Grand Rapids Forecast

Student Senate Update

Student Senate met Monday, Sept. 27. President Byker attended the meeting, and began by mentioning how important he thinks leadership is.

Discussion then turned to different subjects of concern to the Senators.
Much of the meeting with Byker focused on parking:
Byker said the college and seminary had 3200 spaces at the end of last year, and 500 were added this summer.
• Byker said part of the problem with parking is that “faculty and students, it seems, want to take all their classes between 9:00-1:30 on Monday and Wednesday.” He suggested that classes should be more spread out instead of new buildings and parking lots constructed.
• Byker said 270 lots will be constructed next year across the Beltline.
• Steve Bulthuis mentioned that some other campuses do not allow freshmen to have cars.
• Byker said there is a possibility of opening the lot across the Beltline as long-term, charge-per-use parking.
• Mike Kuiken suggested having different stickers for different lots, so that science students could park by the science building only, etc.
• Several suggested raising parking fees to $100-$150.