Time to discuss student concerns was cut during Wednesday's Student Government Association meeting because special orders of business took time and priority.
As the clock neared 5 p.m., senators approved the elimination of caucus meetings, cut committee meetings down to five minutes and skipped all committee reports except for Student Safety because it had legislation to read.
Even though senate rules allow senators to make a motion for these changes, Vice President Rodney Blount reminded students of their responsibility to the student body.
"I think senate gets tired of going through a long day," he said, "but I just want senate to remember why they are here."
The meeting ran longer than expected because of president pro-tempore (senate president) elections and two presentations.
At-Large Caucus chairwoman Jessica Polley had several issues she said she wanted to discuss in caucus and committee meetings and reports, including results from a survey on university busing and the blood drive on April 6 and 7.-áBecause of the amendments to the senate schedule she said she was unable to ask for more volunteers for the drive.
"There's nothing in the bylaws that says we can't go past 5," she said. "We've had a lot of new people, so they haven't stayed in a meeting 'til 6, but I have, and we got more done in that meeting."
Because caucus meetings were cut, Sen. Ethan White, On-Campus Caucus chairman, said he decided to move to shorten committee meetings. Five minutes was allowed so the Student Safety committee could discuss legislation concerning Charlie's Charter, Ball State's escort service.
"They were killing caucus meetings and they are equally important," White said. "That and to get out of there. I thought about canceling it just to hurry it up. I figured five minutes was enough to read that legislation."
Student Safety committee was allowed to present the legislation, which recommends increasing the hours the Charlie's Charter service is provided. Sen. Kevin McBride, coauthor of the legislation, said there was a need to provide safe transportation back to campus for students dropping their cars off at the football stadium parking lots late Friday and Saturday nights.
Newly elected President Pro-tempore Betsy Mills, legislation coauthor, also spoke on its behalf and addressed financial concerns.
"If we are willing to spend millions of dollars on a rec center, why can't we have this service for our students?" she said. "It's not my job to find the money, it's my job to tell Ball State they need to find the money for the service."
The legislation will be voted on at the April 12 meeting.
The special orders of business all took place at the beginning of the meeting and included a presentation from a Indiana Secretary of State representative on the voter identification card law that requires people to show a photo ID when voting. He recommended students have Ball State print expiration dates on future ID cards so they can be used when voting.
In addition, Jon Lewis, new director of Dining Service, shared plans to improve non-resident meal plans and make it easier for students living off-campus to eat on-campus through Dining Service.
There is also a possibility of a caf+â-¬ being put in Bracken Library during the summer. The caf+â-¬ would have coffee, sandwiches, salads and pastries, he said, and would go into the space the vending machines are in.
"We are going to convert that into a really upscale caf+â-¬," he said, comparing it to Starbucks.
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