The Student Government Association announced an initiative to install brighter lighting in the D.P. Culp University Center during its weekly meeting Tuesday.
President Jarrod Suits stressed that better lighting would create a more hospitable atmosphere for students. The Culp Center was built during an energy crisis in the 1970s, when less lighting meant less strain on electricity resources and lower costs. Suits is hoping others will agree that significant upgrades to the lackluster lighting need to take place.
The cost of replacing and upgrading light fixtures would total more than $100,000 for each level of the building.
“That’s a lot of money during a budget crisis, but these changes would greatly benefit the students,” Suits advocated. He noted that the Artcarved ring dealer is forced to bring its own lighting because of the dimly lit area where most students pass through the building. He added that more lighting could allow for better displays of banners, signs and advertising for campus events.
The SGA also wants to hear from more students. On Wednesday, Sept. 17, they will have a blank banner displayed in the SGA office in the Culp Center. They encourage students to come and voice their concerns and offer suggestions by writing them on the banner. Each student will receive a gift for his or her input.
During Tuesday’s brief meeting, the only order of business was the approval and subsequent installation of the associate justices to the student court. A part of the university’s judicial system, the student court hears a variety of cases. In addition, its members also serve on the university’s traffic court as well as in other areas of the system.
Organized similarly to the United States Supreme Court, there are six associate justices and a chief justice. All the justices received unanimous approval from the SGA senate. The new justices are Luke Drake, Anaye Fakuda, Aaron Fielden, Nicole Halle, Jared Morgan, Lindsay Morrell and Mandy Stone. Chief Justice Kobelah Bennah, who was installed earlier in the year, leads the court.
President Suits praised the court for being more diverse than it has been in the past, citing the preceding court as being dominated by business students.
“This is a good mix of justices coming from many different majors and backgrounds,” he said.
Vice-President Kayla Griffith noted that the easy approval of the justices is a good predictor of an efficient year ahead. “I’m proud of everyone getting along and things going so smoothly. I feel confident this will be a good year,” she said.
The SGA meets every Tuesday in the Culp Center Forum at 4 p.m.

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