The Mississippi State University Student Association Senate
voted Tuesday to support a plan which may improve certain student
facilities and services if passed by a student referendum on
Tuesday’s SA executive officer election and by the Institutions of
Higher Learning Board of Trustees.
The plan calls for students to pay an additional $6.67 per
credit hour at the university. The “student service enhancement
fee” would go only to several outlined projects which directly
affect students. Among these are the planned renovation of the
Colvard Student Union, improving campus concerts and events and
helping alleviate the traffic and parking problems students
currently face. For the plan to be enacted, it must receive a
two-thirds vote.
MSU President J. Charles Lee, who was the keynote speaker at
Tuesday’s SA meeting, spoke in support of the plan. He also
announced that, due to the state Legislature’s recent decision to
appropriate funds to education early, tuition will not increase
this coming year.
Lee also made the much anticipated announcement that a fall
break the week of Thanksgiving will be put into effect for a trial
basis for the coming two years. He said the matter came down to
making sure MSU students have the same opportunities as those in
other universities.
Lee praised the SA for its efforts in helping accomplish this
and other goals and encouraged SA members to use the opportunities
they have to improve student life and the university as a
whole.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” Lee said. “So our
expectations of you are also very, very high. So thank you so much
for all you do.”
SA President Parker Wiseman followed Lee’s lead, detailing
various accomplishments of the SA this year and detailing future
events and programs, such as the Downtown Music Festival this
Saturday, which Wiseman called “one more step in making
communication a little better” between the university and the
surrounding community.
Wiseman also outlined the upcoming celebration of the 125th
anniversary of MSU, which will be coupled with Celebrate
Mississippi events taking place on the Drill Field Thursday.
Students can enjoy live blues music and barbecue. Wiseman said this
event, along with the agreement reached on the fall break issue,
shows a strengthening of ties between the student body and the
faculty.
Wiseman also spoke of the importance of supporting the student
service enhancement fee being considered. He said it if passed, it
would have a large impact on the improvement of student life.
The SA also passed bills and resolutions dealing with executive
officer elections and balancing student body representation in the
SA Senate. Voting will take place Tuesday in the Colvard Student
Union.