SGA to fund recycling, furniture for Rec. Center
By Emily turner
Staff Reporter

While students will have more opportunities next semester to recycle their paper and plastics in residence halls, they will also have the chance to lounge in patio furniture beside the pool at the new University Recreation Center.

Student Government Association voted Tuesday night at its last official meeting of the year to give $709 toward a recycling program to be enacted next semester. Representatives also voted to allocate $16,000 to purchase pool-side patio furniture for the new Recreation Center.Katrina Shutt, chairwoman of the Residential Concerns Committee and author of the recycling bill, said the cost of the program goes toward the paper bags and black printed label on the bags specifying use.

“We expect students to notice the opportunity to recycle more,” said Shutt, a sophomore marketing and finance major. “Hopefully, the program will create more awareness.”

The program calls for residence halls to distribute one paper bag for plastics and one for paper products to students when they check in after Winter Break, Shutt said.

Although residents will still have to take the bags to larger recycling bins on each residence hall floor, Shutt said she hopes having the bags in their rooms will encourage students to recycle.

“The new program will give students the means to recycle right in front of them,” Shutt said.

Tom Casey, Permanent Improvements Committee chairman and author of the furniture bill, said the building was over budget, and the committee was willing to give money where funds were needed.

University officials said Student Affairs will also give an additional $16,000 to help purchase the furniture.

“Fortunately, they came to us when the money issue came up,” Director of Campus Recreation Steve Kintigh said. “Now, the patio will be a great place.”

Kintigh told the House of Student Representatives that the center will open Jan. 21.

Emily Turner