The Student Association Senate passed a resolution for road improvements on Sorority Row Tuesday, along with a resolution and amendment aimed at improving or demolishing the currently unoccupied Lloyd-Ricks Annex.
The SA Senate passed a resolution brought forward by Sorority Row Sen. Lauren Farragut to improve the driving and parking conditions for R.L. Jones Circle.
“I’ve just noticed that the parking conditions are terrible and that we could use [unused areas] on Sorority Row to fix this problem,” Farragut said.
Farragut’s resolution recommends that the university repave the street and utilize the empty lot located in the horseshoe-shaped area behind the sorority houses.
There are approximately 390 parking spots, along with 11 handicapped parking spots, on Sorority Row, and many people who ride to class on the shuttle from that area must park on the grass, Graduate Student Sen. Jeff Savage said.
With approximately 860 girls occupying Sorority Row, fewer than 400 parking spots will not accommodate those who come and park there on a regular basis, College of Business and Industry Sen. Katie Brown said.
Also at the meeting, Hull Hall Sen. Jeremy Sherman brought forth a resolution to tear down the Lloyd-Ricks Annex, adjacent to The Junction tailgating area.
The resolution states that the annex is a frequented area on campus, but the building is not being used. It was damaged by a tornado spawned by Hurricane Rita in the fall of 2005, and since then a tarp has covered the large hole it tore in the roof. Due to the aesthetically displeasing look of the building, the resolution recommends that the university tear it down within a month of receiving the resolution.
“It reflects how we’re viewed when we have visitors coming who see a building that looks ugly and torn-up,” Sherman said.
Several senators questioned whether or not the building is currently being used and whether the one-month limit within the resolution would be too restricting.
The university may be using the building, but there is a definite need for action concerning the building’s condition, Farragut said.
“If they can’t tear it down, at least make it better,” Farragut said.
The Senate resolved to form a three-member committee composed of Sherman, graduate student Sen. Michael Okhuysen and day student/commuter Sen. Caroline Adams to amend the Lloyd-Ricks Annex resolution.
Amendments the Senate suggested included removing the language that says no one uses the building at the present time, due to lack of knowledge, or at least to investigate the issue to make sure no one is using it.
Also, the language concerning the one-month limit would be removed.
The resolution would be rephrased so that the recommendation did not seem as abrasive.