By MICHAEI GREEN
Staff Writer
A new Penn State University Senate proposal was the main topic of discussion at
the October 6, 2003 meeting of the Student Government Association. Capital
College student Senator Rodney Horton briefed SGA on the proposal which is to
be voted on at the October 28 meeting of the
University Senate.
As currently written, the proposal would shrink the
current size of the University Senate by roughly one
third, while maintaining the current ratio of student
representation. The University Senate serves as the
main "legislative" body for the entire university,
and consists of senators representing each college of
the University-such as the colleges at University
Park, Capital College, Berks-Lehigh College,
Commonwealth College, etc.
As it currently stands, each college has one student
senator to represent its students, but under the new
proposal, student representation would be set at 10
percent of the total senators, which would decrease
the number of student senators.
Horton mentioned that other student senators
oppose the proposal because it would decrease the
number of student senators, which would make it more difficult for student ideas
to reach the Senate. For instance, the student senator from the Commonwealth
College represents 12 campuses-Beaver, Delaware, Dußois, Fayette, Hazleton,
McKeesport, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, Worthington,
Scranton, and York.
et Carded 2003
Those campuses range from Philadelphia to north of Pittsburgh. If this proposal
is approved, it is undetermined whether or not some colleges would lose repre
sentation, senators would be responsible to cover more campuses, or some other
arrangement would be made.
On the topic of campus security, funding is being
considered for web-based security cameras to
observe the parking lots. While no timetable has
been set for installation, it is believed that the project
could be done quite quickly once approved.
According to reports from other Penn State campus
es, use of cameras has reduced thefts from cars.
Last month, Robert Brinkley, director of
Instructional and Information Technologies, gave a
report on modem access and possible cost savings for
Penn State Harrisburg. Harrisburg uses two "banks"
of modems to provide dial-up access for commuting
students.
Using this number of modems means that all stu
dents can dial into the PSU system without unrea
sonable delays. In the last year, the increasing use of
Cable and Direct Satellite Link (DSL) has measura
bly dropped demand for Penn State Harrisburg modems.
As a cost-cutting measure, he suggests shutting down the second "bank" of
modems during June, July and August. While no firm cost figure has been
obtained, Brinkley estimates a savings of $l5O, which he points out is equivalent
to several students' IST fees.
Left: from left to right: Jennifer Allshouse, and
SGA members Andrea White and Tiffany
Turner help hand out wallet cards and informa
tion about the National Sexual Assault Hotline
in the Olmsted lobby.
Above: from left to right: Tiffany Turner and
Andrea White distribute Get Carded 2003
cards to female students. Get Carded 2003
was a nationwide effort on over 500 U.S. cam
puses.