Cam Keeble
Business Manager
In a recent student government meeting, the formal recommendation for a $58,915 "physical restructure" of the Student Leadership Center was approved, contingent upon the approval of an increase in the PUB fee. Included will be upgrades for a large majority of the office furniture in the SLC as well as some new pieces for the Game Room. Existing SLC furniture will be relocated throughout the first two floors of the PUB for student study areas. A large oval sectional table will replace the area now filled with cubicles. The space is intended to allow for, as stated in the formal recommendation, "increased collaboration and transparency."
The cubicles and desktop computers currently installed will be moved down to the Game Room, states the recommendation, "creating a place where students can game, easing stress on Student and Academic Labs."
While a funding source for the restructure was not specifically identified, there are several budgets available that Advisor Jamie Ardena outlined as options. The decision to fund the restructure through contingency, rather than moving forward immediately, was made with respect to a comment Tonya Drake, vice president for student success, made from the gallery during the open meeting. The concern was that if the PUB fee increase doesn't pass, and the student government is forced to use funds from the SS&A fee to make up for it, a newly remodeled Student Leadership Center would seem excessive in financially tight times.
"It's not just that we want to buy things for ourselves, it's very clear that that's not what's happening,” said Prime Minister Jessica Gonzalez “But we're reaching a level of sophistication where our current systems are completely inadequate.” She also said that with the substantial amount required for student government salaries, the proposals are there to help "streamline that--to use student money more efficiently."
The cubicles and desktop computers currently installed will be moved down to the Game Room, states the recommendation, "creating a place where students can game, easing stress on Student and Academic Labs."
While a funding source for the restructure was not specifically identified, there are several budgets available that Advisor Jamie Ardena outlined as options. The decision to fund the restructure through contingency, rather than moving forward immediately, was made with respect to a comment Tonya Drake, vice president for student success, made from the gallery during the open meeting. The concern was that if the PUB fee increase doesn't pass, and the student government is forced to use funds from the SS&A fee to make up for it, a newly remodeled Student Leadership Center would seem excessive in financially tight times.
"It's not just that we want to buy things for ourselves, it's very clear that that's not what's happening,” said Prime Minister Jessica Gonzalez “But we're reaching a level of sophistication where our current systems are completely inadequate.” She also said that with the substantial amount required for student government salaries, the proposals are there to help "streamline that--to use student money more efficiently."
"I just wanted to make sure you were conscientious of how it might look to others," Drake said. Minister of Finance Pat Yiu said, "That's the only concern I have--it seems like a really good idea--but it's the possibility of the PUB fee not passing."
The financial purchasing deadline for the year was a factor in advocating for this sooner rather than later, Gonzalez said, and that delaying the funding until the PUB fee passed would mean leaving the project for next year's government to pick up. But in light of the upcoming vote on the PUB fee increase, and the potential chance, if slim, for that not to pass, student government voted to fund the recommendation with the stipulation in place that the PUB fee increase must be approved first.
Advisor Jamie Ardena congratulated the group on a "Big step... You're taking your leadership into the 21st century with technology and work stations that work for you."
The financial purchasing deadline for the year was a factor in advocating for this sooner rather than later, Gonzalez said, and that delaying the funding until the PUB fee passed would mean leaving the project for next year's government to pick up. But in light of the upcoming vote on the PUB fee increase, and the potential chance, if slim, for that not to pass, student government voted to fund the recommendation with the stipulation in place that the PUB fee increase must be approved first.
Advisor Jamie Ardena congratulated the group on a "Big step... You're taking your leadership into the 21st century with technology and work stations that work for you."
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