BOG makes donation to new center
By SHEILA EGTS
News Writer
The largest chunk of the Board of Governance budget surplus will be used to donate $12,000 to the construction of the new student center, the second phase of the Master Plan, the Board announced at its Feb. 11 meeting. Executive treasurer Kim Jensen said this is the largest check that BOG has written this school year.
The large amount of the donation, however, will not limit BOG's ability to provide funds to other purposes. According to Jensen, the $12,000 donation was taken directly from excess on last year's budget. All Saint Mary's students pay a fee included with tuition that is deposited directly to the operating costs of student government.
"This is the students' money and we are giving it back to the students," said Jensen. "The amount of the donation is so large because it is going towards something the entire campus can enjoy instead of just a select few students."
As a voice for the student body, BOG officials wanted the donation to send a message to the administration and the larger population that students are behind the new student center.
Vice president for finance and administration Keith Dennis reported that the $18.5 million expense for the student center is currently funded at about 70 percent.
President Marilou Eldred was on the road throughout last week talking to a sizable list of potential donors about finalizing donations, according to Dennis.
BOG hopes that their donation will help Eldred recruit that funding from outside donors.
"This should be a symbol to the people who have the ability to donate larger amounts that the project is really supported by the students and we need their support as well," said BOG vice president Kristen Matha.
While the fundraising continues, a proposal will be presented to the Board of Trustees finance committee on Thursday to issue College bonds to cover the remaining costs.
According to Dennis, the bonds are necessary because they will be paid back with donations, but the pledges don't usually come in at the same rate as the construction costs go out.
The recommendation will be presented for approval and reviewed by the Board of Trustees on Friday.
"The [BOG] donation will clearly be a strong signal to the trustees that the project is supported by the students," said Dennis who anticipates approval from the trustees. "It will let them know that the student center should be on the top of the priority list."
If approved, the construction of a new dining hall is scheduled to begin in April and continue for 14 months. The construction of the student center is projected tentatively to begin in July 2003.
Contact Sheila Egts at egts0236@saintmarys.edu
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 19, 2002
