By Farris Willingham, Editor-in-Chief
Student Government Association has proposed several ideas, including the Dead Week resolution, to implement this semester to improve the campus community.
Garnering support
Dead Week may become an official part of the university’s calendar if Student Senate approves a resolution in January.
Nic Evans, political science junior and secretary of external relations, and Sen. Jonathan Clour (religion) are working on the resolution.
The resolution will garner support for establishing a formal Dead Week, if passed.
“A Dead Week would entail that, during the week before finals, there would be no new material, papers or projects,” Evans said.
If Senate passes the resolution, SGA President Emma Velez said she would advocate the plan to university administrators.
“I know a lot of students have voiced concern about this topic,” she said.
Kent Buchanan, chairman of Faculty Senate, said he doesn’t have an issue with Senate creating this resolution.
“I don’t think the faculty would have a serious problem with it either,” he said. “I don’t know if Senate will be able to find a complete Dead Week—Maybe just a day or two.”
Professors are stretched for time as it is, Buchanan said.
Promoting investment
Secretary Evans also is trying to expand the university district, which is the collection of businesses that the university has partnered with.
“Right now we are partnered with businesses from Broadway to Penn all along 23rd Street, which includes part of the Paseo District,” he said. “We’re working on a student survey so that the process is not a waste time.
“That way we can get the local businesses that can provide what OCU students.”
Evans and other SGA members are finishing the groundwork for the survey this week, Evans said.
“Our goal is to complete the research around late March,” he said.
The project hopefully will recruit a lot of business that students will enjoy, President Velez said.
“That is something future students will be able to enjoy as well,” she said. “We want to promote long-term investment in local businesses.”
Click here for a list of businesses that accept Stars Cash.
Expanding connection
SGA also is working toward improving campuswide Wi-Fi connection, Evans said.
“Students say it’s hard receiving good Wi-Fi reception in different areas,” he said.
The connection strength varies in each dorm, said Devin Murphy, business marketing/film production freshman.
“When I lived in Banning Hall, the connection was ten times stronger than when I lived in Walker Hall,” she said. “I have a decent connection in Banning.”
These complaints are too general, Evans said.
“I spoke with Dennis Rigdon, assistant director of campus technology, and Gerry Hunt, chief information officer, who told me to encourage students to log a call onto their website,” he said. “Students can also look at their troubleshooting PDF.
“I’m sure that if students use that, we can come to a quick solution.”
Click here for a link to the PDF.
Campus Technology added 12 Wi-Fi access points in Cokesbury Apartments last semester, Evans said.
“They plan to add a few more access points to the east and west side of Oklahoma United Methodist Hall,” he said.
Leave a Reply