The Metro Student Government Assembly approved a new director, a plan for campus bicycle racks and a repeal of a so-called contentious week-old resolution, at the Jan. 29 senate meeting. And it was all done without a single dissenting vote.
New director confirmed
The senate unanimously confirmed Ivory Raye to the position of Director of Student Affairs.
SGA President Andrew Bateman said he was appointing Raye with full confidence because of how actively she has participated in student government.
“She reaches out to the other directors, offers help, offers whatever time she has to be able to assist in the things they are doing in addition to her own duties as assistant director of student affairs,” Bateman said.
SGA Vice President C.J. Garbo, speaking to the senate before the confirmation vote, said Raye handled office conflicts ethically and privately in a manner that speaks to her character.
“Raye has maintained her individuality and her focus on the needs of the student body,” Garbo said.
Raye was unavailable for the confirmation vote because she is enrolled in a class at the same time as the senate meetings, Bateman said.
According to the SGA policy manual, the director of student affairs acts “as a liaison between SGA and the Metro State Division of Student Services,” which includes regular meetings with Kathy McKay, vice president of student services. Other duties include advising the president on matters of student services, attending SGA and college events and sitting on SGA committees.
Raye’s term as director concludes May 30, but with another presidential appointment and a senate confirmation, she can serve in the position for a second term.
The director of student affairs receives a $600 monthly stipend.
All SGA job descriptions and policies can be found at http://www.mscd.edu/~sga/Documents/Policy%20Manual.pdf.
Campus Improvement sparks student competition
Senators also unanimously approved a resolution to allocate up $7,500 from the SGA Campus Improvement budget to fund and promote a competition to design a minimum of two campus bicycle racks.
“One of the things we looked at for the campus improvement project was ways to increase crime prevention on campus. Crime prevention not only includes violent crimes, but crimes of opportunity and theft. One of the things we have heard from students is that there are not always readily available places to secure your bikes,” Bateman said to the senate before the vote.
Bateman said anyone was free to compete in the design competition, not just art students.
Senator Rachel Zamboras, one of the sponsors of the resolution, said the SGA would be working on a time line to provide specifications for materials and limitations on size and weight in time to allow voting by the end of February. Flyers have been placed around campus advertising the design competition.
“We’re hoping to get these bike racks furbished by the end of April, May at the latest, depending on what the companies look like, and have these up over the summer,” Zamboras said.
According to a statement from the Auraria Police Department, 46 bikes were reported stolen on campus in 2009.
AHEC Director of Communications and Institutional Relations Blaine Nickeson said that most of the stolen bicycles were locked at bicycle racks but the owners used “low-quality locks that are easily cut.”
Proposed pay cut shelved
At the meeting, senators also repealed resolution SR10-01, passed Jan. 22, which would have reduced the pay for the speaker of the senate from $400 a month to $100 a month, effective Feb. 1.
The decision to repeal the resolution came after there was conflict within the senate as to the motives of the original resolution.
Speaker Hashim Coates abstained from the vote.
According to the text of the repeal, “significant procedural and policy concerns over SR10-01 have been raised which warrant additional consideration before the resolution takes effect.”
Staff Advisor Brooke Gerber said SR10-01 violated the constitution and bylaws of the SGA.
“My advice as your advisor is that it is not the best way to handle things,” Gerber said to the senate.
The SGA will meet Feb. 5 in Tivoli 329 at 3 p.m. for their next meeting. All senate meetings are open to the public.
Rally for higher ed. approaches
The SGA is also working in conjunction with other student organizations, such as The Associated Students of Colorado and I am Higher Education, to advertise a state-wide rally for higher education Feb. 17.
Simultaneous rallies will be held at noon on campuses across the state.
Members of the assembly crafted red wristbands for students to wear to show their dedication for raising awareness for the concern about higher education funding.
Student government members got the idea from a student involved in the ASC from California, where students wore red wristbands as well.
SGA Director of Information Technology Corey Keasling said the assembly spent $70 on scissors and cloth to make the wristbands.
SGA members are distributing the bands out of their office in Tivoli 307 and in classes.
