With several major University construction projects underway, Student Council will vote Tuesday on the formation of the Presidential Cabinet for Buildings and Grounds.
"I think that given the exciting new face that the University will take on within the next few years, it is important for there to be a consistent student voice," Council President Daisy Lundy said.
According to Lundy, the cabinet is designed to give students a chance to express their views and concerns about both immediate and long-term on-Grounds projects.
Lundy said the formation of the cabinet, as opposed to a less-permanent ad-hoc committee, would give continuity to student input over a period of several years.
"The University has a plethora of building projects going on now and in the future," said Will Sowers, Council vice president for administration. "We think that it is about time that the Student Council had a voice in the planning for the University. We just want a committee that can do proper research and report to the representative body, as well as the students."
Sowers also said he hoped that students from the Engineering and Architecture Schools would be heavily involved in the cabinet.
Current University projects include the erection of John Paul Jones Arena, the replacement of Observatory Hill Dining Hall, the building of Wilsdorf Hall and the construction of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.
Future on-Grounds developments include the South Lawn Project, which will result in the construction of new structures adjacent to the Lawn, the building of a new Performing Art Center and the University Commons Project, which will lead to the creation of a new student center.
According to University Commons Project Committee member Alfred Griffin, the committee has held numerous focus groups with members of the University community.
"Students deserve to have a say in what goes on at their University," Griffin said. "I think that students and faculty have had good representation on the University Commons Project Committee up to this point. It would be interesting to hear the ideas of the Presidential Cabinet."
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