ASUNM senators toured the SUB construction site, passed the semester's first appropriation bill and laid out goals for the year during a Senate meeting Wednesday evening.
SUB director Walter Miller led the tour of the gutted Student Union Building. The demolition phase is about 90 percent finished, Miller said. Workers have removed virtually all the interior walls, have cut additional windows and are beginning the stages of an atrium in the 147,000 square-foot building. In addition to the demolition, crews are installing new ductwork and wiring for the building, as well as leveling the floor in the basement.
Miller said the new building will have added space for most of its previous uses, including cafeteria space for 700 people, offices for 20 student groups, 20 meeting rooms and an improved 200-seat theater that can be used for lectures. He added that construction was more or less on schedule and expected the building to open sometime during fall 2002.
"That's the official party line - there's no exact date yet," Miller said.
Student groups, the Associated Students of UNM and the Graduate and Professional Student Association will be housed in the north end of the lower level.
"It will be really great to have all the groups right there next to each other," ASUNM President Andrea Cook said.
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Senators said they were pleased with the progress.
"This is going to affect the morale of everyone," Sen. Gilbert Morales said. "We need more good looking buildings on campus."
The Senate also approved $1,260 for Agora Crisis Center to rent facilities in Jemez Springs for an upcoming training. The center originally asked for $2,520.
"It was a matter of fiscal responsibility," said Sen. Grant Nichols, chairman of the Finance Committee. "To give them $2,520 would be irresponsible - these funds are limited."
Sen. Sarah Bullard, who sponsored the appropriation bill, said the $1,260 would still allow Agora to cover half its costs, with the balance to be paid by trainees. That would amount to about $20 each, she said.
The Senate formed three ad hoc committees to achieve its goals for the semester. They include public relations, campus safety and technology and communication.
Technology and communications will be dedicated to promoting the use of computers and technology to connect people on campus, according to committee members.
During the same meeting, Nichols asked senators to remind their student groups about the last budget workshop for the semester, which is Friday in Room 147 of Woodward Hall from 2-3 p.m.
Any group applying for funds through the fall budget process has to attend one of the workshops, Nichols said. This includes newly chartered groups, groups that missed the spring budget process and groups that are requesting one-time capital outlays. A one-time capital outlay covers equipment expected to last more than three years, such as a computer or sporting goods.
If groups miss the workshop, and are not included in the fall budget process, they will have to go through appropriation requests for each individual need that arises. Additionally, if they miss two semester budget processes, they will be considered a new group the next time they go through and can only request $500.
"I'm always surprised how many student groups don't show up for these," Nichols said. "It's unfortunate for them when that happens."
