Hospital pleads for help

In a brief meeting on Tuesday, the SGA kicked off the new semester by announcing that the 24-hour computer lab in the library is now open.

SGA senators were asked to spread the word to their constituents, as usage of the lab will be monitored to determine cost-effectiveness. In other words, if the students don't use it, they might just lose it.

In addition, a resolution previously mentioned, detailing the creation of a lost and found Web site and phone line in order to make it easier for students to locate their missing items, was voted on and passed unanimously.

If the resolution makes it through the administration, students will be able to bring found items to any one of the lost and found centers. There, an operator will log the item on the Web site so that the student who lost it can locate it by searching for keywords, such as cell phones, ipods, etc.

"I think it's a cool idea, it's something that we've needed for a while. I'm glad that SGA took the initiative to implement another change on campus," Kyle Fulton, SGA public relations officer, said.

Debate over the subject that took place before the actual voting was positive as well, with no SGA officers speaking out against the resolution.

"Now it's on my plate to see it through the administration," Ryan Beaird, SGA President, said. "We have to get funding, operation, and all other kinds of clerical details."

In addition, a guest speaker, Ashley Cole, attended the meeting to speak to the organization about a letter-writing benefit for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Officers in attendance would be asked to provide the names and addresses of 50 of their friends and relatives so that a letter could be sent to them requesting help for the hospital.

St. Jude's is a research hospital and does not turn away patients due to any situation, up to and including the inability to pay. They also share all research with any other hospital that might have need of it, and pay the expenses of those who cannot.

Because of this, however, it costs over $1 million per day to run the hospital, and so extra help is always needed. ASU was once a large supporter, but now they are trying to get the university to once again lend its hand.

"That's a great deal, that's something ASU used to take on as a charity. It became a lost cause, and now we're trying to bring it back," Beaird said.

No further resolutions or business were conducted, but Beaird said that there are many more issues on the table at the next meeting.