Your Senator’s Voice
Dear Constituents,
The world keeps spinning and ASU is keeping pace! On the home front we are staying active. First, I constantly see students working away all around and I encourage you all to push hard down the final stretch between now and the end of the semester.
Second, thanks goes out to all the Winkler residents who voiced their opinion to maintain Winkler Residence Hall as 4 to a living unit as opposed to the proposed 8 by the Housing and Residence Life Department of ASU. Your voice was heard and Winkler will remain as is concerning number of occupants.
Third, if you recall the elevator was making an awful racket. As a result, a work order was placed to fix the elevator and it has been reported as to have been resolved.
Fourth, there were multiple concerns presented to me all with a base question, “Since we (Winkler Hall residents) pay the most money to live on campus, what do we see in return?” I immediately made an appointment with Tom Kane, director of Housing and Residence Life, in order to ask that same question. In response, Mr. Kane informed me that the expenses paid by all On Campus students are allotted to the same budget with no differential between Residence Halls. As such, I further queried as to how that Winkler would not have the same cost of living as any other residence hall. The ultimate answer comes down to mostly the unique feature of Winkler Hall (one resident:one room ratio).
The rough estimate that Mr. Kane gave me at the time was Housing and Residence Life had to increase the cost of living at Winkler by 1.6 (give or take) per resident as previously Winkler had hosted two per room originally. As it turns out with a flat housing fee increase Winkler Hall is one of the most, if not the most, cost efficient option for students On Campus at this time. If there are any further questions please contact me and I will be glad to help out any way I can.
ASU administration is working hard to continue providing marvelous services for the student body, and they would love to continue providing such services and more without charge to you. However, with both the expected and unexpected budget cuts provided by the State of North Carolina there most likely will be fee and tuition increases. Having attended the Student Fee and Tuition Forum this evening I found it pertinent to give students a heads-up on what ASU is looking at increasing fees and tuition for. Attached I have a sheet with the current budget of certain services, the proposed budget, and the increase involved between the two prices.
If there are any particular questions concerning a certain fee please contact me and I will be more than glad to elaborate on the subject. I am pleased to say that the library is now open 24 hours for 5 days a week, which is something SGA has been pushing for since at least last academic year. Also, on a personal project as a Senator I have been trying to get the River Street Bike lanes repainted. If you would notice I succeeded and the state maintenance workers repainted the road lines as well.
I mention that success that my constituents, you guys, may be inspired that you too can get things done on campus. If there is any way I am here to help you guys see a campus which truly represents the student body residing on it.
Sincerely,
Brian Kelly Senator
Winkler Hall SGA
Appalachian State University
Contact Information: e-mail (Kellybm@appstate.edu)
Room (1002 A)
Phone (828.446.2122)