldberg, this year’s budget requests totaled more than $450,000 — the committee spent more than 60 hours in meetings to reach the $230,000 figure. Eight other organizations that applied were denied funding due to lack of impact on campus, clarity of purpose, religious or political affiliation or absence during budget hearings. Grand Valley’s student run humor newsletter was denied funding “due to imprudent use of Student Life Fee.” Funding forthe Euchre Club, Black Student Union, PRSSA, Ten Percent of U, Women’s Soccer Club, and Issues & Ideas saw PropoMd 1994-1995 lUustrition by Erik Holliday For more on the elections, see page 2 Media Student Govt Ethnic & Cultural 12% Sp ecia l I 5% Downtown expansion: going to court Rec & Sport 19% by Alan P. Babbitt not feel that Grand Valley’s offer is high enough; now a jury will Staff Writer : be asked to decide the fair market-value of the property. Once this process is completed, GVSU would like to start Three Grand Rapids companies are making Grand Valley’s taking steps toward the completion dream of another downtown facility. Prog. downtown expansion plans a little more taxing than expected. 50% ModularTransportation Co., ServallCo., and Mayer Industries The eight-story center, which is scheduled to be built two all have not responded to standing offers from GVSU for their blocks west of the Eberhard Center, is planned to hold an properties, which were given out in mid-November of last year. International B usiness and Trade Center and will be the new home Therefore, both sides are now tentatively scheduled to meet in of Seidman School of Business. Parking will be built on the north dramatic increases in this year’s proposed budgets. Other Kent County circuit Court on April 15 to settle their differences. and south sides of the complex. The three companies have hired Grand Rapids Mayor John organizations, such as the Backpacking club. Cinema Tech, Ski “The owners have still not sold their property to us," said Logie, who also works .as a lawyer for the law firm of Warner; Team, Spotlight Productions, and WCKS took heavy losses. University Counsel Thomas Butcher, “so now there will be a WCKS’s budget dropped from $13,564 to $2,365, and Cinema hearing which I believe will be on April 15. It will begin to address Norcross and Judd to represent them. The Lanlhorn contacted Logie to try to get an update on his Tech from $21,275 to $9,383 —losses of 83 and 56 percent some of the issues raised by the owners.” client’s case, but he refused to make any comment respectively. Michigan law allows public bodies to go to court to purchase Due to a change in the Student Senate bylaws earlier this year, property if the owners do not wish to sell. All three businesses do all organizations that wish to voice a complaint with the Senate have one week form March 31 to make an appeal. Formal appeals will be taken before a meeting of the General Assembly at 4:30 in Additional on-campus housing planned the Portside Room of the Kirkhof Center on Thursday, April 7. living centers. This would eliminate using overflow rooms. Students Another adaption of the bylaws mandates that those organizations . by Greg Reed would benefit from overflow rooms not being used in the residence making appeals must choose the organization and the exact line : Staff Writer " halls also. Each overflow room used for housing takes away a item total from which they wish to draw their additional funding. computer room/lounge for the first floor. Goldberg said that he expects the new appeal process will The Special Committee for On-Campus Housing passed a The committee also noted that not only was there an increase cause some confusion this year, but feels that the changes will proposal a the Student Senate’s General Assembly March 24, in births between 1976 and 1982, but current Michigan senior class make the budgetprocessmoreefficient and less taxing in the future recommending that Grand Valley construct additional on-campus sizes are on the increase as well. Vice-President of Cafe Nuit Jennifer Lake was dismayed that housing for upperclassmen. After researching the statistics, the committee turned to the her group had less funding recommended while having high The committee recommended that two apartment complex students' point of view. The general consensus from the students attendance. "It’s a contradiction in terms; there’s nothing we can buildings that house 300 students, along with ample parking, be was that cunent housing options are inadequate. do," Lake remarked. built on campus. Upperclassmen, in this case, means sophomore Although one of the main student concerns was that current Reshall Williams, Student Life Coordinator, believes that status or above. housing is too expensive, the committee realizes that cheaper rent organizations are often ill-prepared to formulate a budget because Each apartment would include a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, is out of their hands. the leaders as well as the advisors of many organizations fail to — living area, and would be furnished with modular furniture. The “We were hoping that (the proposed apartments) would not adequately train those taking over their positions, and thus receive apartments on the first floor would have patios, and those on the cost more than surrounding apartments,” Friedhof said. “We just inadequate funds. second floor would have balconies. want them to be comparable." “It has everything to do with the survival of the group,’’ said “They’ll be more spacious than the downstairs apartments of the Ravines, but overall footage per person isn’t really worked out Although the committee cannot promise lower rent, they have Williams. attempted to save the students some money. The committee Member of the Allocations Committee Chas Hoff called the yet," said Kris Varga, chair of the committee. requested that no facility fee dollars be used in constructing, or in process a “trialing one,” but he also said that he is pleased with the The committee also recommended that security be upgraded by having locked doors to the upstairs and downstairs hallways as support of, the apartments. results. As for where the apartments would go, Friedhof suggested “In many ways I think we have the toughest job an campus," well as security holes in every door. The committee, including senators Valerie Friedhof, Valerie Pickard Field. said Hoff. “The university has designated that area for future housing, so Bob Stoll, director of student life, said that the allocations Gilmore, and Varga researched past, present, and probable future that’s what we are targeting," she said. process is undeniably a hard one. On the whole, he believes the housing requirements. The committee also recommended that “although resident experience to be a great learning process where they team to set Their report noted that all living centers and residence halls are assistants will be needed for security and maintenance purposes, goals, research costs, and develop budgeting skills. full this semester, ranging anywhere between 96 and 100 percent v isitation hour rules should be suspended, and those upperclassmen “It’s all great because it’s a student process." said Stoll. occupancy. The fall semester was even more crowded, ranging of age should be able to have alcohol in their residence." Final approval of the budget will be made on April 21. and no from 98 to 105 percent occupancy. In other words, they were The committee recommended that the buildings be built by the other appeals will be considered after that date, said Student Senate forced to use overflow rooms. fall of 1995. President Len VanPopering. The committee feels that with more housing available to upperclassmen, more freshmen would be able to reside in the ;T V' :V; .