Senate turns down $120,000 lighting project
Students reject bill in 17-13 vote to fund replacing lighting system in Schofield Auditorium
McLean Bennett
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Campus News
Student Senate vetoed a bill Monday that would have used Senate funds to re place a World War II-era lighting system in Schofield Auditorium.
The cost to replace the antiquated lights was estimated at $120,000, though the bill, which was voted down 17-13, noted the exact amount for the renovation was impossible to determine.
The money for the project would have come out of Senate's segregated fee carryover balance, an accumulated pool of unspent segregated fee dollars, said Dave Gessner, assistant chancellor in the budget and finance office. The balance currently stands at about $520,000, Gessner said.
"$120,000 is just too much," said Sen. Phillip Rynish, who voted against the renovation. "Not enough people use this facility for us to spend $120,000."
Supporters of the bill said they felt the project was a worthy investment that would save organizations and Senate money in the long run.
"I voted in support of the lighting because we have an opportunity here to spend money that we have now that we can't use for lowering tuition or helping students in a general manner …" said Sen. Aaron Brewster, who voted to fund the project.
"It just seems to me like it's a very good way to spend money."
But Sen. Sarah Eastburn, who voted against Monday's bill, said after the meeting that Senate has already put money toward purchasing a portable lighting system this year. Eastburn said organizations using Schofield Auditorium could use the new portable lights - which cost Senate $17,500, according to the bill authorizing the purchase this semester - negating the need for the full renovation.
"Even though I understand that Schofield Auditorium badly needs this," she said, "at this time I just didn't think it was fiscally responsible to vote yes on this issue."
Originally, the project also called for renovations to the auditorium's stage and curtains, as well as possible reupholstering of the chairs, according to Monday's bill. Senate Chief of Staff and Treasurer Michael Umhoefer said funding for those improvements would have come from University Centers and the Chancellor's office, but both sources had to withdraw from the project for financial reasons.
The cost to replace the antiquated lights was estimated at $120,000, though the bill, which was voted down 17-13, noted the exact amount for the renovation was impossible to determine.
The money for the project would have come out of Senate's segregated fee carryover balance, an accumulated pool of unspent segregated fee dollars, said Dave Gessner, assistant chancellor in the budget and finance office. The balance currently stands at about $520,000, Gessner said.
"$120,000 is just too much," said Sen. Phillip Rynish, who voted against the renovation. "Not enough people use this facility for us to spend $120,000."
Supporters of the bill said they felt the project was a worthy investment that would save organizations and Senate money in the long run.
"I voted in support of the lighting because we have an opportunity here to spend money that we have now that we can't use for lowering tuition or helping students in a general manner …" said Sen. Aaron Brewster, who voted to fund the project.
"It just seems to me like it's a very good way to spend money."
But Sen. Sarah Eastburn, who voted against Monday's bill, said after the meeting that Senate has already put money toward purchasing a portable lighting system this year. Eastburn said organizations using Schofield Auditorium could use the new portable lights - which cost Senate $17,500, according to the bill authorizing the purchase this semester - negating the need for the full renovation.
"Even though I understand that Schofield Auditorium badly needs this," she said, "at this time I just didn't think it was fiscally responsible to vote yes on this issue."
Originally, the project also called for renovations to the auditorium's stage and curtains, as well as possible reupholstering of the chairs, according to Monday's bill. Senate Chief of Staff and Treasurer Michael Umhoefer said funding for those improvements would have come from University Centers and the Chancellor's office, but both sources had to withdraw from the project for financial reasons.
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