At this week's meeting, Student Senators officially declared their support of dedicated funding for the Pennsylvania Port Authority Transit in the face of the most recent set of proposed cuts to the system.

Senator Nasheena Porter introduced the PAT resolution, which was drafted by the Campus Life committee and which emphasizes the value of bus services to students. The resolution explicitly states Senate's support of continued PAT funding, and the committee plans to have the draft sent to Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, state senator Jack Wagner, state representative Mike Doyle, state House member Jack Wheapley, Pittsburgh City Council President Gene Ricciardi, Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon, and Pittsburgh mayor Tom Murphy. The draft, following significant rewording by senators, was passed by the end of the evening in order to reach state legislature by the end of their session the following day.

Committee chairs also shared standing reports: Academic Affairs is looking into implementing a central online advising system for students; Campus Life is investigating the timeliness of Housing's responses to online maintenance requests and is working to secure hands-free cell phone equipment for Escort Service drivers; and Communications is considering hosting special orientation sessions for transfer students in upcoming semesters. 

Senators imparted funded recognition to Sustainable Students and non-funded recognition to the Foosball Club and the Boxing Club. They granted special allocations to the Computer Club ($1,000 for a battery backup device), the International Film Festival ($500 for the screening rights to a film), and the South Asian Students Alliance ($2,000 for partial funding of a trip to a national conference in Los Angeles).

There is still a vacancy for a CFA senator; interested undergraduates should submit signed nomination petitions to UC Box 46 at the Info Desk.

12/04/04 Correction: This article originally stated that Student Senate’s resolution was signed by several government officers. It was instead sent to those officers.

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