In its last meeting of the fall semester, the Student Association passed three resolutions that proposed individual campus improvement projects.The resolutions called for the construction of a sidewalk leading from the shuttle area by Montgomery Hall to the bike and motorcycle area of McCool Hall, the placement of snack and drink vending machines in the Mitchell Memorial Library and the construction of an electronic announcement marquee on the edge of campus.
The Mississippi State University administration agreed to build the sidewalk as part of the plans for the Old Main Plaza project.
Although the remaining resolutions have passed through the SA, Bill Kibler, vice president for student affairs, said he has not received them yet.
“We’re always open to working with the Student Association with the ideas that they present us,” Kibler said. “Our president [Robert ‘Doc’ Foglesong] is committed to upgrading campus.”
He said the vending machine resolution is the most likely to be completed.
“We would have to research vendors and find the best contract,” Kibler said.
If installed, vending machines would provide students a late-night food and drink source since Food For Thought, featuring Einstein Bros. Bagels, closes at midnight.
Kibler said the electronic marquee proposal is the most ambitious resolution that the SA has passed.
“This would be a much more expensive undertaking than the other resolutions,” he said. “Not only would there be the construction cost, but also there would be the operational cost since they would have to be actively managed.”
The marquee would be used to make announcements, such as campus events, and used to help relay emergency information.
SA President Jeremy Johnson said even though student affairs was not currently looking into the resolutions, he met with Foglesong and brought them to his attention.
He said he is hopeful that MSU takes the initiative and completes the two remaining resolutions.
“I think that they are all good ideas,” Johnson said. “It is good to have an active Senate in the Student Association that looks to find things that will help the student body.”
SA Vice President Caroline Adams said each resolution is important and should be completed by the university.
“It is hard to say which resolution is more important than the other,” Adams said. “The electronic banner is a great idea because many people who come on campus are unaware of activities the university is hosting. Also, the vending machines are needed in the library because students who are studying there late need access to food after dining service hours.”
Chris Hollomon, senior general business administration major, said that while the resolutions are good ideas, he does not think that the SA has the power to push them to completion.
“It seems like a non-issue,” Hollomon said. “They can ask for whatever they want but that does not guarantee that it will get done; ultimately all decisions default to the president.”
In the past, the SA has asked for things without any thought given to how to pay for these things or how it affects the school budget, he said.
“It appears that they are treading water and trying to seem like they are doing something,” Hollomon said. “They should concentrate on getting real official pull instead of being a suggestion body.