Senators discuss spending $12,000 for phone charging stations

The main discussion point at the open forum Thursday night was the possibility of installing phone charging stations on campus.
Student Senate is looking at purchasing three charging stations for $12,000, to put possibly in the NPAC, Student Center, and Reta E. King Library. There are five lock boxes in each station, as well as a display case that could be used for advertising.
To use them Hurley said, “When you put it (your phone) in then the lock pops out and you take it with you and then you put it back in and grab your phone.”
There were some concerns if the stations were necessary. Housing and Residence Life Associate Director Austin Stephens said there are plenty of outlets in those areas, and students like to keep their phones near them while they are charging.
Sen. Cody Cooper thought that it may be more useful to put all three stations in the NPAC, because people could not only have a safe place for their phones while they are working out, they could use it as a locker for other small items as well.
Stephens asked if the lock boxes would be for students only or if anybody with a gym membership would be allowed to use them. Hurley said they would be free and available to anyone using the NPAC.
Next Hurley brought up the tentative Spring Daze agenda. Friday, April 21, will be the carnival, club booths, and possibly inflatables and a petting zoo. She said Senate is working with Job Corps students to have them build cutouts for clubs to decorate for their booths, to look like the Jersey Shore pier in Ocean City, New Jersey.
April 22 is The Big Event, followed by a pool party at the Chadron Aquatics Center, and a country concert that night. That Sunday will be Free Movie Night.
Hurley said Saturday is a little overbooked so they are thinking about moving the pool party to the week before, as a grand opening of the center. Sen. Teryn Blessin brought up moving the pool party to Sunday before Free Movie Night.
Stephens brought up the next concern about updating water fountains on campus to include bottle filling stations. Hurley said Senate has allocated enough money to at least get one in all of the dorms, then Sparks Hall and the Chicoine Center if there is money left over.