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Hi 73 / Lo 55 |
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Volume 72, Issue 123,
Thursday, April 5, 2007
News Bill calls for online reports Legislation requires senators to write monthly progress statements for Web site by JENNIFER EARLY
The first meeting of the 44th Student Government Association featured the passage of a bill related to accountability and a resolution calling for new smoke-free zones in the University Center arbor. A bill to make more information readily available to students on the SGA Web site passed with no amendments and dissenting votes. Co-author of the bill Gus Forward, a College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences senator, said the bill would make available online information on SGA-sponsored events, detailed profiles of all SGA members and monthly reports from senators about issues currently being worked on. "I think having this information on the Web site will give students the chance to be a little more informed about the topics being debated on … a chance for them to be more involved …" Forward said. Senator-at-large Kurt Schoeffler expressed concern over making senators submit a monthly report about what is being worked on. "I'm usually a fan of ... doing rather than talking. While it would help hold people accountable, I believe that is usually good to take baby steps," he said. "It seems that all the other reasons above are fairly easy to implement and very effective. They're simple. They're straightforward." Forward said the provision will give senators the opportunity to let students hear what they have to say and that writing one paragraph a month should not be a difficult task. After a voting division on whether to refer the bill to committee, the bill was called into question and passed with a majority vote, bypassing a committee hearing. The Senate unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Vice President Sam Dike calling for the lower level and the second floor of the University Center Arbor to be smoke-free zones. According to the UH Fire Marshal's Office, both areas have been declared indoor locations with no ventilation systems. The UC Policy Board has recommended the UC Arbor be declared a smoke-free location five times previously, and the UC is willing to construct covered areas on the UC North Patio for smokers if necessary, UC Director Keith Kowalka said. Staff members would implement a positive campaign to prevent smoking in the smoke-free areas, he said. "The UC does have a reserve account. We could put additional awnings in the patio area, if needed. I think our staff will work to be as nice and reasonable as possible in making sure the area in the UC Arbor is kept a smoke-free zone," Kowalka said. In other business, SGA President David Rosen swore in members and addressed ground rules in terms of attendance policies and the procedure for filling uncontested open seats in the Senate. "(The SGA) is not going to appoint anybody to an open seat unless they articulate beforehand at least one idea that hasn't been stated out loud by an incumbent member of the Senate," Rosen said. "This isn't done to make (the SGA) more closed or elitist, but rather to make sure (the Senate) isn't filling a seat for the sake of filling a seat." Dike challenged SGA senators to stand up and ask the hard questions. "Research and find out what is really going on. Find out what the students want," Dike said. "We have all expressed the desire to make student life better here on campus. The true testament is how far we will go to make that happen." SGA Regent Judah Johns expressed his excitement about being part of creating change at UH and the importance of addressing student needs. "One of my foremost priorities is to make the (M.D. Anderson) Library a 24-hour (location). I would like to make it available to everyone all the time," Johns said. "We are students. We are representing students. This is not about personal interests -- this is about needs." Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
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