SGA’S first town hall meeting of the school year covered several topics ranging from dining services to parking services.

About 20 students came to voice their issues with the university to a panel of faculty committee members, Student Affairs staff, Dining Services staff, Academic Affairs staff and Student Government Association representatives.

Attendees had the opportunity at the beginning of the meeting to write down questions they wanted to pose to the panel on Nov. 17. Those who were unable to attend had also submitted questions through SGA’s Facebook group and  from the  SGA table that is set up every Tuesday for constituency issues in front of the Danna Center.

Roger White, vice provost and member of the H1N1 committee, began the hour-and-half meeting by encouraging that more students get vaccinated.

“We have lots of vaccines, and not enough students are coming to get the vaccine,” he said. He suggested that students get the vaccine before peak season and to consider the welfare of the university.    

To give students a option for health care after Loyola’s student health hours, students were advised to call Tulane Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) for medical care.  

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Reed continued discussions by announcing that Loyola plans to begin a campus car rental program to open up garage parking spaces and push for a student discount for all New Orleans public transportation.

Brittany McClain, psychology and pre-medicine senior, said there were too few shuttles running on campus, and Director of Public Safety Chief Patrick Bailey said another shuttle should be in service after the Thanksgiving holidays.

To address complaints about a lack of seating in the Orleans Room, Dining Services Area General Manager Ben Hartley said about 130 seats were added to the dining area earlier this semester. Due to safety concerns, no more than 30 seats will be added in the near future, he said. While nothing has been proposed to remedy the influx of Tulane students who dine in the Orleans Room, a new eatery called Bruff Commons will soon be available and plans to be open daily until 10 p. m.

As for residential life, Assistant Director Reagan Sidney said there is overcrowding in on-campus housing.

“(We) don’t have a lot of space to move you around, but we have a lot of space to move you in,” she said.

Sidney said there are plans to create more space by using more space in Cabra Hall and adding up to two buildings in conjunction with OneLoyola. 

Other panelists were Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Lydia Voigt, Senior Senator-At-Large LeeAnn Moss, President of the College of Social Science David Zoller, Marketing and Customer Service Manager of Dining Services Caitlin Craig Brewster, Dining Services General Manager Heather Bacque, and Associate Director of the University Sports Complex Germayne Turner-Nash.

Charmaine Jackson can be reached at [email protected]