University Star

President Denise Trauth and Provost Eugene Bourgeois address issues with students March 4 at the ASG Round Table in the North Campus Housing Complex.

Students discussed issues including campus construction, sustainability and transportation with the university’s top administrators during Tuesday’s Associated Student Government Round Table.

The outreach session provided students with the opportunity to sit down and express their concerns with key administrators. Groups of four to eight students sat and spoke with members of the administration. The students would rotate to different administrators throughout the room every 10 minutes. About 50 students attended the Round Table.

“We had a whole range of issues (discussed),” said University President Denise Trauth. “From when Texas State University will be a national research university, to the price of parking, to other transportation issues. We covered the gamut.”

Several students asked Joe Richmond, outgoing director of transportation services, about the future of its policies and permit fees.

Richmond said the department managed to set the permit fees under $500 for residents who plan to park in garages on campus. The cost of the parking permits will remain the same if students continue to purchase them and a low violation rate continues.

“We’re not going to build any more garages,” said Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of transportation services. “So our debt services won’t go up.”

Rosanne Proite, director of Housing and Residential Life, was asked by a Blanco Hall resident about the construction of the future West Campus Housing Complex. Proite said the construction will be completed in time for the hall to open in fall 2014.

John Root, director of Auxiliary Services, spoke to students about reusable carry-out containers that will be offered in university dining halls after spring break. He said the containers can be bought for a $5 one-time payment.

“(Students) give us a used (container). We sanitize it, and it cycles like that,” Root said.

ASG President Nathan McDaniel said he thinks the students “got a lot out of” the Round Table.
“The administrators always find it valuable to talk with students about the issues going on and answer any questions that they may have,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said the most important issue students were worried about during the meeting was parking and transportation, specifically the cancellation of the Bobcat Tram Interurban system.

“(Students) got a lot of great feedback from what parking services are working on,” McDaniel said. “(Parking services is) working on remedies to that problem and seeing how we can come up with solutions to get students from San Antonio and Austin to campus.”

Allison Sibley, ASG vice president, said she thought the meeting was successful.

“I think it made students feel like they’re at home and the administrators really care about them,” Sibley said. “Meeting the president of our university is an amazing thing for every student. So, I think it’s great to meet so many students in such a short amount of time and that students are able to speak with her as well.”