Senate Welcomes New Academic Year

Student Government (SG) opened the 2008-2009 academic year by introducing and explaining the expectations and guidelines to new and returning senators. Respective responsibilities of Representative Student Organizations (RSOs), Major Student Organizations (MSOs), and SG advisers were also included in this introduction.

“Student Government is faced with many important issues and, through the constituencies you represent, you must follow what you believe,” said Emily Hughes, Acting Vice President of Student Government. “Professionalism is very important.”

Acting President Matt Danna spoke of current and future goals of SG, mentioning that “Dr. Jeremy A. Haefner, RIT’s new Academic Provost, intends to meet with the Senate to discuss the design of the new Innovation Center, the improvement of Freshmen Orientation, and expanding the transparency of RIT’s overseas campuses in Dubrovnik and Dubai.”

Gerry Brunelle, Director of Student Services, also commented that “SG TV will be getting a major overhaul” this year. “It will be like a real TV station, having up-to-date videos of university news and events. We’re also going to launch iTunes U, which will really get the RIT name out there.”

Housing Challenge

Many students this year have been placed in quads and ‘quints,’ placing many of them in tight living quarters. SG is planning to challenge senior administrators of RIT by asking them “to live and dine in the dorms to see if they can handle it themselves for one week without going home.” This will include eating at the dining halls, using the showers, and sleeping in extra long twin beds.

Megan Maksymowich, a representative from the College Activities Board (CAB), suggested, “After the administrator has moved into the dorm, the student should move into the house of the RIT staff member for the same amount of time.” The Senate unanimously agreed that this idea will “capture a lot of publicity on campus.”

Parking & Transportation

Students currently living at Park Point and University Commons are subject to strict parking restrictions, making many students unable to park their vehicles near the academic side of campus. In light of this, the shuttle system (which, in the opinion of many in the Senate, is “useful but largely unknown”) was discussed as being “unclear and confusing” to many students who have used it.

GCCIS Senator David Mullaney commented, “There needs to be a system that students can clearly understand...where buses are going and when.” GLBT Senator Cory Gregory remarked, “We should also simplify departure times.”

It also has been said that there is some confusion about the direction that the shuttles and buses travel. SG advisor Dr. Heath Boice-Pardee added, “I think that if senators take public transportation themselves, they will be better prepared to speak to Paula Benway, the Director of Parking and Transportation, in future meetings.”