By Kassel Pierre-Jean
The Student Government Association (SGA) is currently working on a new version of their van policy after it was abruptly changed during the 2004 intersession.
A van policy was implemented by SGA three years ago in an attempt to aid SGA-approved clubs and organizations in getting to off-campus events.
The policy specifically details the total amount of mileage allowed in a round-trip, fees and penalties that can be issued and procedures to follow in requesting a van.
However, when SGA reconvened in the spring, Sen. Bradley Smallberg noticed that some major changes had been made to the van policy without senate approval.
“It was revised unofficially and without notice,” Smallberg said. “We repealed it and are currently working on going through each revision and putting in new policies.”
Student Activities Graduate Assistant Gurmeher “Kunal” Sahni said nothing was done wrong.
“We met during the intersession and went over the policies,” Sahni said. “It was two administrators, myself, and one of the student government representatives.”
Key changes in the revised van policy include fines for a van returned unclean or without fuel, an increase in monetary deposit and fines if keys are lost, indefinite suspension of use for the “remainder of the organization’s existence at [the] University” if alcohol or drugs are found and a three strikes policy.
The three strikes policy would give a warning for the first infraction and the second infraction would put an organization on probation from the vans for one week. The third infraction would result in suspension from use of the vans for one year.
The Senate, so far, has approved the three strikes policy, 18-to-3.
Smallberg said the main issue with Student Activities is that they have control over the van keys. He is considering a proposal that would give SGA control of the keys to the six vans the grpu[ currently owns.
“We had [Student Activities] control the keys because they do stuff that SGA had no time or people to handle,” Smallberg said. “Now we’ve got the people, now we have the time.”
John Whitcomb, president of SGA, said SGA only outlined policies.
“Student Activities enforces SGA policies,” Whitcomb said.
Smallberg disagreed and asserted that fines have not been paid and fees have not been collected.
“Nothing ever gets enforced [in Student Activities],” he said. “Control [for SGA] is key to what we need to do.”
Anita Ellis, director of Student Activities, interrupted the SGA Senate meeting on March 16 to briefly comment on the van policy.
“It is a lot of work and not an easy job,” Ellis said. “Getting deposits from clubs is like pulling teeth.”
Smallberg hinted that there may be possible misuse of the vans by non-SGA personnel.
“SGA clubs can use the vans for free, but if non-SGA organizations want to use the vans, there’s a fee that’s supposed to be paid,” Smallberg said. “Things are missing, fees are missing.”
Sahni said the vans were “rarely used” for non-SGA organizations.
“Very few non-SGA organizations use the vans,” he said. “No personal use is allowed. Just because you see the van on the Meadowbrook doesn’t mean anything. It could be that a club is going to an event. It doesn’t mean that it’s being misused.”
SGA has reverted to the original van policy from 2000 until all sections of the revised van policy obtain full Senate approval.
Some members of Student Government disagree with the way Student Activities handles van access.