BSU Senate Meeting Informs

Student Senate Discussed Tobacco Ban, Recalibration, and Budget

By DJ Haffely and Maggi Stivers

Twenty-five student senators gathered around a horseshoe shaped table, surrounded by three cameras and an audience of eight in the Crying Wolf Room at 4:02 p.m. on March 23rd. BSU Student Senate had an impressive agenda for the afternoon with scheduled time for Ty Patterson, expert about tobacco free campus, President Richard Hanson and Vice President William Maki to discuss important issues. 

A new addition to meetings was the cameras along with their operators. Student Senate meetings are now being broadcast on the BSU campus television station KSBU-TV, channel 17 on Paul Bunyan cable system. The senators have made some changes so that this can be made possible. Placed along the tables, there were several microphones so that the senators could be heard by the cameras.

On the agenda, Student Senate has several questions regarding ways to stay positive about implementing the tobacco policy on BSU campus. “My biggest fear about making the campus tobacco-free is that the smokers will rebel against the idea and they will still smoke on campus,” said Kristi Bernat, sophomore senator. Ty Patterson, director of the center of excellence for tobacco-free campus policy, answered these questions and helped the senators remain positive about the policy.

Ty Patterson discussing the tobacco-free
policy on campus.
Photo By DJ Haffely

 Patterson has been on BSU campus for the past two days and has discussed several aspects of the policy with student leaders, including resident assistants. He expressed that Student Senate needed to get feedback from the students because that’s what makes or breaks this policy. Also to make sure that smokers are aware of the programs that are available to them so they can ease their way into the policy.

There were also talks of designated areas on campus in which smokers could smoke. Some senators were concerned that smokers would simply walk across the street and smoke at the neighbors’ yards. Patterson mentioned from previous experience with this policy, the most important thing is to respect smokers who will be dealing with this change. This policy can assist BSU in maintaining its efforts to be known as a “green university”. Eliminating smoking can also help the environment.

The highlight of Patterson’s talk was that he extended an invitation to BSU to attend a Tobacco Free Campus Workshop next year. This year is the 8^th annual workshop and students from University of Buffalo, University of Kentucky, University of Oregon, Westminster College and Lane Community College. All these institutions have gone through the change of enforcing a tobacco free policy. The main thing they want to stress through this policy is to respect others and the environment.

President Hanson speaks during the
Student Senate meeting.
Photo By DJ Haffely

President Hanson spoke regarding his response to the response that given by Student Senate regarding the budget recalibration plans. President Hanson was very general speaking only touching base on the things that will be impacted. His main focus was that student leaders will always have a say in what goes on.   Michael Meehlhause, co-president of Student Senate, said “thank you for listening to us and taking us so seriously,” in regards to Hanson’s response. Bernat thought the response was fair and reasonable and shed enjoyed that “President Hanson stated how some of the ideas we "the students" came up with at the forums may be put into action.” Also, President Hanson discusses briefly about a pilot program for three year degree being tested fall semester 2011.

Bill Maki, Vice-President for Finance and Administration, explained all about enrollment and what the upcoming budgets will look like. It is predicted that by the 2011 to 2012 school year there will be a 3% to 4% increase in tuition. Maki explained that enrollment trends from 2010 to 2011 continued to look positive. The 2011 credit enrollment was up 7% over last year and overall fall credit enrollment is up 5% over the prior year. BSU’s balance budget is expected to be at $663 million dollars for the 2011 fiscal year.  Also $984 million increase in revenues over the next 3 year period plus a $176 million decrease in spending.

Towards the end of the meeting, there were small features regarding events and ideas being discussed. One idea brought up was the idea of having security cameras placed in the tunnel system and also to install a speaker system in which to play music such as the campus radio station FM 90. Also regarding the tunnels, the math club has been given permission to paint a mural in the tunnels. Following the meeting, the Student Senate went on a safely walk around campus looking for potential hazards.