Tuesday, March 4, 2008

"Limit two and don't forget to vote."

With ASWSUV Elections this week, pizza has been purchased with student S&A Fees to promote the event. Today was different when I heard one of the people staffing the pavillion say "Limit two and don't forget to vote!"

In the two and a half years I have attended WSUV, I have never seen a limit to the number of pizza slices one is allowed to take. I usually like three as it fills me up and I can find three different flavors to whet my appetite.

Not that I am a heavy eater, nor do I like to stuff myself on food, but I did find this a bit odd. How many students would normally put away three or four slices just to make the hunger pains cease?

Also it has been some time since we had "free" pizza. Seemed like last year it was every other week. And what student doesn't like the opportunity to grab that quick bite of pizza between classes? It's already paid for and the only line you have to wait in is the one to select the pizza.

With less frequent offerings, today's few choices of flavors (no BBQ Chicken), and the limit imposed, it is apparent that ASWSUV funding is radically reduced for pizza promotions.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Upcoming Etiquette Dinner

On January 8, Senators Whitling and Morgan proposed Bill 17.034 to allocate $2850 for an Etiquette Dinner by the Career Services to be held March 27.

The intent of this event is to "increase all students' successful transition into the professional world." However, in Sec. 3, funding for the Dinner is based on 64 people attending at a cost of $25 per person.

I find it interesting that while I can go out to a dinner at a nice restaurant with one other person and eat a generous meal for about $25 to cover both dinners. I understand that this is a modest comparison. However, if this meal is supposed to be for all students - particularly those who are graduating this May - then it would seem that only 64 people out of the many students graduating are benefiting from this Etiquette Dinner.

Other costs associated with the Dinner include $200 for printing 64 ettiquette books, $500 for the Etiquette Speaker, and $550 for tables, linen, and silverware.

Obviously these costs are fixed by each of the groups providing individual services for the Dinner. I think it would seem more fair if the fixed costs were spread over a larger group of attendees and thus benefit more of the graduating class.

Official details of Bill 17.034 were published January 28 in the VanCougar. Source documentation may be obtained at the Office of Student Involvement.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Student Life at WSUV

The ASWSUV holds a variety of events throughout the academic year. Many students are familiar with the free pizza and flock to grab a few pieces around lunchtime. Sandwich boards and flyers announce upcoming activities. Is this enough for a commuter campus? Does it reach the diverse population?

I asked student Mark Oliver how he felt student S&A fees were being spent. "It would be nice if they asked older students what they would like to do," Oliver states, "tickets and outings are great, but there are not many educational activities, like a trip to an art gallery or a museum."

Most of the planning for student activities seems to be targeted for the typical college-aged student (19-25). Older students often have jobs and families which limit the time they have available to participate in these student activities.

Prior to Fall 2006, more than 75% of the student population comprised of older students returning to college. This was mostly due to curriculum being limited to upper division courses. Since the introduction of Freshmen and Sophomore level courses, the median age has dropped, but much of the student population is still comprised of older students.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Senators Allocate $800 for Hooded Sweatshirts

As reported recently in The VanCougar, ASWSUV Senators LaPore and Herring introduced Bill 17.035 for the purchase of twelve hooded sweatshirts to promote senate awareness on campus.

As stated in the Bill, Senators are "responsible [for] 50% of the costs associated with their sweatshirts" implying that each sweatshirt costs approximately $134 (approximately $67 covered by the allocation for each sweatshirt).

It is interesting to note that while this bill was proposed and enacted as an Act to allocate funds during a budget funding crisis. A restricted amount of funds are available for student activites and this pool of money is dwindling rapidly.

The details of Bill 17.035 were published in the VanCouger on January 16, 2008 and are also available at the Office of Student Involvement.