by Wendy J. Allyn

The SIUC Undergraduate Student Government unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday seeking student representation on University budget committees that will decide where to cut more than $1 million from academic departments.

In other business at last night’s senate meeting, USG passed a resolution opposing a University Housing proposal to make Neely Hall, located in University Park, the only dorm for 21 and over students.

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President Duane Sherman said the USG Senate will work cooperatively with the Graduate and Professional Student Council, which already passed a resolution calling for student representation on budget committees.

What we’re trying to do, GPSC and us, is to get students on these (budget) advisory committees. Senators that are representatives for their respective colleges will sit on these committees and offer advice to deans and chairs of those colleges, Sherman said.

SIUC officials said the cuts are necessary because of decreasing revenues resulting from declining enrollment and fewer state funds.

USG Sen. Robert Irby, representative for the College of Education, said student government needs to gain more representation because students’ education will be affected by the cuts. Irby also said student representatives are responsible for providing their constituents with information, and most students are not aware of the situation.

Student government really has to get more involved. Most students in general are in the dark about these cuts, Irby said. I think students should be involved in any decision that affects them. If that’s at an administrative level, then fine.

GPSC executives have said they now plan to present their request at the next meeting of the Dean’s Council to solicit administrative support. Sherman said he and GPSC President William Karrow will both speak to the council regarding student representation on budget committees.

Also, USG passed a resolution in opposition to a University Housing proposal to restrict students over the age of 21 who live on campus to one dorm building.

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After conducting a survey of Warren Hall residents, 21-and-over students who live in Thompson Point, Sen. David Vingren said more than 96 percent of students that responded indicated they were opposed to designating Neely Hall as the only 21-and-over dorm.

Many constituents have said they are against this proposal because it reduces their options, Vingren said.

The resolution states that many students 21 and over would like to live in Thompson Point but will be unable to if the Housing proposal goes through.

University Housing officials have said the proposal is only tentative and may be altered depending on student input.