ASUA senate denies funding

ASUA senators voted to send a request for funding made by Priority College Ministry back to the ASUA Appropriation Board because funding the group may violate the Senate’s bylaws.

The request was sent back to the board because it wasn’t made clear to the Associated Students of the University of Arizona if the group will use the funds for the sole purpose of proselytizing during an upcoming spring break trip to Texas.

ASUA’s bylaws state they cannot fund activities that have a primary religious purpose.

The group said its trip to Texas is for an opportunity to have an alternative spring break and will have religious connotations, but evangelizing is not the group’s primary purpose. The group said most of the members are Christians, but the group is open to everyone.

Group members said their trip is primarily a service trip and faith is not the only reason they are going. Furthermore, they said they would only proselytize when students feel comfortable with it.

Sen. Dustin Cox said the group has a noble sentiment, but ASUA has to clarify what they can legally fund.

“”It’s presumptuous to say all students are going to proselytize,”” said Sen. Lauren Abbot. “”We can’t prohibit students from saying anything they want.””

PTS representatives show parking presentation to ASUA

Parking and Transportation Services representatives showed a presentation to the ASUA Senate about the current parking situation.

“”I commend you for getting 30,000 students on and off campus everyday,”” said Sen. Dustin Cox.

Patrick Kass, director of Parking and Transportations Services, gave a presentation that highlighted efforts to make parking more sustainable and the future of parking and transportation at the UA.

Kass said the UA will lose 1,000 parking spaces because of dorm construction, but will eventually gain 7,000 more spaces by building three new parking garages.

Kass said 30 percent of all revenue the department gets from parking fees and fines goes to paying off the debt for parking garages. Fifty percent of revenue from parking permits also pays for debt.

The presentation showed that the cost of UA parking is relatively low compared to similar institutions and parking in the downtown area.

“”Prices are as low as possible,”” Kass said, “”Our goal is to always have a space.””