The Emergency Phone Kiosks Initiative was revisited and passed by student senate 39-0-0 during the Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting Tuesday, March 5. Additionally, ASG viewed a presentation about the newly instated degree audit system.

According to junior senator Max Smith, the Emergency Phone Kiosks Initiative, which was presented to senate two weeks ago, expresses ASG support for university and police initiatives that will increase safety among the student body.

The resolution said the 12 emergency phone kiosks that are located on campus are in need of replacement.

“[The kiosks] are technologically outdated and contain parts that are no longer manufactured,” the legislation states.

Miami and the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) are beginning efforts to install 30 renovated kiosks on campus.

This legislation additionally calls for the efforts to establish these kiosks by next Fall.

“ASG encourages prompt action to be taken to have the [kiosks] installed over the summer of 2013,” it states.

In addition, a committee will be established so students and ASG can collaborate with Information Technology Services and MUPD throughout the execution of this project.

Junior Senator Max Swartz emphasized that the resolution, as a whole, demonstrates support that will allow for increased student input in future university endeavors.

“We can actually have input on projects that are taking place at this university and help steer these projects in the direction we want to see them go,” he said.

The original legislation was presented as a bill, and a clause existed that described the ad hoc committee that will be created.

Junior Senator Brandon Patterson argued the bill should show general ASG support for the renovated kiosk initiative, which includes the formation of a committee, and that the extra clause was unnecessary.

“I don’t think the [ad hoc] committee is necessary for ASG to get involved with,” he said. “That’s out of our jurisdiction.”

However, sophomore Senator Elizabeth Beumel alluded to legislation that was passed last semester, the Resolution Condemning Material Condoning Sexual Assault, and contented that this resolution is a way to continue on with ASG efforts that increase safety.

“I think that this is an amazing piggyback to [the Resolution Condemning Material Condoning Sexual Assault],” she said. “I think that it is great that the student senate is in a favor for the Emergency Phone Kiosks Initiative.”

After amendments were made to the legislation, which changed the title to “A Resolution Supporting the Emergency Phone Kiosks Initiative” and removed the clause that explained the formation of the ad hoc committee, the resolution passed senate unanimously.

Also, during the meeting, Carol Jones, associate registrar of curriculum and student success, presented the new Interactive Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) and u.Direct planning and advising tool.

According to Jones, Interactive DARS, which will replace the current degree audit system students are utilizing, will be in place after spring break. In addition to the information that presently exists in each degree audit, the new audit will feature a pie chart and bar graph illustrating the amount of credit hours a student has completed and still needs to complete for his or her Miami Plan, as well as divisional requirements, his or her major, minor and elective. The audit will also show the student’s GPA for each of those categories.

Jones explained the u.Direct planning and advising tool, which will be implemented by next fall, provides a four year plan to graduate and a shopping bag for courses a student plans to take in the future. The shopping bag will allow students to reserve classes that they will need to take to graduate.

“This gives students the ability to take what they want to take when they want to take it,” she said. “Administrators can plan for resources, department chairs can plan schedules and students can be on track and graduate in the amount of time they can graduate.”