Resolution to protect free speech in the classroom

Sen. Samantha Kerr, a pre-health education senior, presented a proposal titled “”The Resolution in Support of Free Speech in the Classroom”” at last night’s Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate meeting.

The resolution is designed to help protect UA faculty and departments from being threatened or censored in the classroom.

Kerr said she thinks the resolution will unify the UA campus.

“”We need to take a stance together,”” she said.

The resolution is partly in response to the controversial article written by conservative commentator David Horowitz, who criticized UA professors and graduate teaching assistants for their teaching methods and subjects.

The item was tabled until next week’s meeting because of disagreement about the resolution’s wording and meaning.

Senators agreed to work together on the resolution throughout the week and present a finalized resolution to be voted on at next week’s meeting.

Hygiene drive

Representatives from the Student Association for International Relief (SAFIR) Club, a campus club that raises support for struggling nations, asked ASUA for help organizing a hygiene drive scheduled for Feb. 26.

The hygiene drive is to support Sri Lanka, a nation still struggling from the tsunami aftermath.

The club initially wanted to obtain hygiene donations from residence halls, because they usually have the items in stock and in excess.

They decided, however, to involve the UA student body in the drive.

They are working with Northwest Medical Teams International, a nonprofit humanitarian aid

organization, to get the products they obtain overseas.

Senators agreed to help SAFIR contact people who can help them in their planning and marketing of the drive.

Textbook campaign

Sen. Steven Gerner, a political science senior, described the strategic plan for the new textbook campaign at last night’s meeting.

A textbook kick-off is planned for Feb. 26 and will include textbook scholarship opportunities, letters to legislatures and a “”moon bounce”” on the UA Mall, among other things.

The textbook campaign is designed to make textbooks cheaper for UA students and contains five priorities, which include aspects such as educating faculty on how to help lower prices for students and strengthening student voice on textbook issues on teacher course evaluations.

Gerner said the textbook campaign kick-off would require ASUA funding.

Technology fee

Gerner discussed the UA Information and Technology Student Advisory Board’s proposal of a 42 percent increase to the current technology fee that all students pay.

The current fee of $50 would go up to $71 next year if approved.

Money would be spent on things like updating the core infrastructure of the campus and extending the internal loan to continue to fund wireless Internet coverage for half of the campus.

The board recommends that 32 percent of the increase go to student computing resources, such as help-desks, specialized non-laptop equipment and computer labs.

Without additional funding, at least one lab will face closure next year, Gerner said.

The board considered results from the campus-wide technology survey sent out to students earlier in the semester, which had an influence on their decisions and recommendations.

– Andrea Lerch