Spring Break
Senate appropriates $25,000 to upgrade URI challenge course
Greg Gentile
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: News
01/22/09 - The Student Senate unanimously approved $25,000 to improve the University of Rhode Island's North Woods Challenge Course last night.
The senators raised no questions about the amount of money being given to upgrade the course. The money to fund the upgrade will be taken from the Activities Tax fund.
"Every semester students pay an activities tax which then goes to the senate which allocates the money," Finance Committee Chairman Allen Petit said.
Each year $106 is taxed from each student's tuition, and goes into this fund. Another $22 goes to club sports and the remaining $84 is budgeted at the senate's discretion.
The $25,000 will be used to clear the land and add a high ropes course. The course already contains 12 different team-building activities and a 50-foot climbing wall.
There will be no leftover money for upkeep of the new equipment because all of the money will have been allocated to the new project.
"Student senate activity tax does not pay to maintain it," Petit said.
It will be up to the Center for Student Leadership and Development to fund the maintenance of the North Woods Challenge Course in the future.
In conjunction with the Center for Student Leadership Development, the senate in 2000 originally funded the challenge course. In 2006, 600 students used the course, a number that is expected to be 1,500 in 2009.
URI clubs use the course to build teamwork and leadership at no cost. The course is also open to local businesses and the public.
Other colleges who have used the course include Johnson and Wales University, Roger Williams, Bryant and Boston College.
Last night also saw the presidential self-nomination of current Vice President David Bedard. His running mate will be Treasurer Vidhi Shah
Bedard's platform will be focused on the basis that the students need someone with, "more than just an understanding of policy... someone with experience."
He hopes have a "positive effect" on the university in a "new era [that] requires experienced leadership."
Before his vice-presidency, Bedard held the positions of Speaker of Rules and Ethics and Cultural Affairs Chairman.
Shah has previously been Head of the Finance Committee.
"There is a small group of students who have been on senate since the first semester of freshman year," Bedard said, including himself and Shah.
In other business:
The recently cut URI Field Hockey Club team, which was cut because of the budget, recognized as a Level 3 club.
Human Development and Family Studies Club, which intends to be a support, mentoring, and tutoring group for all HDF majors, was recognized at Level 4.
The Car Club intends to unite car enthusiasts within the URI community, and was approved at Level 3. Representing the club, Ben Cheney hopes to improve the image that "kids with nice cars are kind of slimy."
Angelyca Abbe was elected to the Rules and Ethics committee. She will hold the position until re-elections this March.
The senators raised no questions about the amount of money being given to upgrade the course. The money to fund the upgrade will be taken from the Activities Tax fund.
"Every semester students pay an activities tax which then goes to the senate which allocates the money," Finance Committee Chairman Allen Petit said.
Each year $106 is taxed from each student's tuition, and goes into this fund. Another $22 goes to club sports and the remaining $84 is budgeted at the senate's discretion.
The $25,000 will be used to clear the land and add a high ropes course. The course already contains 12 different team-building activities and a 50-foot climbing wall.
There will be no leftover money for upkeep of the new equipment because all of the money will have been allocated to the new project.
"Student senate activity tax does not pay to maintain it," Petit said.
It will be up to the Center for Student Leadership and Development to fund the maintenance of the North Woods Challenge Course in the future.
In conjunction with the Center for Student Leadership Development, the senate in 2000 originally funded the challenge course. In 2006, 600 students used the course, a number that is expected to be 1,500 in 2009.
URI clubs use the course to build teamwork and leadership at no cost. The course is also open to local businesses and the public.
Other colleges who have used the course include Johnson and Wales University, Roger Williams, Bryant and Boston College.
Last night also saw the presidential self-nomination of current Vice President David Bedard. His running mate will be Treasurer Vidhi Shah
Bedard's platform will be focused on the basis that the students need someone with, "more than just an understanding of policy... someone with experience."
He hopes have a "positive effect" on the university in a "new era [that] requires experienced leadership."
Before his vice-presidency, Bedard held the positions of Speaker of Rules and Ethics and Cultural Affairs Chairman.
Shah has previously been Head of the Finance Committee.
"There is a small group of students who have been on senate since the first semester of freshman year," Bedard said, including himself and Shah.
In other business:
The recently cut URI Field Hockey Club team, which was cut because of the budget, recognized as a Level 3 club.
Human Development and Family Studies Club, which intends to be a support, mentoring, and tutoring group for all HDF majors, was recognized at Level 4.
The Car Club intends to unite car enthusiasts within the URI community, and was approved at Level 3. Representing the club, Ben Cheney hopes to improve the image that "kids with nice cars are kind of slimy."
Angelyca Abbe was elected to the Rules and Ethics committee. She will hold the position until re-elections this March.
