Band-Aids topped discussion at last night’s Student Government Association senate meeting.

As a result of student complaints, Arts & Sciences Senator Lauren Gretz and Undergraduate Commuter Senator Rich Bergin authored a resolution to request that the Department of Residence Life suspend their current policy and implement a new one for apartment housing with regards to commuter students.

According to the policy created by a Residence Life committee of students and staff, commuters will not be allowed to apply for housing until after May 1. This policy applies to all applications received before the deadline of Feb. 15 for apartment housing, despite the fact that the policy was not created until last week.

“It was sprung on [commuters] three days before Village applications were due,” Gretz explained.

The resolution presented by Gretz and Bergin would give priority to the time an individual spent in residence halls followed by the number of credit hours he or she has and finally the grade point average of that student.

The resolution sparked much debate among the senators.

“Timing on this is so poor,” Bergin said. “Something like this could have been suggested earlier.”

First-Year Senator Chad Kreikemeier jokingly suggested, “The next step is that everyone around St. Louis must stay at home.”

“I don’t think we can say we have the solution,” said Academic Vice President Meghan Clune. She continued that this solution was yet another Band-Aid on the problem of overcrowding.

Undergraduate Commuter Senator Vince Marino felt incoming freshmen were getting a higher priority than people who “have been here three or four years and invested a lot of money.”

Residence Life Director Leonard Jones was at the meeting to field questions. Many senators expressed desire for a new residence hall, yet Jones said that his department can only manage what it is given.

Marguerite Senator Nick Fagan requested, “Residence Life needs to fight for more space. Future students need to be turned away so that we can have housing for current students.”

“This is one of those ‘Band-Aid’ issues,” SGA President Jay Perry said, concurring with much of the sentiment. “We need to pass this resolution and send a message that Band-Aids aren’t going to work.”

Concluding the Band-Aid theme, Gretz said, “I think it’s time we rip off the Band-Aids and put on some of our own.”

The resolution passed with a large majority.

The Residence Life committee who made the current policies will meet again tonight to examine these issues.

Other Business

The senate accepted the resignations of five members who were under impeachment investigation for numerous absences. Of the four members left in the investigation, no impeachment charges were recommended.

Administrative Vice President Tony Wagner explained that those senators who spoke with them expressed confusion over attendance policies and many of their absences would have been considered excused.

The Finance Committee also presented an explanation of the new funding process which focuses on an Excel template that will standardize funding requests.