2008 Woodie Awards
Students continue to lobby SGA for Diversity Office move
Krystel Pakitsos
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Campus Life
Members of the Black Student Association and the Office of Student Diversity stood in front of the Student Government Association for their third consecutive week, with a larger group than before.
"We are here again to talk about the moving of the Student Diversity Office to a better location," said Anthony Moreno, graduate student and employee at the Office of Student Diversity. "Ask the question to yourself: Do you remember the last time students showed up three times in a row for a certain cause during student opinion time?"
The group again expressed what they said was a need for their office to be moved to a more central location, which, they said, would give the groups housed in the office a more direct connection to the student body.
Jared Smith, senator, replied to their request with questions of his own. He mentioned that other organizations offer different types of promotions, such as key chains, that raise student awareness of organizations.
"If you're worried about people not knowing you and not knowing where you're at, advertisement is huge," Smith said.
Members of group argued that such promotional items aren't necessary. They continued to stress the importance of location for student awareness.
A resolution that was presented at the last meeting to support the move of the Office of Student Diversity was passed unanimously.
In other news:
nA resolution to increase student fees by $10 for the athletic department to fund more scholarships for the upcoming school year was presented to Senate. The resolution was changed to a $9 increase by unanimous vote.
n Jared Smith proposed a resolution to dock the pay of the cabinet members, who he stated were partly responsible for the cancellation of this year's "Pitt Day on the Hill." Smith identified four cabinet members specifically, including Mallory Porter, public affairs director, who responded tearfully.
"To put all responsibility on certain people (would be wrong) when we act as a Senate and we act as a cabinet," Porter said.
Smith responded that everyone was responsible, but only a few could be held accountable
"We can't attack the committee because we don't pay them," Smith said. "We pay these directors who are in charge of organizing the committee and making sure it happens."
Smith's resolution was struck down.
"We are here again to talk about the moving of the Student Diversity Office to a better location," said Anthony Moreno, graduate student and employee at the Office of Student Diversity. "Ask the question to yourself: Do you remember the last time students showed up three times in a row for a certain cause during student opinion time?"
The group again expressed what they said was a need for their office to be moved to a more central location, which, they said, would give the groups housed in the office a more direct connection to the student body.
Jared Smith, senator, replied to their request with questions of his own. He mentioned that other organizations offer different types of promotions, such as key chains, that raise student awareness of organizations.
"If you're worried about people not knowing you and not knowing where you're at, advertisement is huge," Smith said.
Members of group argued that such promotional items aren't necessary. They continued to stress the importance of location for student awareness.
A resolution that was presented at the last meeting to support the move of the Office of Student Diversity was passed unanimously.
In other news:
nA resolution to increase student fees by $10 for the athletic department to fund more scholarships for the upcoming school year was presented to Senate. The resolution was changed to a $9 increase by unanimous vote.
n Jared Smith proposed a resolution to dock the pay of the cabinet members, who he stated were partly responsible for the cancellation of this year's "Pitt Day on the Hill." Smith identified four cabinet members specifically, including Mallory Porter, public affairs director, who responded tearfully.
"To put all responsibility on certain people (would be wrong) when we act as a Senate and we act as a cabinet," Porter said.
Smith responded that everyone was responsible, but only a few could be held accountable
"We can't attack the committee because we don't pay them," Smith said. "We pay these directors who are in charge of organizing the committee and making sure it happens."
Smith's resolution was struck down.
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