The Daily Gamecock

Parks addresses budget increases, office initiatives at student senate

The 108th student senate’s last full meeting of the semester featured Student Body President Michael Parks addressing next year's proposed budget increases for students, the progress of his office’s initiatives and the timely renomination of an election commissioner.

One of the most significant requests presented at President Harris Pastides' annual budget meeting was the increase in the Greek Village student fee by $250 per student living in the Greek Village per semester. The fraternity and sorority community has grown by 50 percent in the last decade, and chapters routinely adjust their operating standards to meet the needs of the increasing membership. This fee will in part provide funding for the development of a parking garage that would be exclusively for the Greek Village.

“I think that we are all familiar with the problems of parking that take place in the Greek Village where a lot of our fellow students live," Parks said. "It is currently a project in the works that will provide parking as well as community space for Greek organizations to meet and hold chapters, hold meetings and that sort of thing. In order to make that happen it takes capital."

Another topic of discussion was the increase of tuition, which is expected to be the typical 2 to 4.5 percent.

Parks also gave an update on his cabinet's progress. The secretary of veteran affairs is working to develop a U101 program for veterans enrolled at USC. The secretary of community outreach has begun a survey with over 250 participants, which will be used to create the Carolina Kickoff program. Parks plans to develop the initiative this summer. 

An app is in development with computer sciences for the "My Off Campus" initiative that will give students a way to rate landlords and off-campus housing experiences. The app will be presented along with others at Demo Day in the Darla Moore Business School. 

Parks also asked the senate to extend the deadline for re-nominations of elections commissioner, secretary of campus outreach and the secretary of Greek affairs. The current deadline would fall during exam week, which is after the point when Student Government usually ceases working.

“I’d further like to stress how important it is and what a priority it is for me and my office to find the right fits for all of these positions,” Parks said.

He said that the timely re-nomination is important in order to avoid a repeat of last year's situation in which an elections commissioner did not go into place until mid-September.

“I can definitively tell everyone in this chamber right now that it is in the best interest of the student body and this Student Government to confirm an elections commissioner before the end of this semester," Parks said. "This is perhaps the most crucial position in Student Government as it leads to the overall continuity of Student Government, to the passing of the torch to future senators that will sit in the chairs that you’re sitting in right now."

Last he touched on his plans for the It’s On Us campaign to stop sexual assault, saying that he hopes to have Vice President Joe Biden visit USC to speak on the campaign.

Parks concluded his address saying he believes the student body to be stable and energized. He expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming year. 

“Your three executive officers are here working hard," he said. "We want to work with you. I surely do. Our future's bright, our resolve is tenacious."


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