SGB gets down to business

Red Bull was the beverage of choice at this week’s Student Government Board meeting as a… Red Bull was the beverage of choice at this week’s Student Government Board meeting as a packed house led to a very intense hour.

President Brian Kelly started the meeting by congratulating the winners of the committee selections that took place this week. Board member Jarrod Baker commented on the memo about next week’s after-meeting party, inviting SGB members to food and beverages immediately following the normally scheduled Tuesday meeting.

Board member Joe Pasqualichio mentioned Pick-A-Prof, an Internet program that allows students to rate their professors. Pasqualichio spoke about new programs that Pick-A-Prof was preparing, but built up the suspense on these new ideas by stating, “I can’t say it publicly yet.”

He also commented on previous meetings’ reports on the establishment of blue security lights in the Oakland area, but admitted that he needs “to talk to Telecommunications because they are giving us a hard time.”

Member Monica Higgins gave several dates for different activities. On Feb. 14, there will be a transit rally, and on Saturday, Feb. 19, the leadership conference is having its retreat.

Liz Blasi’s report focused on the food meeting about the cafeterias on campus.

“They completely changed the whole way the Cathedral [Cafe] is set up,” she said.

Now, there are plans for a salad bar similar to the one in the Cathedral’s cafeteria in the Union and the creation of Starbuck’s coffee cards for students. Blasi invited anyone interested in the issue to come to the food committee meeting on Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.

The allocations committee was the only committee present to give a report. The committee announced that requests are now due on Mondays by 5 p.m. and that committee meetings changed to Thursdays at 9 p.m.

Board members denied many of the allocations committee’s recommendations by approving more money than it suggested for many organizations.

The allocations committee approved $517.32 of the $1,257.32 requested by the Heinz Chapel Choir for its free concert this semester. However, choir member Kelley Gannon gave reasons why the group needs all the money requested, including the creation of the concert’s programs and the reception following the concert.

Gannon said that the concert was important because several students from high schools would come to the function to look at Pitt’s musical offerings. She noted the importance to “show these student musicians that there are musical outlets at Pitt.” The members moved to approve the funding in full.

SGB also discussed funding for its own organization. Two requests were made by SGB: one for an organizational trip and one for the Commitment to Communications program. Both times, the allocations committee recommended only partial funds for SGB, and both times, the board members opposed the recommendations and approved the full funding.

During the open-floor session, several members of Free-The-Planet questioned SGB members on ending the environmental committee.

Adrienne Biondo, a sophomore at Pitt, asked Kelly, “Why is there no environmental committee, and what can we do to get funding and to be recognized as a club?”

Kelly responded by defending his members’ decision to end the environmental committee.

“We just need to look at what our goals are and what committees are going to help us achieve our goals,” he said, though he promised to help the group obtain office space for its work.

This week’s meeting appointed the newly selected committee positions, and board members offered congratulations.