SGA focuses on developing transportation solution, discusses Medical Amnesty policy
February 25, 2009
By Greta Myers
Public Affairs Reporter
The Student Government Association moved forward with plans to shift the campus bus route during a second reading of the Resolution for Transportation Changes. However, Steven Black, Chair of the Transportation Committee of SGA warned that if the university does not reach a uniform decision soon, it may not happen at all.
Black said that a Comprehensive Analysis team is proposed to make recommendations to the Springfield Mass Transit District in early spring. It is important that the UIS community is united in the transportation changes they want by that time, he said, because the team’s analysis may be based purely on the bottom line and not the needs of the university.
“What we don’t want to happen is for us to block the changes and have the Comprehensive Analysis team come up with another plan that does not fit the campus,” Black said. “If we don’t get on this, they will probably put it on the table until next fall or they might not pass it at all.”
The SMTD unanimously passed the changes that Black proposed to UIS’ circle drive on November 24 of last year, but the process was interrupted after concerns from campus housing came up in December.
A Sunflower court resident voiced concerns over having to carry groceries a longer distance from the proposed bus stop at the Housing Commons. SGA President Ashley Rook said there is a possibility of the university getting collapsible carts that could be rented and used to haul things from the bus stops.
A variety of types of communication, including surveys, emails, blogs, and invitations to SGA meetings have been employed to inform and gauge students’ opinions of the proposed changes. The Transportation Committee has plans for “town hall” type meetings in hopes that face-to-face meetings will encourage greater student response.
With a few exceptions, the student body has responded with silence.
“There’s a limited response, because it’s a limited problem,” said Rook, “All signs point to this being a great thing for UIS.”
The SGA also said at the meeting that the SMTD has applied for a JARC grant. This grant is to allow an expansion of the bus route to UIS to include stops at the Golden Corral and Wal-mart. The grant is to promote employment opportunities for students trying to work at these businesses. The federal government covers 80 percent of the costs involved. It is unclear how the SMTD and UIS will cover the remaining 20 percent.
The SGA also had a preliminary discussion about what bringing a “Medical Amnesty” policy to UIS. Though the precise rules vary by the schools that have incorporated the program, Medical Amnesty allows students to get medical help in a drug or alcohol-related emergency, while providing amnesty from the university’s code of conduct.
“Medical Amnesty is a growing trend in higher education in recent years,” Rook said. She also added that the SGA wanted to implement the policy in a responsible way.
“We would put safety before any judicial action,” she said.
Members of the SGA had a preliminary meeting on the subject on February 16, with members of the administration. Rook said that the next step is to include more of the campus administration and the Health Services department at a second meeting. She said they would also try to gauge student opinion on Medical Amnesty via email or “town-hall” style meetings.
