Senate grapples with Gallagher, reaches no decision

ERIC M. JUKELEVICS Arizona Daily Wildcat ASUA Senator Dave Snyder (right) spoke about the resolution to save Gallagher Theatre last night in La Paz while Senator Rodriguez (center), and Senator Lim÷n (left) listened. Senator Dave Snyder feels it's the students responsibility to voice their opinion if they still want to enjoy Gallagher Theatre. In the next few years the Memorial Student Union is going to be rebuilt and Gallagher Theatre could be replaced by a multi-purpose room that only seats about half the amount of people.

Sen. Dave Snyder, who sponsored the resolution, told the Senate he believes Gallagher is in danger, considering the plans to renovate the Memorial Student Union.

"I don't believe most students know that the Gallagher won't be what it is," Snyder said. "If the students get behind this, we can force the governing administration to put Gallagher back in its plans."

Along with Snyder, the resolution was co-written by economics sophomore Travis Klein, who told the Senate they have a responsibility to take a stand on this issue.

"Let's say the Gallagher is gone next year," Klein said. "I'm going to stand here and say it's because ASUA didn't do anything about it."

Gallagher manager Bill Fannin said he has heard that the theater was in danger of being moved, but declined to take a position on last night's resolution.

"I've heard it all along," Fannin said. "I've heard that the second semester may be our last semester (at this location)."

He added there are several plans involving Gallagher, and "no final decision will be made until these plans are reviewed."

"I'd like the Gallagher to stick around in some form," Fannin said. "I love the location, but I recognize that there are some problems. The theater is in need of major renovation."

The resolution was not made an action item because of its strong language, which caused some senators to take offense.

The resolution, in its original form, referred to ASUA and the UA Associated Students Bookstore as "greedy," and accused them of coveting the space occupied by Gallagher in order to "create nicer offices" for themselves.

Sen. Ben Graff said he took offense to those statements, although he supported the ideas behind the resolution.

"This resolution is awesome," Graff said. "But we keep running into resolutions clouded by personal attacks."

Klein retorted by urging senators to pass the measure so that "students might like you a little more."

"It's not powerful language," he added.

Sen. JosuÚeacute; Limùn said he plans to amend the resolution and put it on next week's agenda.

In other business:

Limùn said he is working on a resolution to amend ASUA bylaws to require more widespread announcement of Senate meetings. Limùn said he chose to put the resolution into the bylaws so they could decide the issue once and for all.

Sen. Ferdie Echiverri is sponsoring the first "Buffet at the Bay" event Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center pool. According to Echiverri, KAMP student radio will be deejaying the event.

Erin Mahoney can be reached via e-mail at Erin.Mahoney@wildcat.arizona.edu.