Student Government Board discussed transparency surrounding the University\u2019s endowment fund and dining hall cleanliness at its weekly meeting Tuesday night in Nordy\u2019s Place.<\/p>\n
President Marley Pinsky said students need clarity regarding the University\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cI met with the Chief Investment Officer<\/a> of the University, and I advocated for increased transparency around our $5.5 billion consolidated endowment fund and how it\u2019s invested,\u201d Pinsky said.<\/p>\n Pinsky also encouraged students to attend the Campus Master Plan<\/a> reveal at Barco Law Building on Nov. 6.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s super important to show that students care about the master plan and that we want to be engaged,\u201d Pinsky said. \u201cWe are paying attention to how the campus will be developing, even though a lot [of the developments] will happen many years after we are here.\u201d<\/p>\n Board member Rachel Smookler addressed student concerns<\/a> about dining hall cleanliness and allergen safety. Smookler said she met with Pitt Eats<\/a> and encouraged students to share their concerns with Pitt Eats staff.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have any issues, use the text-to-chat<\/a> function for any feedback,\u201d Smookler said. \u201cPitt Eats is really receptive to that feedback, and it\u2019s good to have timestamps for any issues.\u201d<\/p>\n In a meeting earlier this month<\/a>, board member Andrew Elliott addressed student frustrations over on-campus construction causing sidewalk closures \u2014 which made campus more inaccessible.<\/p>\n \u201c[Closures] make it harder to get where you need to go in a timely manner,\u201d Elliott said. \u201cConstruction is going to increase that time.\u201d<\/p>\n At the most recent meeting, Elliott said SGB is working to address the problems caused by those closures. Earlier this week, Elliott completed a walkthrough of campus construction to understand the problems students are experiencing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had great progress, and now we\u2019re looking to see what happens and how to better assist students,\u201d Elliott said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Allocations:<\/p>\n PIST Ski & Snowboard<\/a> requested $14,600 for an off-campus program. The board amended and approved this request to $12,000.<\/p>\n Heroic Hearts at Pitt<\/a> requested $3,967.54 for an off-campus program. The board amended and approved this request to $1,200.<\/p>\n The Fann Club<\/a>, Middle Eastern and North African Student Association<\/a>, Persian Table<\/a>, Turkish Language Table<\/a> and The Arabic Club<\/a> requested $38,490 for an on-campus program. The board amended and approved this request to $32,118.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dhirana<\/a> requested $28,668.75 for an off-campus program. The board approved this request in full.<\/p>\n Chem-E Car at Pitt<\/a> requested $3,981.66 for a competition. The board approved this request in full.<\/p>\n Chem-E Car at Pitt<\/a> also requested $2,318.94 for general funds. The board approved this request in full.<\/p>\n Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt<\/a> requested $2,738.40 for a conference. The board amended and approved this request to $2,287.20.<\/p>\n