Representatives from student groups had the opportunity to present requests to and ask questions of administrators across the board Wednesday at the Chancellor’s Liaison.
Approximately 30 people were present to address concerns, ranging from requests for a religious room to transportation for student groups. ??Amr Mohamed, a senior in electrical engineering, spoke on behalf of the Muslim Student Association. The group has worked for the past two years to establish a prayer room.??”We have had many prayer requests for a prayer room,” he said.
A room in Talley Student Center allows religious groups to pray, said Mohamed, but the space is not close enough to central campus and Muslims are having a hard time finding the time in between classes to go to Talley. As a result, some students are praying in the hallways. ??”We have certain allotted times for prayers,” Mohamed said. “It’s hard to say that we would just do three prayers when we get home.”
According to Mohamed, Muslims pray five times a day.??What the MSA most requested was a consistent space used for a prayer room, a room not limited just to their organization, that is, at most 10 feet by 10 feet.??”That is definitely the most we’ll ever need,” Mohamed said. ??After Tom Stafford, vice chancellor for student affairs, said a problem with establishing a prayer room on North Campus is that buildings on that part of campus are under the authority of different people, the group decided to discuss the request further. ??Tom Kendig, director of transportation, addressed concerns dealing with parking permits at Wolf Village and the availability of buses to student groups.??He said when the first students moved to Wolf Village, the number bringing cars was 87 percent, but the number of spaces only accommodated about 70 percent. He said transportation then went to students and gave them the option of DW permits, in which parking was enforced until midnight, with a price increase of $90. Seventy percent of the students voted in favor of keeping parking the way it is. ??”They’re full out there at Wolf Village,” Kendig said. “There’s starting to be a parking problem.”??Another transportation concern was student groups contracting buses from the transportation company that owns the Wolfline buses to travel to the football games. In the case of one bus at the Appalachian State game, according to Stafford, students under 21 years old had alcohol on the bus. ??As to when transportation can develop standards for student groups to charter buses, Stafford said that depends on the students.??”We can do it as soon as students can enforce the alcohol policy on buses,” he said. As a solution, Stafford suggested Student Government officials draft a contract for groups wishing to charter buses. ??The last item for discussion on the agenda, the availability of Chancellor James L. Oblinger, was postponed because of time constraints. According to officials at the liaison, some discussions from president’s roundtable meetings leading up to the event involved concern over the lack of communication students have with the chancellor. ??”You’re right, I haven’t interacted with all students,” he said, stressing that his job is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week job and it is difficult to interact with 31,000 students on top of daily job assignments. ??Stafford said he supported Oblinger, adding that he has worked for the University for 35 years, under five different chancellors, and Oblinger demonstrates the strongest commitment and his availability to students is better than his predecessors. ??”He can’t spend all of his time with students and discussing student issues,” he said.??Susan Grant, director of University Housing, also spoke about advertisements in residence halls. One of the problems student groups are having, she said, is giving residence hall workers enough time to post information about events. In some instances, she said, groups come to workers with advertisements on Monday for an event that is happening Wednesday. ??”It’s not possible to turn that around that quickly,” she said. “We’ll be happy to do the distribution with planning.”??The group decided the discussion will be looked in to.??”We are exploring… issues related to halls and this is something we’ll follow up on,” Grant said. ??Cindy Sears, director of trademark licensing, spoke about what student groups can and can’t use as far as University logos. ??”You can use University logos as long as the organization’s club name appears with the logo because student organizations are independent [of the University],” she said. “We have to be very careful of student organizations and views of the University.” ??Only student organizations officially recognized by the Student Organization Resource Center are allowed to use University trademarks in conjunction with their club names and the word “club” must appear with the club name. To ensure consistency in the use of logos, all products, signage or packing bearing reference to the University must be produced by manufacturers licensed through the University’s licensing agent. ??Cody Williams, a senior in agriculture business management, said requiring student groups to use only licensed manufacturers restricts the groups in terms of finding the best price for the products.??Another issue of concern in terms of University trademarks was the use of University letterhead. Will Quick, student body president, said Student Government utilizes stationary containing the letterhead, something that may be considered a violation. ??Stafford said this was an issue that needs a legal perspective.??”Student Government does get fee money,” he said. “This is an issue that we need to continue to have with the legal office.”