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SC hopes to address campus issues and resolutions from previous semester

Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn senior staff

Monday, 18 January 2010 09:46 PM

A tobacco ban and building repurposing were among major changes announced to the university toward the end of last semester.

Student Congress aims to address students’ concerns with those changes, campus security and resolutions rolled over from the fall this spring, SC president Kent Long said. He said he hopes to better relay the student body’s stance on campus-wide issues to the university.

One of those concerns might involve the university announcing in early December that Ransom Hall would be repurposed. After the announcement, students began expressing concern to SC members.

“It really proved to me the value of finding out students’ opinions of certain issues and relaying that information to the appropriate person,” Long said.

Let us know what you think:

Tweet us at @UTAShorthorn or leave a comment addresing your thoughts on recent SC resolutions.

FIRST SC SPRING GENERAL MEETING:
Jan. 26

Concern further spread when they heard that computers might have been relocated to the Palo Duro Lounge in the University Center. SC unanimously denounced the idea and then administered a petition to keep the room in its current state. More than 3,000 students concurred.

Long said he and other SC members couldn’t change the fact that Ransom Hall was being repurposed, but could work with their constituents to influence the relocation of computers.

“We did our part to make sure that [Palo Duro] was safe,” he said.

The university also announced a campus-wide tobacco ban, effective August 2011. Students having problems with the decision may approach the congress, but should know that the elected body cannot simply overturn the president’s decision.

The campus-wide ban is a done deal, but the SC can help direct people to the university’s resources, Long said.

“We would help them become more comfortable with the changes to the campus,” he said. “[The university] is trying to make it as painless a transition as possible.”

Students like bioengineering graduate student Vidhi Desai want other issues addressed. Desai said she worries about getting to local businesses from campus, and would prefer not to walk in inclement weather. She said SC should address transportation issues.
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“My biggest concern is public transportation,” she said. “Most of the good universities have that.”

Nursing sophomore Tylesha Hopes said SC does a good job, but would like to see student governance take action on academic issues.

“Students who are here [on campus] should have more of an advantage than transfer students when entering UTA programs,” she said.

University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said other ways for students to voice their opinions include working with various committees on campus and responding to feedback forms. She said another way students participate is by student leaders sitting in at the president’s monthly roundtable discussions.

“President Spaniolo always listens to students,” she said. “He’s open.”

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