USC’s student senate passed recommendations to launch a Donations for Citations program and to expand and upgrade water bottle fillers in older campus buildings on Nov. 12.
Donations for Citations
The senate passed a recommendation to establish a Donations for Citations program on campus. The legislation is sponsored by Chairwoman Zoe Hopkins and Sen. Daniela Tapia.
According to the recommendation, the University of Tennessee created a Donations for Citations program, which allows students to pay off parking citations by donating non-perishable goods and other items. UT's program allows for donations within 13 days of the issuing of the citation as long as they include five full-sized items and submit them to the Parking and Transportation office.
For USC’s version of the program, all donations would be made to the Gamecock Pantry. Donations would only apply to unexpired citations that are worth $35 or less, according to the recommendation.
Other SEC schools such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oklahoma have their own programs, according to the recommendation . Oklahoma’s version requires students to make a donation worth 80% of their citation and for a citation no greater than $50, the recommendation said.
“It’ll help people get out of their citations and also help restock the food pantry, the CommUnity shop and help the students who need a little extra help,” Hopkins said.
This legislation comes after a 70% increase in visits to the Gamecock Pantry during the 2024-2025 academic year compared to the previous year, according to the recommendation. The recommendation said the pantry was visited over 12,000 times, and the increase is expected to continue into the current academic year.
Another goal of the legislation is to help students who are in need. About 19% of undergraduate students at USC are considered low-income individuals, the recommendation said.
Water bottle filling stations
The senate also passed a recommendation to expand and upgrade water bottle fillers in older campus buildings. The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Lester Lewis.
According to the recommendation, some buildings on campus only have water bottle fillers on one floor or outdated fillers. This makes it inconvenient for students who frequently fill their water bottles, the recommendation said.
Access to water bottle filling stations is important for the overall health of students, the recommendation said. Using water bottle filling stations can also prove to be a healthier option than drinking from water fountains and allow students to not have to buy plastic water bottles, according to the recommendation.
Lewis said examples of buildings that would be affected are Gambrell Hall and the Humanities Classroom Building.
The recommendation urges USC to upgrade existing water fountains to include water bottle filling stations and add additional stations in areas with limited access to them .
Study zone map
The senate also passed a recommendation to launch a study zone map of study areas around campus. The legislation is also sponsored by Lewis.
First-year and transfer students at USC are often unaware of study spaces that could benefit their academic careers, the recommendation said. These include late-night facilities and common areas for students to study in, according to the recommendation.
Integrating an online study zone map would be immediately useful to all students looking for comfortable study spaces around campus, the recommendation said.
According to the recommendation, USC already offers online interactive campus maps for students to use. A study zone map feature could be integrated into the maps that already exist, the recommendation said.
Some of the categories of study spaces on the map would include outdoor areas, quiet and collaborative study spaces and late-night study spaces during exam week, the recommendation said.
Additional developments and legislation
The finance committee approved the allocation of $7,856 to various student organizations.
The senate had several pieces of legislation brought to the floor which will be voted on at its next meeting on Nov. 19. They include recommendations to provide LinkedIn Premium access to students and implement a non-honors course on the history of USC.
Student senate will meet again on Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m.