South Dakota State University’s Students’ Association had its first meeting of the year on Monday the 4, President Barry Dunn addressed the Senate.
Open Forum
Dunn covered issues such as updates to the university and answered questions related to increased enrollment and current and future renovations to buildings on campus.
Some of the updates to the university included renovations to the basement of Wecota Hall, the current renovations to the Campanile and the opening of First Bank & Trust Arena, previously named Frost Arena.
“[We’re] very excited about First Bank & Trust Arena opening up really soon,” President Dunn said. “September 27…so please come…be involved. It’s just a super exciting [time]. [It was] a tremendous project to take us long into the future.”
Dunn said that there will be new leadership at Sodexo, the university’s food source, and added there is a new team coming that will be more effective and responsive.
Dunn also tackled questions regarding the future of SDSU with increased student enrollment and potential challenges that it poses.
Sen. Blake Gibney asked Dunn about parking on campus being an issue because of high enrollment and if there will be any changes to parking in the future.
Dunn said that the university had what he called “multiple choices to make” regarding where to move student parking, but ultimately chose the safer option to have students park on the south side lot. Other options were gravel parking lots that would be less safe in the winter, he said.
“It was for the safety of these young people,” Dunn said. “It might be harder on you. It might be harder on a commuter…to find a place, but it’s really important for students to find a safe place to park.
Due to the challenges with parking, Dunn said that students who live on campus should seek other sources of transportation.
“Certainly it’s challenging, but I encourage people to carpool, ride a bike,” Dunn said. “It might sound silly, it’s not…not everyone should drive the same distance to the same place every day. We’ve been a little bit spoiled. If we were on an urban campus we wouldn’t have this much parking…[but] that doesn’t mean it won’t be a problem on a cold January day.”
The university is in a designing stage of building a parking lot by the Southeast University Neighborhood Apartments, which won’t be ready until next year, Dunn said.
Dunn discussed how the higher enrollment numbers impact the university and the future goals of SDSU.
“This is our third year in a row where we’ve had increased freshmen enrollment,” Dunn said. “Even if next fall was down a little we would have high enrollment for the next four years. That’s really really good news for the university.”
Then, he explained why the increased enrollment matters to the university.
“Our job is your success,” he said. “We want to get as many young people in and out of here into the workforce, into the world as citizens and in careers as we can.”
Last, Dunn announced that there is a plan in the works for the university to go from being an R2 university to becoming an R1 university.
“We can be an R1 university, and we’re going to be, and it’s going to take a few years,” Dunn said. “We already exceed one of the criteria which research scholars expend each year, but we’re short on Ph.D. graduates, so, we have to up our game on graduating people who are gauged in Ph.D.s.”
Committee and Staff Reports
SA President Trinity Peterson announced that the “Aunt Flo” project is in full swing and where free period products will be in bathrooms around campus. There are some currently in the Main Street bathroom. More information about the project is to come.
The Senate will vote on Resolution 24-2-R that will implement free period products into bathrooms in the Student Union.
Peterson also said that the Senate met with the University Police Department due to concerns being brought up of UPD waiting at multiple Rabbit Ride stops on campus. Peterson and Bentz met with UPD to bring up those concerns to prevent students from being deterred from using the service.
“They [UPD] said that safety is their No. 1 concern,” Peterson said. “Obviously, they have a duty to make sure that everyone gets back safely but if we hear of any extensive issues just let us know.”
A survey will be sent out regarding student feedback for approving recommended changes to the General Activity Fee. Peterson urged everyone to fill out the survey when it is released.
Chief of Staff Rylee Sabo said that Jackrabbit Pharmacy located in the Wellness Center is now permanently closed.
Finally, Peterson said the Senate is still looking for a diversity chair and Vice President Hayden Bentz said that there are eight positions open on the Senate and the application closed Monday evening.
New Business
Resolution 24-3-R which will recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month and Tuesday Sept 10, 2024 as World Suicide Prevention Day.
General budgeting philosophy will be discussed at the next meeting as well.
Announcements
The Board of Regents will be at the next Students’ Association meeting.