University Star

The Associated Student Government voted Monday night to purchase a brick on behalf of the executive and legislative branches.

The Bobcat Bricks campaign, started by ASG President Mel Ferrari, allows students to purchase a brick for $100 with their name, year and a title, if they are a student official, inscribed on it. Purchased bricks will be placed around the Bobcat statue. Additional funds raised by the program will go toward the construction of the new Alumni Center.

Sen. Abel Valencia, public relations junior, authored the bill and said ASG purchasing the brick was an important gesture to the Alumni Association.

“We’re strengthening relations with alumni and the alumni association,” Valencia said. “Bobcat Bricks has its root in this administration, and we should be a part of it.”

Senators voted to have the brick inscribed with “Associated Student Government” on the first line, and “New Day in Bobcat Country,” the slogan of the current Ferrari-Ray administration, as the second sentence.

Senators debated whether the second line should be representative of the current administration or if it should represent past and future ASG leadership.

Alex Sarp, pre-mass communication sophomore, motioned to change the second line to “Students Serving Students,” the tagline of ASG.

Chris Ramirez, undecided professional junior, objected to the line, saying, “Our administration came up with the idea and that should be shown.”

Valencia said he wanted the brick to be an identifying factor of the administration.

“The way I see it, ASG created this mechanism to raise funds to benefit students, and now we’re a part of it by putting forward our own investment,” Valencia said.

Senators debated whether the money required to purchase the brick should come from the ASG budget, which is paid through student service fees, or whether individuals should contribute the necessary funds.

Maxfield Baker, political science senior, said the money should come from the senators’ pockets because the brick is symbolic of the current administration.

“The money should come from my pocket and not the student body because it’s a brick for us,” Baker said. “It’s not the student body’s brick.”

After debating bricks, senators who want to donate money towards the brick have the option of doing so, and the funds would be allocated into the ASG budget.

Senators presented and voted on a bill as emergency legislation.

The bill, which passed unanimously, allocates $230 from the ASG budget to support the Texas Student Association Regional Convention this Saturday.

The requested $230 covered parking permits, breakfast and working supplies for the convention.

Texas State is the chair of Region V for the convention and is charged with organizing the annual meeting. Attendants in the region include University of Texas at Austin, Baylor, University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Edwards.

Adam French, accounting senior and sponsor of the emergency legislation, said the convention will serve to discuss each university’s legislative goals.

French said they are expecting the $230 to cover approximately five individuals for each of the 10 to 12 universities expected to come.