U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative campaigned with 33 platform items. Some of the items the slate members knew would not be finished by the time their term was finished after Spring Break. Most are completed or will begin by the end of this summer. President Betsy Mills said she was appreciative of the executive cabinet members and Ball State University Student Government Association senators who have helped get the items started and completed.
She said besides these items, the slate and SGA senators picked up other things on the way that students asked them to do. Another item SGA picked up was the student referendum on the campus-wide smoking ban.
"We're not done yet," Mills said. "We're going to be working on these items until our term ends."
Below is an update on the 33 items U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative hoped to accomplish:
U is for University:
Extension of the Red Loop: Instead of extending the Red Loop because of budget reasons, U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative worked with transportation to extend the Blue Loop's run until the end of Spring Break. Mills and Secretary of Governance Matt Lacy said ridership numbers had increased since last year.
Lights on Cowpath/Sidewalks in Quad: Legislation was passed to fix the sidewalks in the Quad and Facilities Planning and Management were looking into it, if not already fixed it. The slate also was told lights on the Cowpath could not be changed because it would affect the Letterman Building being LEED certified.
Night class parking pass: It already exists, but the slate is working on getting the passes for better locations. There have been several meetings with Parking Services Office Manager Nancy Wray. Mills said she expected it would be completed by the end of U.N.I.T.E.D's term, or there would be some sort of resolution.
Campus revitalization plan: Mills said Facilities Planning and Management guaranteed it would start maintaining the kiosks more. Progress was still being made about getting more bike racks and bulletin boards.
N is for Networking:
Village parking vouchers: Mills said this item was on hiatus because it was difficult setting meetings that would fit everyone's schedules. "It's something we'd like to resolve," she said. "It's a great platform item and is not dead in the water yet."
Improving Dining hours/Getting a name-brand eatery in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center: Press Secretary Jen Regnier was working with Director of Dining Jon Lewis and about 110 hours to Dining facilities next year. She said she did not know what Dining had planned, but there would be at least one name-brand eatery once renovations finished.
Improved ticket appeal process: Mills said they have had problems keeping students on the committee that deals with this issue, so this year more students were appointed to get representation. The How-to book also has information on how to appeal tickets and that book should be coming out soon once it was compiled.
Recycling initiatives: Mills said there were several meetings with Nikki Grigsby at the Muncie Sanitatory District. She said blue bags already were in fraternity houses and residence halls. SGA Parlimentarian Shawn Meier passed some pieces of legislation last year that are working their way through the governance process.
All-President Student Forum: This platform item was combined with the State of the Student Body Address platform item and occurred Fall Semester.
Student forum with Gora, former Muncie Mayor Dan Canan, Athletics Director Tom Collins and Director of Public Safety Gene Burton: This was changed to the Political Speaker Series that began Fall Semester. It changed because of scheduling conflicts.
I is for Innovation:
Spring Tradition: Mills said on Saturday, April 5 Ball State would have its McKinley Mile Bike Race. Lacy said they were in the process of gathering a steering committee and applications were due by mid-February.
Left turn arrow at the Scramble Light: Mills said it would happen when Phase 3 of the McKinley Project began. She and Lacy said it should happen this summer depending on funding. The turn arrows would be in all four directions and the intersection would be uniform to McKinley and Neely avenues. Mills said she was told the uniformity would make it safer for people with disabilities.
Online visitor registration for Anthony/Sheidler apartments: Mills said Davis had been talking to people in housing and residence. She said because there were fewer apartments now there was less tenet parking and more visitor parking.
Parking decals sent in the mail before school begins: Mills said she was still working with Parking Services on it, but the slate was told Parking did that already. Mills said she wanted more to be sent so there would not be as long of lines before school starts.
Designated path for bikers: Mills said this item was already in the university's strategic plan and was being researched.
Off-campus online roommate search: Mills said they ran into legal issues, but she wanted to have a "coffee house" where people could have a night to meet potential roommates. She said they would have to check on the legality of that, but it would happen sometime this semester whether it was in her term or the next slate's.
SGA Daily News blog: Mills said it was up and running, and there needed to be a link on the Daily News' Web site.
T is for Technology:
Irving Gym and Amelia T. Wood Student Health Center tracking and online signup for specialized equipment: Lacy said because of the new Irving Gym expansion the problem would fix itself because there would be more equipment and more room.
Bigger e-mail inboxes: Mills said starting in the summer, University Computing Services would give every student 100 megabytes of room instead of the 6 megabytes now.
Cardinal Cash in the pop/vending machines and in the washers/dryers: Mills said some of the vending machines, washers and dryers already accepted Cardinal Cash. She said according to Business Affairs all of them would have the capability by 2009.
Free fax service in the SGA office: Mills said there would be a machine in the office before her term was finished.
Computers in the Health Center: Mills said UCS put three computers in the Health Center already, but two were stolen. She said UCS might replace them, but she did not know for sure.
E is for Education:
Dead Week: Mills said Vice President Jamie Manuel, Carson Lance, former chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee, and President Pro-Tempore Kyle Ellis had been e-mailing department chairpersons to get input about the issue. Mills said they were waiting on more feedback, but she and her slate knew this platform item would not happen this year. "We're just researching now, and it'll be a long-term project," she said. "This is something we'll pass on, and I think the next slate will pick it up hopefully."
Personalized BSU homepage/All-inclusive online events calendar: Mills said the calendar already was all inclusive, but student organizations did not know they could use it as it was intended. She said they were working on promoting it. She said the personalized homepage was a long-term project with UCS, but they knew it was something students wanted.
Mandatory professor evaluations: Mills said the Academic Affairs Committee was researching it now.
Interactive 3D tour of campus: Lacy said he met with Tom Taylor, the vice president of enrollment marketing and communication, and it was on his list of things to do. Lacy said they were going to schedule another meeting to check on its progress.
D is for Diversity:
Multicultural Council: Mills said this started in September and the group had been meeting consistently and getting new members. She said one of council's big initatives right now was working with admissions to recruit high school students with different backgrounds.
Multicultural academic advisors for minority students: Mills said Secretary of Diversity Manda Ostoich met with administrators about the issue. Mills said they would have to do a lot more research. She said this also was something they would have to pass to the next secretary of diversity.
Diversity statement included in all BSU course syllabi: Mills said this issue needed more research.
Increased funding for Early Start Programs such as EXCEL and Class: Mills said the Office of Student Life already took care of this issue on its own.
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