Rowan University President Ali Houshmand spoke about developing plans to eventually demolish Linden Hall, a building constructed during the 1950s, at Monday’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting.
Houshmand first addressed further construction plans, including the new business building and the new wing of the engineering building. He said he was pleased with the pace of construction, before he addressed the plans to demolish Linden Hall.
“The plan is hopefully to get rid of it soon because of the piping. This is a very old building; it was built in the ’50s,” Houshmand said. “There is no way we can remediate it. So we’re going to get rid of it. I’m working with the Board of Trustees, hopefully to secure funds one way to build a general classroom lab.”
Elevated lead levels were found in the water of Linden Hall earlier this year, along with other buildings on campus. The lead is believed to have come from the building’s old piping or similar features, which were installed before laws to prevent lead in construction materials.
After Houshmand finished talking, members of the SGA executive board delivered their reports. During his report, Jason Dear, a senior accounting major and the SGA chief financial officer, told those assembled he was looking to create what he called a “talent book.”
“It’s just right now a concept,” Dear said. “Essentially we’re taking Rowan talent and after they go through the scrutiny and the very detailed meticulous process of being registered with the SGA office, they are free to be contracted with student groups who wish to use their services. I think it’s just a good way of utilizing what’s already there.”
The SGA executive board also announced they are expanding their reach on social media, getting closer to having a Snapchat account.
In the meantime, board members urge people to follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/rowan.sga, on Twitter at @RowanSGA and on Instagram at @rowansga.
Also on the docket were several club concerns. The Pre-Allied Health Club was looking for $1,200 dollars in supplementary funds to help with club expenses. But, after deliberation, SGA was only willing to fund $300 dollars. The measure was put to a vote and passed.
Several other clubs were at the meeting as well, but for more positive reasons. The Supply Chain Management Club was approved for petitioning status by a majority vote, and the Secondary Education Club was officially chartered.
Megan Coslove, a sophomore math education major and the club senator for Secondary Education, was looking forward to the range of services her club could provide for the student body.
“It’ super exciting to have a club focusing on secondary education, especially because we’re having resume workshops,” Coslove said. “We’re [also] having a subbing workshop, and now that I’m coming up on 60 credits, I can apply to be a sub.”
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