By
Emily Severson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Senate approves nomination of students to new regents position
ASUA senators were entertained last night by items found in suggestion boxes that are estimated to have not been checked since 1995.
Sen. Seth Frantzman begin the debate about the value of the suggestion boxes at the March 7 Senate meeting, and continued at the meeting held in the Memorial Students Union's Rincon Room.
Frantzman presented what he found in the boxes, as well as pictures of them. He estimated the boxes have not been checked since 1995.
The material included business cards, a book of Fall 1996 College Coupons, garbage and a few written comments.
"Two-thirds of what I found was old advertisements," Frantzman said.
The suggestions included a request for mandatory marijuana smoke-outs, and a comment that Associated Students of the University of Arizona was a "sign of times going in reverse."
"It is not that I am anti-suggestion," Frantzman said. "It is just that they would be better online because they would not just collect trash."
He added that the shabby appearance of the boxes suggest to the students that ASUA doesn't care about what students have to say.
"I question Frantzman's train of thought of looking at this issue," said Sen. Roby Schapira. "He should focus on investing in something we started. They are the only structures on campus to remind students that ASUA is important."
Sen. Kristel Miller supported Frantzman's idea to get rid of them.
"They are trashy little boxes that look bad for ASUA," Miller said. "Why are we clinging to something so old-fashioned?"
The fate of the suggestion boxes is yet to be determined, but ideas for them have included turning them into advertisement boards, cleaning them up, reducing the number of boxes to one in ASUA office and changing the policy to online suggestions only.
In other business, ASUA members approved the nominations of three students to a new position on the Arizona Board of Regents at their meeting last night in the Memorial Student Union's Rincon Room.
The second student regent position was created by the Arizona Students Association last year to increase ABOR's student input.
ASA nominated law students Matthew B. Meaker and Jeffery Albert Hursh, and Timna F. Sitzes, a political science sophomore.
The nominees' names were forwarded last night to Gov. Jane Hull's office, where the three will be interviewed. One student regent will be selected a two-year term that begins July 1.
The second regent would be expected to attend all ABOR meetings, but will not be allowed to vote until his or her second year.
The applicants were assessed on their written communication and interviewed by the ASA board, which includes all three Arizona university presidents and co-directors, as well as a central director.
ASA director Kelly Dalton said they are all highly qualified individuals.
"Their commitment to a two-year term is commendable," Dalton said.
ASUA also approved a consent agenda for $1,784 for three organizations.
Sigma Gamma Rho sorority received $1,039 for two April events. The group will host a speaker from the Arizona Supreme Court and host a Mr. Black U of A pageant.
Chi Phi fraternity received $510 for three of their members to attend an educational leadership conference at Miami of Ohio University in Oxford, Ohio.
Beyond Tolerance received $235 to put on a conference to educate students about oppression called "A Day of Understanding."
