Student Senate is aiming to quell concern about dormitories with its new Student Body Housing Committee.
The committee was formed this semester even though administrators say the university is already doing its best to make renovations and improvements to the dorms.
So far in 2009, Bradley has spent an estimated $14 to $15 million in renovation work on residences halls, said Director of Residential Living and Leadership Nathan Thomas.
It is projected that another $5 million will be spent before 2010 begins.
Thomas said he is aware there are smaller problems in the buildings that need to be addressed.
It is because of these smaller problems that senate has created the new housing committee.
“We have made progressive improvements to adjust residential living,” Thomas said. “That being said, there are smaller things we can still do that will affect the quality of life for the better … and these are the things that I am interested in hearing about and are things I can change.”
The new housing committee is composed of seven members who each represent different committees and aspects of student life, ranging, from the Residential Life Staff to Campus Affairs.
“The members of the Housing Committee were nominated from different organizations and officials from all over campus that were identified as having influence and interest in the state of campus housing,” said Student Body President Kyle Malinowski. “None of these people were selected by the Senate … it is purely a collection of students representing the entire student body.”
Members of the committee have the responsibility to create a diagnostic report about the current state of all residence halls on campus.
According to senate’s official charge, the committee will find changes, adjustments and improvements that should be made to the residence hall system within the next two years.
So far, Malinowski said the committee has made great progress and is doing great.
Nick Stocchero, who is representing Res Life on the committee, said the group has already walked through, investigated and interviewed residents of all of the halls.
The committee is currently in the “brainstorming” phase and is coming up with changes it would like to see made to residential halls.
One of the many ideas the committee is discussing is to improve security for housing by implementing swipe card access.
“I would like to see an emphasis on security,” Stocchero said. “There have been a lot more incidences on campus regarding security, and therefore safety should be made a number one priority.”
Members will compile their results and issue a report by Dec. 17.
At that time, it will be reviewed by the university president’s cabinet and will be sent to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees on Jan. 22.
