Verbose presentations from Social and Environmental Sustainability and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue took up the duration of last night’s A.S. Council meeting.
During public input, SESC Committee representative Fran Avendano gave a presentation that detailed the current status of a piece of land settled between Eleanor Roosevelt College and North Campus known as the Wedge.
Development of the Wedge into an envrionmentally sustainable plot of land was previously divided into four phases, three of which have been completed. However, the last phase has been shelved due to insufficient funds. The land is now being used as a temporary parking lot.
SESC recommends that phase four of the Wedge be completed with a sustainable concept design as an alternative to paving the lot. This alternative would prevent storm-water pollution, provide a model for natural water filtration, encourage alternative transportation and reinvest in open on-campus educational spaces.
Stephanie Usry and Sam Solomon, who serve as part of the committee organizing UCSD Cares Week 2009, stepped up to the microphone to tell the council about the event, which will take place in May. The week of philanthropy and community engagement will culminate with the university’s first-ever dance marathon.
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue took the council floor and gave a lengthy special presentation that began with commendations on the way councilmembers handled the activity-fee referendum and then discussed the changes the university’s unprecedented financial situation will bring, as well as recent and upcoming projects her office has undertaken.
‘We’re making some difficult choices, and we’re trying to make the process as transparent as possible,’ Rue said. ‘It’s important for us to continue in new directions.’ We’re continuing to look at ways to move forward; sometimes it requires reallocation of funds, sometimes it requires some creativity.’
Rue welcomed questions from the council after her presentation, and Associate Vice President of External Affairs Lisa Chen asked about the chancellor’s attitude toward the alleged cancer cluster in the literature building.
‘If the chancellor believed that there was an actual risk, then they would have moved very quickly to find alternative arrangements,’ Rue said. ‘It has received the highest levels of attention from the chancellor and it remains a very high priority at the chancellor’s table.’
During reports the finance committee went through a laundry list of allocations, most of which were approved with little to no obstruction.
A funding request for $13,750 for programming for the Grove Caffe once again made an appearance before the council, despite the fact that the same request was shot down last week.
Vice President of Finances and Resources Naasir Lakhani motioned to table the item after Associate Vice President of Enterprise Operations Chelsea Maxwell explained that she needed more time to meet with Grove employees to discuss the type of events that would be held at the venue. The motion was tabled.