From travel waivers, classroom civility and the Chaifetz Arena to the Indian Student Association and the Equestrian Team, the Student Government Association heard from organizations across the spectrum during its weekly meeting on Oct. 3.

Dean of Students Scott Smith presented an updated student travel waiver and asked SGA for feedback regarding the new version.

The travel waiver is a document students must sign before engaging in University-related travel.

Senators expressed concerns about a blanket alcohol policy included in the waiver, which prohibits any consumption of alcohol while traveling, as well as concerns about the binding legal tone of the waiver.

“You feel like you’re signing your life away,” said Paul Spica, a commuter senator.

College of Arts and Sciences Sen. Pat Devney raised concerns that the waiver’s wording suggested that students could be held responsible for mishaps while traveling, even if the University itself was negligent.

Smith noted the senators’ concerns and agreed to look over the waiver again.

Director of Graduate Studies Paaige Turner, Ph.D., and Student Conduct Officer Sarah Klucker then took the floor to give a presentation about a new classroom-civility initiative.

Through the proposal, Klucker and Turner hope to promote a classroom experience free from student behavior such as cell-phone usage and potential student altercations that they feel are detrimental to a healthy learning environment.

They stressed that they were not trying to take away student rights.

“Students are guaranteed their rights [listed in the Student Code of Conduct],” Klucker said. “There’s no pulling the wool out from underneath you.”

Under their new policy, students could be brought before a civility committee, which would decide what disciplinary actions are necessary.

The senate then heard a presentation by Kosha Irby, associate director of SLU athletics, and Andrew Doeschot, athletics coordinator, aboutplans for student seating at the new Chaifetz Arena.

Of the 10,600 total seats, 1,000 will be set aside for students at every men’s basketball home game, 750 of which are available for purchase as season tickets, at $135 per student. The current season prices are $30.

Irby said that the price increase is still reasonable and was based on average season ticket prices in the A-10 Conference.
“Look at it as an investment, and you will see dividends from it,” he said.

If more than 750 students sign up for season tickets, they will be awarded based on the Loyalty Distribution, which assigns points to students who have attended games in the past, are members of Blue Crew or participated in Blue Crew events during the 2007-2008 season.

Individual game tickets for students will be $10.
Some senators brought up concerns that the Loyalty Distribution program would detract from studies, since it rewarded students who weren’t studying, but rather going to games.

Irby agreed, but said he felt it was appropriate to reward the “most diehard fans.”

The Indian Student Association and the Equestrian Team then asked for spot-funding to help finance their activities.

ISA requested money to pay for Diwali Night, an Indian festival. Though the Senate refused to pay for ISA students from the University of Illinois to visit SLU, they unanimously passed an $800 request to pay for 125 pairs of raas sticks and costumes for ISA’s Diwali night.

“To have [Diwali Night] at SLU is a huge deal,” said Administrative Vice President Priyanka Veerlapati.

The Equestrian Team missed the annual fund allocation meeting in the spring, they originally requested $11,406 in funding in order to pay for their entire year’s worth of activities. The Finance Committee subsequently cut funding for practices, copies, gas costs and a fundraiser, leaving the funding total at $2,221.

“I think in the future we need to be more cautious about chartering student organizations that will cost this much,” said Aaron LaPlante, a commuter senator.

After a lengthy debate, an amendment was proposed that would give the Equestrian Team back the $40 they had requested originally, which would be used for making flier copies to publicize their fundraiser. A different proposed amendment to give them $330 for their fundraiser failed by one vote. The final amount awarded to the team was $2,261.