Frederick elected MSUSA chair
Senate suggests simplified, safer bus system
by Brittney Hansen
Issue date: 4/3/08
Section: Senate News and Notes
Minnesota State Student Association President Chris Frederick will soon be the voice of about 60,000 more students than he currently represents.
The MSU Student Senate learned Wednesday that Frederick ran uncontested and was elected as the new Minnesota State University Student Association State Chair at the MSUSA conference last weekend at Metro State. Frederick will now be a voice for students in the MnSCU system, which includes the seven state universities and more than 30 community colleges.
MSUSA also elected Harshdeep Bhasin to be next year's treasurer. Bhasin is a College of Science, Engineering and Technology senator and a member of the Student Allocations Committee.
Bhasin and Senator Nathan Madden presented a motion before senate, which would require a review of the current university and public transportation systems and policies. Senate is concerned with the safety and convenience for students, since public buses do not operate after 6 p.m. and the Red Eye Shuttle goes only as far as the All Seasons Arena and does not run on weekends.
"With the administration's objectives to increase our enrollment, we're going to start running into some real sticky issues with parking," Madden said. He also said the Parking Advisory Committee lacks the funds to create a new bus line, but consolidating UZone, Stomper Express and the Red Eye Shuttle would possibly save money in the end and be less confusing to students.
"I'm sure if we had more transportation facilities we would be able to clear up some parking spots," Bhasin said.
After reviewing these transportation systems and policies further, senate plans to have a formal presentation by April 16.
The Diversity Committee has been meeting with William Harvey, manager of campus dining services, and Laurie Woodward, director of the CSU, about bringing Halal meat to university dining services. Halal meat is similar to Kosher meat in the way the animals are slaughtered. Many Muslim students don't eat meat products on campus due to religious reasons.
"Because so many people can't eat the meat products we have right now, I think we would see a significant rise in people using dining services," said off-campus senator Kelly Biers. "It would also be a way to get more people to live on campus if we can get [Halal meat] in the cafeterias, as it would encourage international students to live on campus because it would be one less restriction that they would have."
Biers said many other universities already have Halal meat and food provider Sodexho is investigating possible vendors.
In other news:
• SAC allocated $800 to the Student Art League for about 15 students to travel to New York City in early April to see Whitney Biennial at a museum that showcases international art. The Student Art League raised $1,761 for the trip by hosting a silent auction and pancake breakfast.
• $350 was given to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society of Political Science, to attend the MPSA Academic Conference in Chicago. The group raised $915.
• SAC allocated $275 to the Gerontology Club to attend the Minnesota Gerontological Society Annual Conference in Brooklyn Center.
• Student senate elections are next Tuesday. Students can vote on MSSA's website all day for MSSA president and vice president, as well as senators from their college and senators representing their place of residency online. The MSSA website is at www.mnsu.edu/mssa/.
Brittney Hansen is a Reporter assistant news editor
The MSU Student Senate learned Wednesday that Frederick ran uncontested and was elected as the new Minnesota State University Student Association State Chair at the MSUSA conference last weekend at Metro State. Frederick will now be a voice for students in the MnSCU system, which includes the seven state universities and more than 30 community colleges.
MSUSA also elected Harshdeep Bhasin to be next year's treasurer. Bhasin is a College of Science, Engineering and Technology senator and a member of the Student Allocations Committee.
Bhasin and Senator Nathan Madden presented a motion before senate, which would require a review of the current university and public transportation systems and policies. Senate is concerned with the safety and convenience for students, since public buses do not operate after 6 p.m. and the Red Eye Shuttle goes only as far as the All Seasons Arena and does not run on weekends.
"With the administration's objectives to increase our enrollment, we're going to start running into some real sticky issues with parking," Madden said. He also said the Parking Advisory Committee lacks the funds to create a new bus line, but consolidating UZone, Stomper Express and the Red Eye Shuttle would possibly save money in the end and be less confusing to students.
"I'm sure if we had more transportation facilities we would be able to clear up some parking spots," Bhasin said.
After reviewing these transportation systems and policies further, senate plans to have a formal presentation by April 16.
The Diversity Committee has been meeting with William Harvey, manager of campus dining services, and Laurie Woodward, director of the CSU, about bringing Halal meat to university dining services. Halal meat is similar to Kosher meat in the way the animals are slaughtered. Many Muslim students don't eat meat products on campus due to religious reasons.
"Because so many people can't eat the meat products we have right now, I think we would see a significant rise in people using dining services," said off-campus senator Kelly Biers. "It would also be a way to get more people to live on campus if we can get [Halal meat] in the cafeterias, as it would encourage international students to live on campus because it would be one less restriction that they would have."
Biers said many other universities already have Halal meat and food provider Sodexho is investigating possible vendors.
In other news:
• SAC allocated $800 to the Student Art League for about 15 students to travel to New York City in early April to see Whitney Biennial at a museum that showcases international art. The Student Art League raised $1,761 for the trip by hosting a silent auction and pancake breakfast.
• $350 was given to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society of Political Science, to attend the MPSA Academic Conference in Chicago. The group raised $915.
• SAC allocated $275 to the Gerontology Club to attend the Minnesota Gerontological Society Annual Conference in Brooklyn Center.
• Student senate elections are next Tuesday. Students can vote on MSSA's website all day for MSSA president and vice president, as well as senators from their college and senators representing their place of residency online. The MSSA website is at www.mnsu.edu/mssa/.
Brittney Hansen is a Reporter assistant news editor
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Harshdeep Bhasin
posted 4/03/08 @ 6:34 PM CST
There is a correction in Paragraph four, currently Red eye shuttle DOES NOT goes to All Seasons Arena. It operates during the evenings of Sunday to Thursday. (Continued…)
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