Housing, tuition, Old University Union renovations and amendments to the vice president for multicultural affairs position are among the issues that Binghamton University’s Student Association president believes will be important this semester.

Here’s what SA President Matt Landau told Pipe Dream:

TUITION

Landau wants to change a policy that students must pay their tuition in full if they want to register early. He proposed to the University that if students pay 75 percent of their tuition by early registration, then they should be allowed to register.

There is an appeals process for students who pay their fees late, but Landau does not think it is effective. “The appeals process is better than the way they did it before,” Landau said. “But I feel that it is just extra paperwork.”

Landau hopes that there will be discussion between campus officials and BU students about tuition, and that University President Lois DeFleur will attend town hall meetings on the topic. “I think it would be beneficial for students to hear directly from her,” he said.

HOUSING

Controversy regarding the city of Binghamton’s zoning regulations, which states that multiple people living in a house must be a functional family, is an issue Landau thinks will be important this semester.

In response to complaints by some West Side residents, city of Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan created a Housing Commission, which is expected to release a report in a few weeks.

One group, the West Side Neighbors Association, has advocated the active enforcement of zoning regulations as opposed to responding to zoning violations on an individual complaint basis.

“I would hope that Mayor Ryan stands with students to protect student housing,” Landau said. “I would hope that the West Side Neighbors Association members would get a life.”

OLD UNION RENOVATIONS

“We don’t want the Union to become another admin building,” Landau said. “We want to ensure as much programming space as possible.”

VPMA

Landau said he wants to strengthen the VPMA position, which came under scrutiny last semester when an amendment was proposed for its abolition. He hopes to make the purpose of the position more clear and double its responsibilities, as “… the VPMA is an essential part of the SA.”