Members of the newly elected ASG staff have some ambitious and expensive plans to make on-campus life more enjoyable for students and staff.
One of the biggest investments the ASG will most likely be making is on a new scoreboard for the men’s soccer field. The field, which will soon become home to the women’s softball team, will now serve two purposes and is currently being renovated. The field will soon have seating, fencing and, if all goes according to plan, a scoreboard.
The women’s softball team has been playing their games at Robinswood Park, an unreliable location, and have had many games cancelled after the park has been shut down due to minor weather issues.
“A scoreboard is an opportunity to make a lasting difference on the College. It is something that brings women’s softball here, and is going to be here for 10 to 15 years.” said Joseph Root, ASG President
Under usual circumstances, the Athletic Department would pay for any changes they have in their department. Due to the fact that a scoreboard would be a major investment, and could cost as much as $10,000 before installation, the ASG was approached for financial help.
The scoreboard appeared as an informational item in last week’s Board of Directors meetings and Bill O’Connor, Athletic Director at BC, had suggested that the ASG contributed half of the funds to have a scoreboard installed at the College.
Most people agreed that the scoreboard would be a good use of funds and the item is waiting for a Request for Proposal.
“We nickel and dime everything [at Bellevue College], and the scoreboard is a symbol of our support,” said Root.
Chapman Chung, Vice President of Finance and Communication, is currently in the process of working out a budget for the new ASG staff, but expects to “spend more than last year.” However, this hasn’t stopped staff from coming up with suggestions.
Andres Munt, Clubs and Programs Representative, was integral in proposing a celebration of Oktoberfest here at the College. The event, which is expected to cost in the region of $1,700, has already been approved and will cater for all students that attend.
Jean-Claude Kameni, Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Representative, has also been busy contemplating ways to spend the ASG budget. One suggestion Kameni shared with The Jibsheet, was to bring more TV screens and monitors to the College, to broadcast music videos.
Kameni has also been working to bring practical solutions to the College’s problems. One major development that Kameni is currently working on is to bring a financial institution to campus.
He said that this would mean that ATM’s would be easily accessible to students, and they would not be charged to withdraw cash. Kameni is currently in negotiations with BECU and U.S. Bank.
Carolyn Dewitt, Environmental and Social Responsibility Representative, is hoping to see some of her ideas come to fruition using the Student Environmental Sustainability Fee (SESF). This fee, which students pay into, has not been utilized as yet. The previous Environmental Representative, who resigned shortly into their term, did not use the fee, which now contains two quarters worth of funds.
Dewitt has numerous uses for the surplus, including new lighting, solar panels and a less wasteful cafeteria for the College.
Dewitt said that she hopes to install a new lighting system in the Student Programs building, with the hope of extending it throughout the College. This lighting system will sense how much natural light is in a room, and how much artificial light is necessary for people to work. This, Dewitt hopes, will cut down on electricity costs.
The Environmental Representative hopes that an alternative source of energy— solar panels— will cut the College’s expenses, and that the savings will be given back to students. She was unsure of the cost of solar panels, though.
“We need to think about what benefits students first, and then meshing with being a greener school.” Said Dewitt.
She also highlighted that the cafeteria wastes a lot food, and that composting would be the best way to counteract this. According to Dewitt, the cafeteria does not currently compost at all, something that does not set a good example to the students and employees that work there.
Starting this fall, Dewitt will have to present her ideas to the SESF Committee, a panel that Root put together to govern how environmental fees are used.
While the ideas the new ASG has put together are ambitious and potentially expensive, Root is certain that no frivolous spending will take place as long as committees are put in place to govern funds. In fact, Vice President of Finance Chapman Chung has to be consulted even when an office purchase costs more than $10.