SA Senate Plans Ways to Move Forward on Student Space

By Emma Thomson

The Student Association Senate discussed ways to move forward on its student space proposal at its meeting Monday night.  The Senate held the meeting on the Mount Vernon Campus in West Hall.

President Ashwin Narla responded to a letter in GWToday from Provost Steven Lerman and Treasurer Lou Katz regarding the student body’s attempt to petition the administration for more student space.  Narla expressed frustration at the administration’s previously unexpressed philosophy of decentralizing student space. 

Narla cited a “difference in philosophies” between the student body and administration in the issue of student space. He noted that GW does not have a student union unlike most of the market basket schools, a drawback that inhibits community and school spirit. The GW administration, Lerman and Katz said in their letter plans to develop individual areas of student space as it builds new infrastructure. 

Narla also vowed to continue collaboration on addressing student space with the Board of Trustees and administration for the remainder of his term as President, which ends in May.  Narla said he wants to make decisions about moving forward not based in frustration, but strategic thinking. In addition, he said there are plans to thank the student body for their support on the student space petition. Narla also encouraged Senators to increase their use of the term “Raise High” throughout campus to help foster school spirit.    

In other business, the Student Life committee reported plans to commemorate the late Senator Daniel Inouye, a GW alum, by naming a building after him; improving biking conditions throughout campus, and creating an easier website for campus philanthropy and service. The Academic Affairs committee celebrated the institution of longer hours at Eckles Library. 

Later on and after much debate, the Senate approved a bill to develop a solar charging table in Kogan Plaza. 

The Senate's next meeting is February 25th at 9pm in Marvin Center room 309. 

WRGW News at 6 for 9/24 With SA President Ashwin Narla

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Funger and Duques Open Late

by Rio Hart

According to the Student Association, the University administration has agreed to extend the hours Duques and Funger Halls are open for student use. The buildings' hours would be extended to 2 AM, providing much-requested student study space late into the night.

"We're proud to announce that Duques & Funger Halls will be open from 7am - 2am beginning October 1st. #studentspace," read the Student Association official twitter feed, @GWStudAssoc.

Student Association president Ashwin Narla, who has previously stated that student space is a top priority for his administration, was unavailable for comment. There has been a large calling for more student study space on campus, which some have said is currently inadequate and leads to overcrowded libraries. There is no word yet on the cost to the university of the extended hours at the halls.

The university had previously agreed to extended hours during the "Study Zone" weeks before and during finals season, but this new change would establish a 2 AM closing time as the building's regular hours, which would provide students access to Duques' classrooms and lounges to students, to use for studying late into the night throughout the entire semester.

An official SA statement is expected tomorrow.

Stay tuned to WRGW News for more as this story develops.

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