This week’s SA meeting included a motion to limit speaking time, a presentation on proposed usage for a vacant lot, suggestions for more intramural sports participation, scheduled updates for different campus libraries, and more.
Time Management
As a result of last meeting’s lengthy debate on the executive session bill, the time limit per speaker was set to four minutes. (Previously, time was unlimited.)
Community Projects
Senior Brian Filipiak presented on a project he’s working on with community members and UR to determine the best use for the vacant lot at 937 Genesee Street, opposite Brue Coffee. His primary idea is a community center that would be used by the student body and local Rochesterians. The project is still in development.
Voter Registration
Sophomore senator Ian Krager reported that the SA-sponsored National Voter Registration Day event was successful. Volunteers registered 92 students to vote, and signed up 200 to receive out-of-state absentee ballots.
UR Student
There will be a comprehensive presentation on the details of UR Student, the University’s new all-in-one digital system, at the Senate meeting at 8 p.m. next Monday.
Sports
Campus Services Chair junior Alexander Pavlicin announced that he will soon send out a survey on intramural sports. They are currently underutilized, Pavlicin said, which he considers to be potentially due to a lack of outreach.
Tibet Democracy Event
International Student Affairs Committee Deputy Chair junior Justyna Gorka said that she is currently working with the administration to determine the best possible response to the Tibet controversy.
Public Safety Advisory Board
President and senior Jamal Holtz announced that Public Safety Advisory Board applications will open this week. Interested students should email publicsafety@rochester.edu by Monday, Oct. 14.
Library Updates
Senator Lea Thome updated SA on her efforts to increase access to the Humanities Center on the second floor of Rush Rhees Library. The Center will now be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday, an hour more than before. She is working to further expand hours during finals.
Gleason Library renovations are in the works. There will be no “hard construction,” only changes in furniture. The school wants more four-person study spaces. The changes will be implemented next fall.
Carlson Library will be getting an augmented reality room sometime in 2020.
Presidential Advisory Committee
The 16 members of the Presidential Advisory Committee have been selected. Short bios of each member will be posted on Facebook and emailed to students.
Minutes
Five to six sets of unapproved minutes will be approved next week. Each of these represents a records of a senate meeting that is not currently available to the public.
Correction (9/22/19): An earlier version of this article had the wrong title for Deputy Chair Justyna Gorka. The issue has been corrected.
