2
Campus News
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Beacon.MCLA.edu
The Beacon’s election guide 2016 tee ballots by Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
By Mitchell Chapman Managing Editor
Ballot questions Massachusetts: Question 1: Allow the Gaming Commission to issue an additional slots license
With the Nov. 8 general election less than a month away, The Beacon has compiled a guide for the benefit of the campus community. Absentee Ballots As many students are miles away from home, obtaining an absentee ballot might be their only way of participating in this election. If you live in Massachusetts, you may get an absentee ballot if you’re absent from your polling place during regular polling hours, physically disabled and cannot travel to your polling place, or unable to vote in person because of a religious belief. If you live in New York, you can get an absentee ballot if you are absent from your county or the city of New York on Election Day (Nov. 8), unable to vote in person because you have a temporary or permanent illness or disability or because you’re the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disable, a patient or inmate in a Veterans Administration Hospital, or
Question 2: Authorize the approval of up to 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions in existing charter schools by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education per year. Question 3: Prohibit certain methods of farm animal containment. Question 4: Legalize recreational marijuana for individuals at least 21 years old. Photo from GovOffice.com
detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or in prison conviction for an offense that isn’t a felony. Any registered voter in Vermont can vote by mail. All voters must download and fill out the absentee ballot application form found on their respective state websites. Massachusetts voters must have their absentee ballot application forms mailed, faxed, or emailed to
their local election official by Nov. 7 at 12 p.m. When you receive the ballot in the mail, mail it so that it’s received by Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. New York voters must have their absentee ballot application forms mailed by Nov. 1 and must have their absentee ballots completed and mailed by Nov. 7. Vermont voters need to get their absentee ballot application forms mailed to their town clerk by Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. and their completed absen-
New York and Vermont: There are no ballot measures in either state in 2016. Voting in person Be sure to look up the appropriate precinct in which you are registered on your state’s website. In Massachusetts, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You are allowed to vote if you are in line by 8 p.m. New York polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with
SGA: Inaugurations, hydration stations and the meal plan By Nick Tardive
39th annual Sam Gomez recap
Staff Writer
SGA inaugurated two new Senators-at-Large, three Class of 2020 representatives, Class of 2017 Vice President and Treasurer, and Class of 2018 Treasurer. Jacob Vitali, who lost out to Nia Little for Class of 2020 President, was elected as the class representative. “I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” Vitali said regarding his election loss. “But it gives me a lot more time now where I can focus exclusively on the Senate.” Vitali was a member of SGA in high school, but that student government didn’t use parliamentarian procedure. He’s been reading the handbook and watching the Canadian House of Commons to get acquainted with the process. As a firstterm Senator, Vitali is hoping to focus on policy, and is upset that he missed out on the discussion regarding the Amsler Campus Center Pool. SGA voted to formally endorse the plans to replace the pool with a fitness facility two weeks ago. More specifically, Vitali wants to focus on fixing the freshmen year plan. “The meal plan is a big one
By The Numbers...
Total Runners: 84 MCLA students in the race: 26 Total Runners in 2015: 2
I want to look at too, because all freshmen are forced to buy into the same meal plan right now,” Vitali said. “And that just doesn’t work for everybody.” Yahya Can Abanoz and Robbie Gair were inaugurated as Senators-at-Large. Nia Little and Alexter Shand were inaugurated as Class of 2020 President and Vice President respectively. Parliamentarian Jessica Lovellette was sworn in as Class of 2017 Vice President. Senator Siobhan Greene was sworn in as Class of 2017 Treasurer. Student Trustee Brianna O’Rourke was inaugurated as Class of 2018 Treasurer. Coordinating Vice President Sam Giffen announced that she had met with the head of facilities, as well as Vice President Lawrence Behan to discuss the addition of five “hydration stations” around campus - including in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, as well as Murdock Hall. Hy-
dration stations are simply water fountains that have spaces to fill up a bottle with filtered water. “We knew that [hydration stations were] an issue that we could have worked with the administration on while in office,” SGA President Tim Williams said. “We started off wanting to add just one to the science center, and we got five.” Williams was grateful regarding the school administration’s willingness and ability to work with them on the hydration station issue, among other things. Next for the administration is to just go out and listen to what the constituency around campus wants, similar to State sen. Ben Downing’s “Coffee and Conversation” template of meeting with the voters and hearing their voice. “I’m going to start a ‘listening tour’ because I want to hear what the students want,” Williams said. “We’re repre-
sentatives of the students, not the other way around.” Although Williams understands that, as SGA president, it’s his obligation to focus on what the students want, Williams personally wants to tackle low voter turnout for student elections. SGA as a whole wants to focus on increased student and club interaction among the student body. Executive Vice President Shannon Esposito broke precedent for her Senator of the Week award, giving it to four different senators: Siobhan Greene, Maggie Allen, John Kelly, and Secretary Rebecca Godbout. The multiple awards given were for the senators’ heavy involvement in the 39th Annual Sam Gomez Race, which had 84 runners total - 26 of which were MCLA students. Compared to last year’s Sam Gomez race, which had two MCLA students run. Other business around SGA includes the first Class of 2017 meeting set for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the CSI Atrium, the club adviser meeting set for Friday, Oct. 28 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Fall day of Service on Saturday. Oct. 22, and Campus Conversations on Race on Thursdays in the Sullivan Lounge at 8 p.m.
those in line by 9 p.m. permitted to vote. Vermont polls from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., with voters in line by 7 p.m. permitted to vote. Note: If you are voting for the first time in either of these states, you might be required to show some ID. because of this, all three states recommend that you carry a valid photo ID, such as a license or State ID card, and something that shows your name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check. Take advantage of early voting If you can’t vote in person and don’t want to get an absentee ballot, be sure to take advantage of early voting! In Massachusetts, early voting takes place between Oct. 24 and Nov. 4. Specifically in North Adams, early voting takes place in city hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during those times, with extended hours taking place Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. An early voter in Massachusetts is allowed to change their vote election day. Be sure to check out your state website, as rules vary for who qualifies for early voting, and some states, like New York, do not permit noexcuse early voting at all.
GOLD Continued from Page 1 building incorporates is the design of the air handling system. The system features variable speed drives that self-regulate its usage and changes energy consumption based on what is needed. This prevents the system from running at full drive continuously, saving energy when it can. Other features include high efficiency lighting and lighting controls, a roof garden, photovoltaics, heat wheels to recover energy, and chilled beams to move air without fans. With this award MCLA now has two LEED certified buildings- CSI and Bowman Hall. “I am very excited that MCLA made a commitment to use USGBC and LEED design principles when planning the construction,” Birge said. “Both facilities are examples of building excellent teaching and learning environments that honor the intersection between environmental consciousness and modern design.” Behan compared the construction process of CSI to an LED light bulb. Designing with green principles is initially more expensive, but the cost to run the building is much lower than if they used common practices. A LED light bulb is more expensive than a regular light bulb at the initial purchase but saves money in with its energy saving design. LEED certification uses a point system that addresses many areas of sustainability issues. The number of points received determines the project’s rating: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. According to Behan, the process for getting certified begins with the initial design of the building. Those working on the project consciously decided that they would use green practices and incorporate suitability aspects into the building to achieve a LEED rating. When USGBC comes to verify the suitability design aspects of a particular building, they require supporting documentation that proves what practices were used. LEED considers a large number of factors when certifying projects including the amount of electricity saved, insulation, and water conservation.