Perspectives on the Plains will be bringing Mayor Rudy Giuliani to speak at the coliseum May 3. The event will begin at 7 p.m. It is free to students, faculty, staff and the community. There will be seating for 8,000 people.
Amy Hecht, the vice president of student affairs, addressed the senators at Monday's meeting. The university will begin having a convocation at the beginning of each school year.
The first convocation will be held Aug. 17, the Tuesday before classes start, at 2:45 p.m. in the new arena. Hecht said this will be the first event held in the new arena, the first time the class of 2014 will be together and the last time they will be together until graduation.
The University is hoping to make this a new tradition. It will be incorporated as part of Welcome Week. It will feature speakers, a pep rally and tailgate.
Balfour has donated 4,000 lapel pins to be distributed among incoming students.
Hecht said the convocation will not be the typical formal event it's known to be at other schools. It's meant to be fun and festive and something new students will look forward to attending.
The convocation will not be mandatory for students, but they are highly encouraged to attend. There will also be seating for current students available.
A bill titled "Opposition to Selective Tuition Caps" was passed as amended in the SGA Senate. This bill is a reactionary bill to one passed by the state House. The House's bill allows for capping tuition increases at 2.5 percent for students on the PACT program.
Scott Seitz, the administrative vice president of political affairs, addressed the Senate urging them to pass the opposition bill. He said only 10 percent of Auburn students are on PACT, which would mean 90 percent of Auburn students would have to pay more money.
Scholarships are guaranteed to students, but there will be less money for them if this bill passes in the state Senate, Seitz said.
Sasser said the SGA supported saving the PACT program, but without raising tuition for non-PACT students.
Accordint to Seitz, the PACT program will be safe for the next three years, so if the bill is not passed in the House, there will still be time for legislators to figure out how to solve it.
The amended SGA Senate bill was passed stating they oppose any legislation which caps tuition for students on the PACT plan, but not other Auburn students.
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