Collegiate Times

Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — Deepu George is a doctoral student studying family therapy. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors agreed Monday to approve an expansion of Greek housing, as well as new policies on storage of ammunition and interim suspensions.

The new Greek housing would be paid through both the university and the Greek Housing corporations. Greek organizations would pay for approximately one-third of costs of the houses, which would house around 36 to 42 residents. Tech would pay the rest of the costs for building the estimated $2 million to $4 million houses. Monday’s approval authorized $23.5 million dollars for use with the expansion.

Ed Spencer, vice president of student affairs, called the payment split a “win-win” situation.

“It allows alumni to donate to the Virginia Tech Foundation, tax deductable contributions, which then can be used toward the construction of the house,” Spencer said.

Three Greek organizations, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi and Beta Theta Pi, have signed on to the housing plan, with a fourth organization scheduled for discussions about a move for this week. At full capacity, the Oak Lane Phase IV area could hold 17 houses.

Spencer also noted a potential creation of field space as a part of the Oak Lane expansion, which would counter what Sherwood Wilson, vice president of administrative services, considered a 100,000-square-foot shortfall for recreational space.

The Oak Lane expansion was one of several building projects approved during the two-day meetings. Other projects considered included an $89 million Center for the Arts, an instructional building for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Academic and Student Affairs Building — a new dining facility near Randolph Hall, which will also feature classroom space.

The board also approved two resolutions from the Student Affairs and Athletics Committee changing Tech’s weapons policy and interim suspension policy.

The approved resolution to the weapons policy prohibits the storage of ammunition in on-campus residence halls despite facing opposition from campus groups such as the Tech chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and the Pistol and Rifle Club at Virginia Tech. The policy also prohibits the possession of stun weapons. Exceptions to the ammunition ban were made for BBs and paint balls.

The board also approved a change to Tech’s interim suspension policy, which allows for the immediate removal of students deemed a threat to themselves or others.

Graduate students will see a boost in health care support from the university. Tech will now support 87.5 percent of the graduate health insurance program, an increase from 82.5 percent.

The board also announced new undergraduate and graduate representatives. Shane McCarty, a junior marketing major and current SGA vice president, will take the undergraduate position. Deepu George, a doctoral student studying family therapy, will take the graduate position.

Sunday’s meetings featured a presentation from Skip Garner, the new Virginia Bioinformatics Institute executive director, along with a discussion of how to improve Tech’s standing on an international level.

“We are in global competition,” Steger said. “I can tell you from my first-hand experience and from what I read that the world is not sitting around waiting for us to figure it out.”

The session also featured a discussion of diversity projects along with an overview of the school’s strategic plan.

Plans were also made to promote awareness of Tech’s Principles of Community statement, in a similar fashion to the athletics department’s marketing of the Hokie Respect program.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for June 6-7.

While Virginia Tech’s March Board of Visitors meeting is usually designated for tuition discussion, the board decided not to make any determinations for costs for the 2010-11 school year. The decision to not set tuition prices was made due to budget information coming in late from the state. The decision on tuition price will now be made by the board’s executive council.

BOARD MEMBERS
John R. Lawson, II, Rector, Committee Chair
Ben J. Davenport, Student Affairs & Athletics Committee Chair
Michele Duke, Research Committee Chair
George Nolen, Finance & Audit Committee Chair
James R. Smith, Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair
Lori L. Wagner, Academic Affairs Committee Chair

A version of this article appeared in the Mar 23 issue of the Collegiate Times.