ASUSU to consider building on HPER field
Utah State University’s student government body heard the arguments of representatives from the HPER department and intramural sports against a proposed building for persons with disabilities Tuesday.
The proposed Center for Persons with Disabilities would be built on the HPER Field.
“We’re not at all against the building,” said HPER department representative Kelly Warner, “wqe’re just against the location.”
The presentation was in reference to a proposed resolution on the council’s agenda that would assert council opposition to the building in its currently proposed position.
Warner said the building would drastically decrease the amount of field available for recreation, intramural games and team practice.
“It’s definitely a place that’s used by all,” she said.
Heidi Hayden, who was representing intramural sports in the presentation, said students from all majors are involved in intramurals, so protection of the field would not just be supportive of the HPER department.
Brian Ricks, another HPER department representative, told the council the field is a lab for HPER students to work on “hands-on applications” in their studies of physical education.
He equated the field to the university’s chemistry and biology labs.
The resolution, under the title “Preservation of Campus Green Space,” is sponsored by several council members, including ASUSU President Ben Riley, Executive Vice President Rex Hansen, Student Advocate Brad Bishop, Extensions Vice President Jake McBride and Academics Vice President Jim Stephenson.
The resolution was a first-reading item at Tuesday’s meeting, so after the presentation, Riley referred it to the Legislators’ Committee. If it passes that committee, it will be discussed and voted on in future meetings.
The resolution, if passed, would be a statement of the council’s opposition to the currently planned location but wouldn’t necessarily stop the building.
The council also discussed a bill that would give the president of the Residence Hall Student Association speaking rights at council meetings.
RHSA President Dallin Young presented the council with a statement from the association, saying RHSA is an integral part of the mission statement of the university.
But College of Engineering Senator George Tripp asked how RHSA is different from other student organizations.
“It could be pretty hard to give speaking rights to everyone,” he said.
Bishop, the bill’s sponsor, said the number of students living on campus, as well as the fact that they represent students from multiple aspects and majors of the university, give RHSA a good reason to want to speak in meetings.
Bishop answered a number of questions about the bill, which will be discussed and voted on in future meetings. It would not give the RHSA president voting rights and would require a change in the ASUSU constitution, which must pass a vote by the student body.
Currently, only elected council members have speaking rights at meetings, though members can vote to suspend the rules and get non-member input on certain issues.
The council only voted on one issue – a resolution declaring the week of Feb. 5 through 9 “Academic Integrity Matters Week.”
The resolution was meant to show support for the week, which is being sponsored by the USU Research Office and Student Services.
The week will include a number of panels and lectures on issues like plagiarism, cheating, ethics in research and other ethical issues.
Stephenson, the resolution’s sponsor, said the USU Faculty Senate is expected to pass a similar resolution in its meeting Monday.