Parking and transportation has been a huge priority for SGA this year. In a recent survey designed by the Student Life Committee, parking was determined to be the most important issue for students. Students have also reported difficulties with escort services and getting around campus. To respond to these concerns, we had a variety of engagements dedicated to parking and transportation.
To start off the week, Director of Communications Peter Moody interviewed the Chairman of the Student Life Committee Doug Allen on subjects focusing on, but not limited to, parking and transportation. In the interview Sen. Allen brought to attention the April 12 student advisory meeting with parking and transportation. Several SGA members attended this advisory meeting to discuss parking and transportation improvements with members of the VCU parking and transportation office. This meeting was held in the student Commons last Thursday at noon. To hear this interview, visit www.vcusga.com and click on the “podcasts” button on the left. To find out about future parking meetings and to voice your opinion, click on the “issues” section of the SGA Web site and read about parking.
At the senate meeting on Monday, Emma Minor, assistant manager for parking and transportation, gave a presentation about the VCU security escort reform and answered questions from senators. Escort services is currently being overhauled, changing into more of a point-to-point fixed route instead of a service by phone. Other changes include hiring more experienced and reliable drives who have trucking licenses.
So far, it is planned to change the name from security escort to “VCU SafeRide.” Also at the senate meeting, a resolution was passed to commemorate the recently deceased Barton B. Cregger, who served as associate dean of the School of Engineering. The senate is currently in the process of creating an award in honor of dean Creggar to recognize a faculty member or administrator who has demonstrated exemplary service to the student body. The specifics for the Barton B. Creggar award have not been finalized. Organizational budgets were introduced at last Monday’s senate meeting also.
Today the student senate will be debating and discussing the annual student organizational budgets. All students are welcome to attend. For more information on student organization budgets visit www.vcusga.com and click on “student organization funding.”
On Friday, April 27, the Student Veterans Association is holding a Support the Troops VCU Military Ball. Tickets are $20, with full-dinner buffet and a limited number of free drinks for 21 and up (soft drinks for those under 21). The guest of honor for this event is Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr. – the adjunct general of Virginia. For more information, contact William Moehl or e-mail vcsva@gmail.com.
In other SGA-related events, members attended a meeting of the Monroe Park Advisory Council on Wednesday, April 11. This group is appointed by the Richmond City Council to advise them on the management and maintenance of the park. Issues discussed at this meeting included the upcoming renovations of the park and homelessness. For more information, e-mail Director of External Affairs Mohamed Sayed at external@vcusga.com.
Mohamed is also working to improve our relations with the Fan community and specifically the Fan District Association. The better our relations with the FDA are, the more influence we will have over community-related decisions such as parking issues and the Party Patrol. On Saturday, April 14,, we had a joint clean-up venture with the Fan District Association to begin what we hope to be a long-term relationship with our community.
The SGA is conducting a survey about VCU seniors. This survey is to help give us more information about seniors and young professionals graduating from college. It’s a short survey (about 15 questions), and I ask that all VCU seniors please visit www.vcusga.com, click on “seniors survey” and fill it out. The information from this survey will help improve our advocacy for VCU’s students by giving us more information on your needs.
Thanks for reading. E-mail your concerns or questions to sgapresident@vcu.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.