Mall monitor not foolproof

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat Commercial events on the Mall such as the Sports Illustrated Campus Fest held last week will have more concise guidelines to follow to ensure compliance with university regulations.

The document combines guidelines that were previously scattered in different campus departments, and it also creates a position that will monitor campus activities to ensure compliance with university regulations.

The new position, commercial and Mall activity coordinator, has been filled by Diane Newman, former administrative assistant in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"I have worked with the Mall in the past, and I was glad to see that this position had evolved because the need was there," Newman said. The position pays $22,923 a year.

She said the new method of Mall monitoring is far from foolproof, but she believes it will help curb illegal Mall activity.

Newman also said she looks forward to getting started in her new position and making herself available to students in her office, Memorial Student Union Room 201.

Boyd Beckwith, associate director of student programs, said if the new guidelines are approved, there would not be much change from the way things are done now.

He said an organization that wants to come on campus has to get a student group to sponsor it and then fill out the appropriate paperwork.

Beckwith said the commercial and Mall activity coordinator would monitor the Mall to be sure all organizations have a permit and a student group representative on site, among other regulations.

"It will also ensure that students get a better deal from vendors," said Beckwith, who added that in the past student groups could be easily short-changed by vendors.

Julius Parker, associate vice president of business affairs, said the next step in the process is to present the guidelines to the president and his cabinet, and upon approval, they will become university policy.

"I would say within the next three to four weeks we should have the approval," Parker said. He said he does not expect a disapproval.