Students worried about discrimination from roommates because of their sexuality or gender identity may be able to ensure a safer environment after the passage of an Associated Student Government resolution.

ASG passed a resolution April 22 to allow students to indicate whether they are transgender, transsexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer on their housing application. Under the resolution, the application would allow students to note whether they would like their sexuality or gender identity to be taken into consideration when being placed with a roommate. Non-LGBTQ students can indicate if they are LGBTQ-friendly under the resolution.

ASG wants students to be made aware of their “current options in being housed in a safe environment.”

Veolia Transportation will be the university’s next bus service provider beginning August 2014, pending the Board of Regents’ approval.

An evaluation team will recommend the Board of Regents award Veolia Transportation the tram contract May 23, said Nancy Nusbaum, assistant vice president of Finance and Support Services. The evaluation team chose Veolia over First Transit, the university’s current tram service provider, based on initial proposals, presentations and the “best and final offer,” Nusbaum said.

A new fleet of buses will be purchased under the seven-year contract, said Jane Wilcox, director of transportation services. Wilcox said she could not share the estimated hourly service rate because of its pending status.

“There were a number of things that lead me in the direction of my choice,” Wilcox said.

The Alumni Association is formulating a strategic master plan that will outline ways to strengthen ties with the approximately 150,000 graduates spread across the state and country.

Kim Gannon, alumni executive director, said during the March 17 Faculty Senate meeting the association’s strategic master plan will determine the goals and objectives for increasing former-student involvement. Texas State has an alumni-participation rate of 5 percent, according to the office of University Advancement webpage. The plan comes after several years of transition within the Alumni Association, which has had its bylaws rewritten and changes made to the Board of Directors, Gannon said.

President Denise Trauth swears-in Associated Student Government President-elect Vanessa Cortez April 17 in the Quad.

Vanessa Cortez enthusiastically said her first hello to the student body as Associated Student Government president while her parents watched from the front row.

State senators voted unanimously Wednesday to change the university’s name from Texas State University-San Marcos to Texas State University.

Senate Bill 974, authored by freshman senator Donna Campbell (R-25) and co-authored by Judith Zaffarini (D-21), asked to change the institution’s official name for the sixth time in 114 years. The house will now vote on the bill before Gov. Rick Perry can sign it into law.

According to SB 974, the name change was proposed to clear up confusion between Texas State University-Round Rock and the main campus in San Marcos. Texas State University System regents will implement the name change if the governor signs the bill.

Margarita Arrellano, Dean of Students, congratulates Vanessa Cortez, ASG President-elect, and Edward Perez, ASG Vice President-elect, during election announcements April 3 in the LBJ Student Center.

While the outcome of the Associated Student Government election was unsurprising to the crowd awaiting the results Wednesday evening, the news was still exciting to the newly elected student body president and vice president.

A new online program for equal employment opportunities training will be established next month in order for the university to be in state compliance.

Every employee of state agencies, including higher education institutions, is required to take the equal employment opportunity training 30 days after being hired, according to Chapter 21 of the Texas Legal Code. Additionally, employees must update the training every subsequent two years. Herman Horn, director of Equity and Access, said during the March 27 Faculty Senate meeting an online training program will be available in April to ensure compliance of the law on campus.

The new online program comes after a review by the Texas Workforce Civil Rights Division agency found the university has been out of compliance with state law, Horn said. A commitment has been made to streamline the training process to be in compliance with the law.