SGA Update: Dining opts for two midnight breakfasts

Last week, the Campus reported that Midnight Breakfast had been expanded to three nights. However, although the SGA approved three nights, Dining Services is currently comfortable with providing only two nights due to staff reductions. There will therefore be only two nights of Midnight Breakfast this spring, the dates of which are still to be determined.

At the March 14 SGA meeting, the Senate continued its discussion regarding improvements to the fitness center. With elliptical machines costing more than $3,000 per machine and upright and recumbent bikes valued at over $2,000 each, efforts to replace the gym equipment will undoubtedly be expensive.

Most SGA members were highly interested in equipment restoration efforts, but were concerned that sizable financial contributions would set a dangerous precedent. By assuming the costs of gym equipment, a cost typically associated with the Athletics Facilities budget, the SGA runs the risk of those costs not being budgeted in the future.

The SGA recognizes the current poor state of the gym equipment, but is cautious about funding new machines in their entirety. The SGA will continue to examine the situation to determine the most cost-effective and pragmatic way for the SGA to contribute.

In addition, the SGA voted in favor of a transportation committee bill that will lower the cost of SGA break bus tickets. The SGA currently makes a profit from selling break bus tickets to New York City and Boston. The passage of this bill calls for the changing of ticket pricing such that until the end of the 2010-11 school year, ticket prices will be set by dividing the cost of bus rental by the number of seats available.

Using this break-even pricing mechanism, a ticket to New York City might be $95 instead of the current $115, and a ticket to Boston would be $75 instead of $80. The SGA hopes these pricing changes will increase the number of riders while lowering student costs. The pricing system will be evaluated for effectiveness at the end of next year.

SGA President Mike Panzer ’10 proposed moving Senate elections from the fall to the spring. Panzer hopes this change will increase voter turnout in addition to providing the Senate with more organizational time before the start of the school year. In previous years, later fall elections have resulted in a sitting Senate not being established until late October, significantly delaying SGA operations.

Panzer believes spring elections will allow an educational period for new Senate members that will facilitate a prompt and efficient start to SGA operations in the fall. As a result, fall elections would be reserved exclusively for first-year senators, with other elections being held the preceding spring.

Although this allows for focus on first-year class elections in the fall, first-years would be excluded from running for commons senator, because those elections would take place in the spring. SGA members agreed to pursue the institution of spring elections, and a bill regarding that change will be presented for an official vote at a future meeting.

The committee also voted to explore the possibility of expanding Midd Ride hours, adding Sunday buses to Burlington, and financing a second week of the expanded 24-hour library schedule during finals.