Board helps distribute student publications

The Student Government Board will soon install racks to hold student publications, including the Pittiful News and The Original Magazine, at seven locations on campus.

Board President Mike Nites and Board member Benjamin West introduced a bill tonight to amend the current SGB by-laws to fund student publication racks on campus. 

According to the bill, student publication racks will allow student-run publications to “increase their visibility on campus.” 

Board member Graeme Meyer said the Board will vote to approve the bill at next week’s meeting.

West said SGB plans to place the racks at various locations within the next week if the bill is approved. SGB will purchase the seven racks from Steel City Corporation. SGB already voted at the meeting tonight to set aside $1,486.70 to pay for the racks.

Kathy Humphrey, vice provost and dean of students, previously approved racks at two locations —  the first floor of the O’Hara Student Center and the main floor of the William Pitt Union — earlier this week. If the Board approves the bill next week, each building manager will need to approve the installation of the racks in each of the planned locations.

Publication racks will be available at the following locations: O’Hara Student Center, first floor; Benedum Engineering Hall, ground floor; Petersen Events Center, second floor; Sutherland, Residence Hall, first floor; William Pitt Union, main floor; Litchfield Towers, lobby; Posvar Hall, main lobby.

According to the bill, SGB may allot the same rack space to more than one publication, depending on each publication’s schedule, to ensure there is enough space. 

Student organizations that want to display their publications will have to apply for a space in the publication racks.

Publications must be Student Organization Resource Center certified, and members from each publication must submit an application that includes a general overview and description of the publication. The application must also include a tentative publication schedule, an action plan of how the organization will refill the rack and a copy of a past publication. 

Nites will designate an SGB member to determine which publications receive space at the beginning of each semester. 

Each rack has five shelves, and according to the bill, SGB will favor the publications that receive allocations funding to those who don’t. Otherwise, SGB will remain neutral when deciding which publications receive rack space, the bill said.

West said it is not the Board’s role to judge the merit of each publication.

“We can’t say that this one has better content that this one,” he said.

Student groups will be able to access the application, which West drafted, on SGB’s website, West said. 

Nites said the idea for distribution racks came up because several student organizations, including The Original Magazine, requested racks last year, but were denied. Meyer said it wasn’t fiscally responsible to approve individual racks for each group. 

“It’s not a wise use of our money when there are so many student publications,” Meyer said.

In other action:

Hours for Schenley Cafe and Market Central will be extended beginning Nov. 7.

Taco Bell and Pizza Hut will be open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Taco Bell hours will be extended from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday.

SubConnection will now be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Nicola’s Garden will all be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Market Central Friday and Saturday night hours will be extended from 10 to 11 p.m.

Tutto Fresco will be open until 11 p.m. seven days a week.