Allison Hall Sens. C.J. Willey and Tamara Kagel will introduce two bills each at tonight’s Associated Student Government meeting on topics ranging from interdisciplinary undergraduate programs to bed lofting.
Bed lofting, one of Willey’s platform items, formerly was thought to be prohibited by Evanston fire code, said Willey, a Weinberg sophomore. But a list of Evanston fire prevention code regulations found on the Web site for the Office of Undergraduate Residential Life doesn’t mention bed lofting.
“I’ve dispelled the rumor that bed lofts were prohibited through Evanston fire code,” he said. “I’ve gotten positive feedback from the administration. I’m optimistic.”
The bed-lofting bill would give university inspectors the right to ensure that lofts comply with some sort of guideline, Speaker of the Senate Bassel Korkor said.
Willey’s other bill would increase the number of bike racks at key locations on campus, an issue the Student Services Committee has been dealing with for some time, Student Services Vice President Courtney Brunsfeld said. The bill calls for more racks at the Technological Institute, Swift Hall, Willard Residential College, Sargent Hall and near The Rock, Willey said.
Maintenance of existing bike racks on campus needs to be improved, Brunsfeld said. Students abandon bikes on bike racks, occupying space for people who actually ride their bikes. Other students have been forced to simply tangle their locks around their bikes.
“People bring nice bikes here,” said Brunsfeld, a Weinberg junior. “And even for people who don’t – they shouldn’t have to risk their property like that.”
Kagel’s two bills deal with interdisciplinary academic programs, including nine new programs that received funding this month. Her first bill is a resolution calling for Senate support of the new interdisciplinary programs, which include the Center for the Study of Imagination and a new transportation minor.
Interdisciplinary programs are an important part of “defragmenting” undergraduate education and covering areas not contained by the six undergraduate schools, Kagel said.
“Just because you’re registered in a certain school, that shouldn’t limit the academic opportunities that you have,” said Kagel, a Speech sophomore.
Kagel’s second bill calls for a listing of the new and existing interdisciplinary programs to be published, either in brochure form or as an addition to the undergraduate course catalog.
At the meeting, senators will also hear a “State of Norris (University Center)” address from Bill Johnston, Norris director.
