Elections of Academic Affairs Vice-Chair: Gabriel Lamoureux
(9-0-0)
Motion to Hold Meeting on Wednesday 5/4
(8-1-0)
PRESIDENT
Coates– Proposal from University asking for $50,000 to build basketball courts on campus. $25,000 a piece. Locations- behind Adams Hall, towards Eddy Hall. The other location is going to be behind Heathman, towards the Parking Lot. Good proximity to Aldrich, Wiley, and Garrahy and the rest of the Roger Williams Complex dorms. The basketball court going in near Heathman will be accompanied by a volleyball court that is already paid for. HRL can provide money to light the courts if we pay for the construction. These courts can be used for four months out of the year, which is equivalent to a semester. It has also been stipulated that it will say Student Senate on the courts. Beyond that, I told Chip that I would include in the bill that, if it is not complete by mid-point next semester, we would be pulling out our funding. We can put $50,000 down now and have two brand new basketball courts opened by September. We have more than enough money to cover this, and as of right now, the closest basketball courts that are outdoors are in South Kingstown.
Jones– Why shouldn’t we put that money towards renovating the existing basketball courts that we have Mackel field house already?
Coates- That is already in the process and will also cost too much from us with those renovations.
Troiano– Will lights make night game play possible?
Coates– Yes, we will probably put them on a timer so people can play under the lights.
Berger- Repeat where they are going to go.
Coates– One behind Adams and one behind Heathman. Motion to close the minutes.
2nd Holzman
Coates– Minutes re-opened. Any questions regarding basketball courts?
Berger- Are you going to be taking down any trees?
Coates– Any other questions on the basketball courts? Bill will go on the floor next week for construction of two basketball courts.
(9-0-0) [with three executive members absent]
Coates- Puts us in a really good place as far as marketing as well. Anyway, who read the Cigar today? The University was talking about the fabulous new research park that they are still trying to build. Cigar looked through their own archives and saw that it was going to be built on a 100 year-old forest (Centennial Forest). That is the same reason that we shot down the research park the last time. I do not have a profound love for trees, so normally, I would say as long as you plan to re-plant more trees, I would be fine with this, but these are trees that cannot be replaced.
Berger– Was it actually approved?
Coates- Don’t actually have to pay for it. Multi-national Corporation willing to pay. Great opportunity, but don’t see why we can’t do it somewhere else. Former President Carothers pointed out that we could build it on the faculty lot as an idea. Instead of moving the research part, you can move the faculty parking and build on an existing site that will not affect the Centennial Forest. We should work through student groups who have vested interest in preserving the forest.
Holzman- I like the idea of putting it on top of the parking lot and maybe part of the deal about agreeing to let this corporation come in and do it, is to make them agree to build a faculty parking lot as well. Part of the approach to fighting for the preservation of the forest and for not expanding into the 100-acre wood north of us is that the University did not buy the land- it is the state’s land. That land is held in public trust. Therefore, it is for the good of the people and not there for the consumption of the University per say. Best use for public gain is for the University to expand into the land for economic and educational potential, that is one thing. But, the Centennial Forest is a public trust matter, and that is a good way to go to get a lot of people outside of the University who recognize that it is public land. I think the campus could grow a little bit more, but it’s almost a 15 minute walk from Fraternity Circle to Fine Arts. You can never exceed a 10-minute travel time between any two academic buildings. We’ve reached our sustainable limit horizontally across the hill. Time to build up.
Coates- Any more questions? I thought it would take more time to re-group for this idea. I am seriously thinking about writing an editorial to go off what the Cigar mentioned. I already called the Editor today. No response yet.
Holzman– Maybe there is some argument to be made about the value of an academic industrial complex. It would be interesting to talk to some of the faculty and see if they have seen any negative effects with having relationships with companies like this. Does a lot of money from a particular company lead to them controlling what research gets done at the school? Research should not be limited to what a bunch of corporate officers gets done.
Coates– I think the idea is that they are going to be paying us for our research- to do specific research that they ask.
Holzman– Research has to be funded by someone.
Coates– Going to talk and get more information.
Boiteau- Club sports financial director sent me another email and wants to see if we can provide assistance to men and women’s hockey team. I think we should start with the administration having the knowledge that it is our ice rink on our campus and our sports team have to pay.
Coates- Doing the RFP for Global Spectrum. I spoke with the woman who administers Global Spectrum and URI relations, and I told her I would pull hockey teams from building with available rink time elsewhere. Did not get a response.
Boiteau– Chris had asked if we can give them an annual grant. Send an e-mail to President Dooley.
Coates– I will talk to Tom Doogan. Lauren Creamer has all the quotes from the different ice rinks and it is cheaper to use those rinks, even with the travel.
Boiteau– The ice rink is right there.
Coates– Any other questions?
Berger- Right now, they can just walk to the rink, right?
Coates- Even with travel paid for as part of their budget, it would still be cheaper.
Berger- But now you are using up time and gas.
Coates- Cost difference is huge. Student fees fund Club sports team. Students on those teams are paying dues as well. $4,000 a semester for the men’s team. They are exploiting student resources.
Troiano– Where do SK, Narragansett, and Prout practice?
Coates- Don’t know.
Boiteau- Might want to start going on that. I can work with you on that.
Ferreira- Also, fundraising idea for Ellery Pond. Thinking about sunglasses to sell. Can buy 400 sunglasses, about $360.
Coates-Sounds good.
Adjourn 2:54pm.