Time to be heard
SGA is giving students the opportunity to voice opinions over use of $100,000
A group of students at the University has money, and they want your input for how to spend it.
With an upcoming switch to Microsoft Outlook Live as the University’s primary e-mail server, there’s a leftover fund of $100,000 in student activity fees.
The Student Government Association has suggested a few options:
- Buy a server at the library that would allow students to search all of the databases at once
- Improve current technology in the residence halls and the Miller Learning Center
- Create a TI-83 rental program, modeled after a program at the University of Alabama (borrow a TI-83 for up to three days, avoiding a one-time $100 calculator purchase for a possible one-semester use)
- Establish wireless networks in the residence halls over a period of three years
Another idea, which floated among SGA members for a short time, was to divide the surplus among the colleges according to population. Even a few SGA senators began asking students in their colleges for feedback.
However, somewhere along the line, the idea was quietly dismissed. Dividing the money wouldn’t return a “significant” amount to the colleges, as opposed to the larger proposed projects mentioned above.
As an editorial board, we still like the latter idea. In times of a severe budget crunch, even a few new computers or software updates in each college could make all the difference – and mean a lot more to students as a whole. Ideas such as the calculator rental program or technology for the residence halls are great, but they don’t help all students.
But SGA wants to hear your voice. We’ve posted a poll online today with the above options. Vote there, and write us letters that we can pass along. Tell them where you want your money to go.

- Carolyn Crist for the editorial board