Campus Safety Committee: 2/11/2009

The Campus Safety Committee met on Wednesday February 11th to discuss newspaper collaboration efforts, false alarms, and Wisc Alerts.

During the last meeting of the fall semester 2008, the idea arose to contact the campus newspapers about possibly posting a weekly column with the most prevalent three to five crimes each week, along with preventative safety tips and ideas. The idea of is to inform students what and where crime trends are taking place.

False fire alarms are often pulled in large apartment buildings near campus. This was brought to the committee’s attention, where the idea of having landlords give student’s names to the University who have pulled a false alarm, and allowing the University to take disciplinary actions. Another idea discussed was talking to the landlords of these apartment buildings about installing security cameras and taking other preventative measures.

Currently students who have signed up for WiscAlerts will receive a text message when an unsafe, widespread event has taken place on or near the campus that puts students in direct danger. The latest WiscAlert was sent out earlier this semester regarding a gas main break. WiscAlerts only informs students of major events on campus that may cause harm to students.

Any feedback, ideas, or sentiments that anyone has regarding the usefulness of the collaboration with the news papers, disciplinary and preventative measures with false fire alarms, and WiscAlerts would be great appreciated for our next meeting on March 11th.

During this meeting I will make sure to bring up the campus safe services and the student desire to have them expanded.

Union Design Committee Meeting: 2/9/2009

The Union Design Committee met on Monday February 9th to discuss additional first floor revisions and the percent for art program.

First floor revisions included having a single fireplace facing the coffee shop area while having the coffee shop seating on a raised platform. The height of the platform has yet to be determined. Revisions also included moving the hotel desk from the east wall to a more centralized location along the main walkway.

Percent for Art is a program created during the 1980’s to include artwork in public buildings for the purpose of improve the aesthetic and beautify the building. Two-Tenths of one percent (.2%) of the total funding of the project is set aside for artwork in highly-trafficked public buildings.

Jill Sebastian was the artist chosen for the artwork in the new South Campus Union. At this meeting, brainstorming was done to determine on which level the artwork should be placed, what it should incorporate, ideas for materials, etc.

If there are any ideas, comments, or concerns, please bring these to my attention so that I can inform the committee at our next meeting, all input and ideas are useful!

Union Design Committee Meeting: 2/2/2009

The Union Design Committee met on Monday February 2nd to discuss revisions of the first floor designs.

On the first floor near the entrance facing engineering hall, the coffee shop seating was expanded, while two fireplaces and soft seating were placed on either side of the main walkway running through the building. Seating in the Sun Garden (Formally known as the Winter Garden) was reduced, while the restaurants were moved from a kiosk feel to a more restaurant style feel.

Please respond with any questions, comments, concerns, or general feelings.