As the Student Government meeting was underway on Sept. 18, a loud, reeling, alarm-like sound could be heard much to the surprise of members.
The sound did not, however, come from a fire alarm but a small button attached to a key ring President Ian Foley had brought in to show to members for discussion. The button was discussed in a Student Affairs meeting Foley had attended and is designed to defer trespassers from harming anyone walking at night. Adviser Elizabeth Swantek explained that the buttons had been given out by the Victims’ Resource Center for that purpose a few years ago.
Some of the issues brought up with the device included the idea of it being easily misused and the possibility of it not being used correctly. Foley added that Student Affairs is looking into two options of distributing them: the first being giving them out at a nominal cost of $6 and the second being giving them away outright.
By a hand vote, nineteen members recommended using the buttons, thirteen recommended creating a committee looking into other them and other security measures and three voted do not do anything. Despite the high number of members voting to recommend the buttons, Foley announced that he and Student Affairs would create a committee looking into other safety measures.
The long-dormant Outdoors Club is seeking to revise its club constitution and become a more formally-recognized campus club.
President William Welgosh presented at the Sept. 18 Student Government meeting seeking a revision to the club’s constitution. Almost immediately, there were questions raised on the club’s constitution.
“I felt it was vague,” junior class Secretary Peter Tuzzo said. “There were a lot of gaps.”
One issue discussed was the club doing activities alongside the Adventure Education program. Treasurer Anthony Fanucci said Adventure Education has reached out to them but it has been hard to find an even ground with the program and the Outdoors Club.
“We’re tried to team up with them but most of what they do is unsupervised and (Adventure Education) activities have Jill (Price) in them,” Fanucci said.
Swantek explained that the club has been in existence before the Adventure Education program was formed but over time has been mostly inactive. However, she explained the club is still allocated Student Government funds. Welgosh will be back this week to find out if the revisions have been approved.
At that meeting, freshmen officers and several other new members formally accepted their new positions and were assigned mentors, an experienced member of Student Government. Foley explained for the rest of the meeting how things run for the freshmen members.
Scott Pantalone, vice president of the SAG Mini Baja Club, an automotive engineering club, came to discuss adding the new position of public relations officer into the club constitution. Although some members brought up the notion of having those responsibilities being put into the club secretary role, senior class President Julie Miller said the change was good. It was suggested to Pantalone to bring in a social media aspect to the club, to which he replied that they already have a Facebook page created. He will be also back this week to hear if his request was approved.
Vice President Taylor Moyer was back for the second week to ask for funding for Fall Fest. She asked the board for $2,400 to cover the cost of Fall Fest on Sept. 28, which she noted was $2,300 less than last year’s budget. The proposal was passed by a vote of 36-0-1.
Foley asked members to discuss an event sponsored by Individuals Putting Abilities to Motion, an organization that helps and advocates for those with disabilities, will be hosting a wheelchair basketball tournament November 16 and 17 in Scranton. Participants are those with normal walking abilities who will play three on three basketball in wheelchairs with four teams with five to seven participants playing from area colleges.
He said the schools of pharmacy and nursing are both interested in participating and opened the floor to discussion from members.
For committee reports, the Teaching Recognition and Effectiveness committee discussed what went well at the annual awards ceremony and announced that a new award will be implemented.
The Student Life and Media committee had a discussion with Vice President of Finance and General Counsel Loren Prescott on public safety, announced that a women’s golf and swimming team will be formed next year, that the safe rides program is on hold because the provider, Posten Taxi, went out of business, the implementation of a fresh food bar at the Stark Learning Center food court and the grab and go option at Rifkin Café. They also announced that there have been 40 new seats added to the cafeteria on the third floor of the Henry Student Center.
The Curriculum Committee announced that they are considering adding sports management as a major and minor due to there being courses already in place that would satisfy the degree.
The Library Committee announced that they are looking into replacing the air conditioning units and the library is now fully-staffed.
The Admissions and Financial Aide Committee announced that the scholarship amount for incoming students next year has been increased.
The Operations Committee announced that the boiler in the Henry Student Center will be replaced, the ceiling on Breiseth is being re-sealed, the light walk, in which Student Government, Public Safety, Student Affairs and Facilities do a walk around campus to ensure every light is working, will be scheduled and the new Public Safety uniforms were expected to arrive that week.