SGB to hold meetings in Nordy’s Place

Student Government Board announced a change in location of its weekly meetings last… Student Government Board announced a change in location of its weekly meetings last night.

The Board, hoping to increase transparency and make it easier for students to attend meetings, will convene in Nordy’s Place for meetings starting March 2.

Board President Charlie Shull said seats will include room for the Board members and about 20 seats for members of the student body. If there were a large amount of allocations requests for the week, Shull said he would increase seating space.

“If one student stays in Nordy’s Place for the meeting, or if one student walks past that meeting and walks in and learns a little bit about Student Government Board, that’s success to me,” Shull said.

If order cannot be kept from students playing pool or watching sporting events, the Board will move meetings back to its original location, Shull said.

Shull also asked students to participate in Pitt Day in Harrisburg, during which students travel to the state’s capital to lobby for funding.

The goal is to have 55 students — one full bus — travel to Harrisburg and talk with legislators about receiving money for the University, he said.

The University is classified as state-affiliated and receives a portion of its money from appropriations in Harrisburg.

State-related schools receive a portion of their revenue from the commonwealth.

The other state schools that receive this revenue are Temple, Penn State and Lincoln. Over the past few years, the state decreased its funding to state-related universities — which Shull said has subsequently raised tuition rates to compensate for the missing revenue.

If students tell members of the state legislature appropriations committee why they chose to come to Pitt, show their attachment to the school and explain what Pitt provides for them, the commitee is more willing to look at the University as more of a investment, Shull said.

“We, as students, need this money,” and without this money, tuition will increase, he said.

SGB also announced its new committee chairs at the meeting. The following students will hold these positions for the 2010 year: Alex Zimmerman, academic affairs; Lena Wickenden, elections chair; Rebecca Schroeder, environmental chair; Alexa Jennings, governmental relations chair; Scott Krzywonos, judicial chair; Gina Zidek, traditions chair; and Kieran O’Leary, public relations chair.

Shull met with half of the newly appointed committee chairs yesterday and will meet with the other half this week. He plans to discuss chairs’ responsibilities and duties as Board member liaisons, he said.

Committee chairs are obligated to assist Board members with their projects, Shull said.