Senators of the Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization expressed frustration with the availability of tickets to Orange After Dark events at a Wednesday meeting.

Undergraduate students can purchase tickets for events beginning two weeks in advance, but graduate students can only buy tickets the day of the event. Senators said many events are sold out before graduate students are allowed to purchase tickets for them.

Courtney Jones, associate director of the Office of Student Activities, said undergraduate students receive priority for buying tickets because the undergraduate Student Association partly funds Orange After Dark.

A Senate member asked if GSO could start funding grants for Orange After Dark so graduate students can have the same benefits for events as undergraduates.

Jones said Orange After Dark was created mainly to provide opportunities for the undergraduate student body. The Office of Student Activities does not currently need more funding for events, she added.

The Division of Student Affairs created Orange After Dark to occupy students with activities on and off campus during Friday and weekend nights, Jones said.

GSO President Jack Wilson said the window has closed for funding Orange After Dark and discussion on the topic will have to take place next year.

Other business

• Wilson informed the Senate that he will need to be replaced as president for the 2019-20 academic year. A qualifying candidate for president will need to have served in the Senate previously.

• The Employment Issues Committee wants input from other GSO committees such as the Student Life Committee and Child Care Task Force before the Senate drafts a survey for graduate students on living expenses and wages.

• GSO reached out to local businesses near Westcott Street and Marshall Street to partner with them after safety information cards were distributed to SU students.  Some of these businesses offer discounts if students show a safety information card and their student ID card.  Discounts include 10 percent off at Bleu Monkey, a free order of falafel patties at King David’s, 10 percent off at Recess Coffee and 10 percent off at Beer Belly Deli & Pub. Other businesses originally wanted to offer discounts but retracted from the program after the Feb. 9 assault of three students on Ackerman Avenue because SU’s Department of Public Safety is involved with the safety cards, according to the Senate.

• A seat for GSO senator at-large is vacant.  No senator was nominated for the position.

Published on February 20, 2019 at 9:57 pm

Contact Richard: rjchang@syr.edu | @RichardJChang1