The AUSA Senate voted Tuesday to raise student activity fees to $75, a bill that was brought up at Senate’s previous meeting.
The $5 hike comes as a result of the increase in the price of the RTD pass, as well as additional student organization funding. Last week, senators were asked to discuss the fee increase with students to get their reactions. Students agreed that the hike was reasonable, senators said. Senators even brought up the idea of raising the fee higher. “Why not raise it to $80 if people are accepting?” asked AHUM/SOCS Senator Molly Brown.
Senate also passed bill 7A, which states that Senate will provide $500 for the production of DU daily planners to help Residence Hall Association, Student Life, DUPB and Citizenship and Community Standards pay for the project. Daniels College of Business Senator Clinton Emmerich, who sponsored the bill, said that the planners will have a page of information on the Senate, how to contact senators and how to run for office. Also, Senate’s weekly meetings will be advertised in the daily campus events section so students know when to meet.
Pat Duffy, fundraising chair of the RHA, addressed the senators to update them on current events and thanked them for the $1,000 the Senate gave RHA for programs.
RHA’s theme this year is “Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll,” focusing on prevention and awareness concerning sex, drugs and alcohol. Each quarter RHA focuses on another concern. During winter quarter, the focus is on alcohol and drunk-driving prevention.
Duffy said RHA has created a “mocktails” program, in which alcoholics and others affected by alcohol came to DU to talk to students about situations they’ve had under the influence.
Senators also discussed the success of the Chancellor’s Roundtable. Freshman Senator Aaron Schwartzburg said he talked to Chancellor Dan Ritchie about the dullness of events on campus for students. “They are not widely enough advertised,” he told him. He suggested having a big event on campus that students can look forward to and talk about the entire year.
He is working on having a big-name band like OAR, Dashboard Confessional or Yellowcard perform at Magness Arena. “Chancellor Ritchie loved the idea, wanted to know the date and how he could help,” explained Schwartzburg. The cost of the concert would include renting out Magness, $23,000, as well as additional costs totaling about $10,000. Ritchie said he would possibly fund the event himself, Schwartzburg said.
AHUM/SOCS Senator John O’Malley said he addressed the chancellor about recycling issues on campus and talked about why it’s not working.
Ritchie said he would need a week to analyze the situation after O’Malley said that he wanted to look at cost-effective ways to recycle on what he thinks is an accessible campus.
President Max Goldberg mentioned his work with the Chancellor’s Search Committee, informing questioning senators on the details of the process and committee. He said the search is the responsibility of faculty, staff and board members at this point. Later, students will meet potential candidates, so students can have a role in the important decision.
Goldberg said he will update senators on the process.
He also spoke about the success of the chancellor/freshmen dinners, saying they are very successful and “definitely a tradition that will be carried on.”
Goldberg also brought up the importance of attendance and office hours on the senators’ behalf. “It is important to meet with constituents a little more to make that extra step,” he said.
In other business, senators addressed the recent string of incidents of houses and cars being vandalized off campus and suggested extra Campus Safety patrols. The senators also want to encourage students not to leave valuables in plain sight where thieves can get them.
