Portland Events Board Rocks the Floor:
Joe Frechette, chair of the Portland Events Board (PEB), took the floor first for his catechism and spending report. With enthusiasm Frechette delivered a summary of everything the PEB had done in the 2002 fall semester. Frechette elected to wear no shoes at the Senate meeting, maybe an unprecedented move and also a proper informality for the show. He described Weekly Wednesdays, stating that at least a moderate amount of people have attended the shows, gathering an upwards of 30 people at times. Frechette is also offering to pay music majors to play at the Weekly Wednesday shows–coining the offer “Play and Get Paid.” The shows are put on in the Woodbury Campus Center on Wednesday evenings. Frechette also spoke about the PEB budget and how his stipend was the largest expenditure for the PEB. Frechette’s shoelessness made it easy to realize that his stipend was not a tremendous amount of money. Frechette expressed his satisfaction with the positive relationship the PEB formed with Aramark, and also that the show the PEB scheduled featuring local bands like Sly-Chi and Boombazi would be offering booze courtesy of Aramark. (Unfortunately the show was postponed due to snow.) Frechette was also pleased that the Student Communications Board and the Student Senate had allotted him enough money to buy a camera in order to properly document PEB functions. The PEB is also a key participant in many student events like Welcome Week.
Parking People:
Judy Ryan, executive assistant to the President, John Rasmussen, construction engineer for Facilities Management, and Bob Caswell, executive director of Media and Community Relations, went before the Senate to answer questions and give a brief summary about the activities involving the construction of the parking garage and the Community Education Center. Rasmussen presented a rendering of the building and described the ins and outs of the deal. A major change for the traffic will be that Surrenden Street will no longer run onto Chamberlain Street, allowing an easy escape to Deering Avenue. Instead, all traffic from the garage will have to exit onto Washburn Street. These changes may cause traffic congestion; however, foot traffic will not impede the flow of vehicles after construction is complete because there will be a human bridge crossing above the street from the new Community Education Center to Luther Bonney Hall.
In the new Community Education Center, there will be a lecture hall with a seating capacity of 500.
In all, the project will cost $24.9 million: $8 million from the state, $11.8 million from University bonds, $3.1 million from fund-raising and $500,000 from Hannaford Brothers.
The Student Senate listened and then posed concerns to the guest speakers. Most concerns were about monetary issues and parking issues in the upcoming months. Judy Ryan answered most questions and assured students that as much as possible will be done.
Free Press:
Elise Adams, executive editor of The FREE PRESS, presented budget reports to the Senate. Ben Hoffman asked if The FREE PRESS considered itself a student group. Adams said sort of, but you do not have to be a student to write for the paper. All students are welcome to join and the staff is composed mostly of students. She concluded it was a student group.
Capital Improvements:
Senators then discussed the computer that is being purchased for Kathleen Pease, coordinator of Student Senate Operations. Her computer is seven years old, and the Senators decided it was about time for her to get a new one with advanced programming.
Student Leader of the Month:
John Marshall, vice chair of the PEB, was elected Student Leader of the Month for December. Joe Frechette, chair of the PEB, earned the award for September. Now both leaders of the PEB have been recognized as outstanding student leaders for their hard work.