Sports Proposal and Constitutional Changes

Two large proposals stand before the USG
Amid a plethora of major issues facing the Parliament in the past and coming weeks are two potentially very long term changes: those concerning sports facilities and team support and those concerning the Constitution.
The sports proposal seeks to bring up the standard of team sports and all common facilities, allocating more resources to teams – enough for coaches, official equipment for all team members, and whatever else is required to make the team fit for official games against other teams. It is already a fact that the sports halls will be renovated, which will be financed by the university. Yet to pay for equipment, uniforms, pitch maintenance, and so forth the proposal includes the possibility of raising student fees by 100-200 Euros. This is not a mandate, and the student body will be asked to vote on what they would be willing to pay to contribute to the reform, which would be conditionally attached to a rapid sports hall refinement and commitment to the expansion.
Facilities created or improved by the sports proposal would still be available to unofficial teams or just casual students. In fact, the cost of the gym would be incorporated in the increased fee. However, professionalization of sports raises concerns regarding ability to participate for all students and access to facilities for the casual athlete.
Meanwhile, the Constitution is getting an overhaul. Any extra time in parliament meetings now goes toward discussing possibilities for reform. The issues at hand range from voting requirements within parliament to election requirements, the role of the VP, the election of the President and parliamentarians, and grammatical changes. For example, a quorum is currently required for parliament to make decisions, and there is a proposal that there should be a quorum of non-abstaining voters in order to make a decision – the USG is in favor of requiring that 2/3 of those present actively vote to reach this. So far this is the only point that was discussed, as many serious issues were raised, including the possibility of giving the president voting power in stalled debates.
Environmental Concerns a Matter of Trust
Plastic recycling on campus is not difficult, but a nuisance, as the two large plastic bins are located across from Research I and II, with a third, smaller “yellow bag” bin in front of the kindergarten. The administration is hesitant about installing more because if students do not recycle correctly (only the appropriate material in the bag) they will incur a fee they do not want to pay. However, a trial “yellow bag” recycling program for each college will be undertaken. Glass bins will be available for each college as well.
In the Orientation week for new students this fall, the issues of German recycling capability and law will be presented among other environmental issues, e.g. heating or use of washing powder. Currently the overuse of washing powder damages the machines and costs the university more money than it's worth. The college offices have suggested selling washing powder in appropriately sized amounts for 20 cents, which the USG does not support amid concerns that the cost of washing clothes should not increase and that since many students buy their own washing powder (and that this may turn others to do the same) no positive effect would be noticed.
Finances Lost
Recurring events asking for more money than before and more events happening than predicted have created a budget problem for the USG. Many recent funding applications have been cut down for the very reason that if every application that is currently pending and was pending within the past two weeks were to be approved, the USG would be over 200 Euros in debt. The debate arose on the issue of foresight and whether or not “first come first serve” is appropriate for events that take place later in the year. Nevertheless, at the moment requests are tricky. Around 2000 Euros were available before agreeing to give Spotlight 460 Euros, then 260 to CAIA for a stage. Add in End of Year Festival, CIDs, and other pending applications, and the unallocated budget drops off.
Et Cetera
The Library Proposal is one to expand the “campus center” (the building which houses the library). Ideas for this are to revamp the slow and old language lab and to integrate more events (e.g. cheerups) which would be organized by staff and student assistants. IRC facilities would also be advertised more. Aramark's catering contract expires in the following year, and Sebastian Blümmert heads the facilities (and therefore the food) committee. Finally, ASTA Uni Bremen and the USG met on March 23, and they are interested in more collaboration. Also, students should note that the German classes offered there are open to Jacobs students.