The Student Government Association talked at length last night about the possible renovations to the Simon Recreation Center and taking a stand against false fire alarms.
Three years have passed since the SGA assured the students that rec center renovations were coming. Nothing has been done yet because "the funds aren't there," according to SGA moderator Phil Lyons.
Two years ago, the estimate for renovations was $1.8 million.
SGA President Adam Meister brought the issue to the floor, asking the senate how to best go about procuring the nearly $2 million it's going to take to bring the rec center, which sees approximately 500,000 people a year, up to date.
While nothing was finalized, the senators talked about instating a student fee, a capital campaign, an SGA fund-raiser and maybe waiting until next year to have students vote on a referendum.
Selling candy bars was mentioned.
"I don't think that there is any chance the SGA is going to raise $2.5 million," said Meister.
Parks college Senator Joe Cirillo said, "I'm a student; I'm a customer here; I'm not a Girl Scout."
Other universities charge students a fee to belong to their rec centers, but with the new meal plan and tuition increases already in place for next year, the senators agreed that putting more financial strain on the students was a bad idea.
Financial Vice President Tom Gill said that it seems like the only way to get students what they want is to ask them to pay for it, which is a precedent that SGA does not want to set. Gill said that it's time for the University's back to be against the wall.
The senate also passed a public condemnation of the fire alarms being pulled the past three nights in the Griesedieck Complex. SGA and the Residence Hall Association are putting up $100 each to support the Department of Public Safety's $300 reward for the person who turns in the culprit or culprits. The reward is now $500.
"I'm thinking about camping out in Gries and getting my spring break paid for," Meister said.
Some of the senators thought that the $100 was superfluous, especially since the money would be coming out of the funds to be used for upper-class scholarships.
Senators who live in Gries and have dealt with the five false alarms in the past three nights completely disagreed.
"This is not about dollars and cents. We need to take a stand," said Cirillo.
Arts and Sciences Senator Eric Immel updated the senators on the arena plans. The University is raising half of the estimated $70 million the project is going to cost before breaking ground.
"Once a building has been built, it's hard to raise more money," said Vice President of Student Development Kathy Humphrey; "$35 million has to come in before a shovel touches the ground. The rest can be generated through the facility."
The new arena will eat up 12 buildings in Grand Forest and all of the parking in Olive Compton garage on game days.
Businesses who want naming rights have to give $2 million contributions to the project, and benefactors can purchase bricks for the front walk. Prices range from $500 to $25,000.
The business fraternity Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate version of Future Business Leaders of America, was also chartered last night. The fraternity has 25 members and participates in business competitions, unlike other business fraternities on campus.
