(Updated at 7:30 p.m.) The U Party swept the 2008 SUUSA General Elections, with SUUSA President-elect Jon McNaughtan winning with 753 votes, defeating candidate Devin Brooks, who received 548 votes. Video of the announcement and McNaughtan's reactions is available below the story.
(Posted March 12) Voting ended Wednesday at 4 p.m. Results of the general election will be announced in the Ballroom as early as 7 p.m. When the results are announced, they will be available at suunews.com within minutes of announcement. For full results, visit www.suunews.com/elections08.
Bells rang out in the Carter Carillon for the first time as three campus projects were dedicated. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community gathered at the base of the bell tower, placed between the re-dedicated Old Main, the newly dedicated Emma Eccles Jones Teacher Education Building and the Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center to hear "Birds of Thunder," a song commissioned specifically for the dedication.
The SUU Board of Trustees approved the university's recommended 3.5 percent second-tier tuition increase, which must still be approved by the Utah State Board of Regents. The proposed increase is in the same range as those made at other higher education institutions in Utah, Benson said.
A 3.5 percent increase in second-tier tuition - the bulk of which is going to an increase in compensation for SUU faculty and staff - was proposed by SUU administrators in a "Truth in Tuition" hearing Friday. Second-tier tuition increases are suggested by the institution, but must be approved by both the SUU Board of Trustees and the Utah Board of Regents.
A two-year battle concerned property annexation was laid to rest during Wednesday's City Council meeting. After confirming that the city had not received any letters or phone calls of objection from affected property-owners, the city council passed an ordinance approving the addition of approximately 70 acres of land to Cedar City.
The SUU Board of Trustees approved a $15 million bond to be used for Phase II of the housing renovation. The bond will have a 6-percent interest rate over 30 years. The bond proposal will be presented to the Utah State Board of Regents Friday, said SUU vice president Greg Stauffer.
The petition for impeachment against Sen. Andrew Walton, School of Business, was declared invalid during Tuesday's SUUSA Senate meeting. The petition was presented at the March 4 SUUSA Senate meeting by Sen. Matt Dickerson, College of Performing & Visual Arts.
Construction will continue until the end of April on the new ADA-accessible walkway located on the east side of the Sharwan Smith Center. David Tanner, director of Facilities Management, said Velocity Construction, who was selected for this project, plans on completion at the end of April, depending on the weather.
After 26 years of service in various positions at SUU, Assistant to the President Mark Barton is saying goodbye to SUU and hello to retirement. SUU President Michael T. Benson said Barton told him of his plans to retire a few weeks ago. "He just said he was getting close to retirement and he wanted to move on," Benson said.
The SUUSA Clubs & Student Involvement Assembly expressed concern about the funds remaining for the rest of the semester; all of the bills passed during Tuesday's meeting were amended to reflect the budget. After the meeting, the budget balance stood at $1,357.
SUUSA Senators presented a new bill to help create a more transparent student government at Tuesday's meeting. If passed, Bill 49-08, "Transparency Bill," would require that any use of funds allocated by members of the SUUSA Executive Council, Senate, Clubs & Student Involvement Assembly and Student Activities Board be posted for review.
Founders' Day celebrations will kick off tonight with the lighting of the long-awaited Carter Carillon, including a fireworks display that will be set off from the tower's roof. The display begins at 8:30 p.m., followed by remarks by SUU President Michael T. Benson.
Students, community members, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to attend an annual tuition hearing today to discuss a proposed three-to-five percent second-tier tuition increase. The hearing will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the Starlight Room.
Sigma Nu to sponsor annual service project The Sigma Nu fraternity is sponsoring its annual Easter Egg Hunt March 22 at the Main Street Park. The service project is open to the public, providing participants with the opportunity to find 20,000 eggs hidden about the park, said Sigma Nu Commander Brandon Roper.
Cedar City Police Department Thursday - Police responded to a report at 79 N. Main St. and arrested Kyle E. Janes, 18, on suspicion of retail theft. Friday - Police responded to a report at 875 W. 1195 North and cited and released Shannon Ashdown, 22, on suspicion of assault.
