Park Point Discussed At Council Meeting

The semester’s sixth Council of Organizations meeting was held on Monday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union (SU) room 62/63.

Council of Organizations Chair Rose Faber introduced Student Association (SA) President Josh Simpson who briefly spoke about Park Point.

Simpson said the project originated when a 2004 SA survey was sent out and people expressed interest in alternative housing. He said the housing project will consist of 13 buildings: 10 for transfer, commuter and upperclassmen students and three for faculty and staff. The project will cost approximately $40 million.

Simpson said the Environmental Impact Statement is in the process of being completed, and people were worried about how the testing has been done, the arsenic levels in the soil and polluted water. However, he said these should not be concerns.

Simpson said a new residence hall will be built to accommodate more students. He also said the project will be finished by 2015 and it will be completed before all of the residence halls are renovated.

The plan is in the final stages of being approved by the Town of New Paltz and the allotted a 10-day comment period was extended to Dec. 10, Simpson said.

“Talk to your organizations,” he said. “Weigh the pros and cons so we can say to the Town of New Paltz, we either stand for this project or are against it.”

Simpson said he contemplated sending out a survey to gauge student opinion about the project but could not create one that would be unbiased. Some students expressed concerns that many people are not informed about the project and therefore, cannot take an educated stance on the situation.

Eric Wood, project coordinator of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), said it is “way too late in the game” to stop the project but encouraged students to go to the town meeting and add their input.

Faber then said clubs can only miss three council of organizations meetings and students should speak to her if they missed more.

SA Productions nominations took place and the last spot was given to Shantel Mayris.

The next meeting will take place on Monday, Dec. 10 and elections for council positions will be discussed.