GUEST SUBMISSION: Some answers regarding USD policies

I have heard that we want to reduce the chance of someone being hit by a car. But we are still going to have _some_ parking in that lot... so students will still be crossing traffic areas. It doesn't address that issue.

The alternatives are also a major concern for commuters and those who work late.

Ok, so other major universities have poor parking situations, but that doesn't make worsening ours a good idea.

This decision was poorly made and rationalized. (I am under the impression the parking board is not allowed to revisit it, either). This decision is part of the reason I quit giving to the university.

Please own your position. You cannot separate yourself and speak on one issue as a student and others as an SGA Senator. You are both in all your actions and communications. Your argument would mean that Senator Thune and Governor Rounds can have opinions as citizens and then different ones as an elected official, which we all know not to be the case. Your opinion as a student is your opinion as an SGA Senator. If you are going to take this position on these issues then own your title, make the argument as a Senator. It does not have to be on behalf of SGA, even though your article states that you and other SGA Senators discussed these issues with administration and other students. I'm guessing the meetings that you had with administration involved only SGA senators and other leadership from student government no students who were not elected officials but you did not include this in your article so that issue remains unclear. I hope that other students who are not elected officials were involved but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Next, you make the argument that the Dean of Students and the admission office assured you by only allowing x number of freshmen to sign up. My point was this was impossible to guarantee. Unless the administration is willing to go as far as removing a freshmen student from a class if a conflict with an upperclassmen arises and they make that public knowledge then there can be no guarantee.

With the green space, I'm guessing the administration new about these codes well before building the B school. I'm coming to this conclusion since the parking lot was there with the old student center and the only other thing to change has been the B school addition. Maybe the B school should not have been put there in the first place. Let alone even built with the design it has that goes in the complete opposite direction than the one architectural staple at USD, Old Main.

Also, surprisingly enough I am aware that SGA does not have the ability to control the Dean of the B School. However, in stead of having you make a guest submission about parking and freshmen enrollment that conveniently is the position as the administration maybe focus on where that process is or at least include it in the article.

So my one point is to please own your title. Make the argument as a Student Senator at USD.

First of all, I was not speaking on behalf of SGA. I was speaking as an individual who happens to be an elected student senator.

Second of all, I had conversations about freshman registration with both admissions and with the Dean of Students. If you read my column carefully, you could answer your own question. The way in which the administration will insure the new policy will not harm current students is by allowing a few freshmen in each section. Second, only 50 students registered for classes. The classes freshmen register for are classes such as speech, composition, math classes, all of which have several sections. My point in the article is that these changes may be somewhat inconvenient, but in order for the University to expand and grow, some of these changes are necessary.

As for parking, I'm sure the University is more concerned about codes which require so much green space around large buildings than they are about making students walk an extra ten feet to class. I consider myself lucky to be able to park next to any building I would have class in. Go to any large state school and tell me if you are given that same opportunity.

As for SGA, I would emphasize once again that I am not speaking on behalf of SGA. If you feel that SGA has not been voicing student concerns, please come to the meetings at 6:30pm every Tuesday in MUC 216. We have time set aside for student feedback at every meeting. It is easy to criticize anonymously online, but if you really want student concerns to be addressed you have to do your part.

Further, the Business School grading policy is not dead. Believe it or not, SGA doesn't actually have authority over the Dean of the Business School. We can only do so much, and if you were informed you would know that the issue is still on the table. SGA has initiated several meetings with administrators over the issue, and the administration has become very aware of student concerns.

I certainly do not mind being criticized, but I would appreciate if you had your facts straight first. I would also appreciate if you could post your name, or come and have a conversation with me and we can certainly address whatever concerns you have. I'm always willing to meet with students, as all SGA Senators are. The very purpose of our organization is to represent students, and if you have concerns let's discuss them.