Senate focuses on finances of Student Business Board
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
Upon a request of some senators, student body treasurer James Jesse and Dome Designs manager Kevin Campbell addressed Student Senate last night on issues surrounding the debt of the Student Business Board.
"This is the first time in seven years that we are not going to add to the current debt," Jesse said. "Not only that, but we have made enough money to cut the current debt in half."
During the meeting, Campbell explained the structure of Dome Designs, a student Web site design company, which is one of the businesses adding to this year's surplus.
"We started with five employees and now we have 15," Campbell said. "I'm hiring as fast as I can. Hiring employees is the hardest part; there is plenty of work. We're growing very fast."
Campbell explained that Dome Designs not only creates Web sites, but also maintains them while doing many other things that involve the sites.
Campbell and Jesse also addressed the controversial ND Video.
"They've been losing money for seven years now," said Campbell. "Without new releases and the selection of places like Blockbuster, there is no way an on campus video store could survive."
Campbell also explained plans to shut down ND video and possibly replace it with either a tanning bed salon or a New York style newspaper stand.
The Student Business Board is supposed to provide a learning opportunity, said Campbell, and ND Video's debt is part of that experience.
Jesse also said that even though ND Video has lost money this year, there is still a surplus from other businesses, especially Irish Gardens. Under it's new management this year, it has made roughly $10,000 to $15,000.
"[Irish Gardens] is a business that usually makes or loses $2,000. Breaking even is good, and this year, because of Dominic Julian and his employees, it has made nearly $15,000."
In other senate news
Senate suspended a bylaw that scheduled senate elections on Monday, Feb. 23. The elections will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 29.
Scheduling concerns originated from hall presidents' concerns.
"Only around five halls would be ready to hold their elections this Monday," said Brian O'Donoghue, student body president-elect and Keough Hall senator. "At Hall President's Council [Tuesday] night, they voted that the elections should be moved to [next] Tuesday."
The motion passed unanimously, but Michael Palumbo, student body vice-president urged senators to prevent this misunderstanding from occurring again.
"[Hall Presidents' Council] should be fully aware of what we are doing because we are aware of what is going on with them," he said. "Both groups would benefit from keeping the lines of communication open. Miscommuni-cation is a two-way street."
All News Stories for Thursday, February 24, 2000
