The Point Park Outdoors Club (PPOC) had its constitution approved during the Student Government Association (SGA) legislative meeting on Oct. 20.
According to the club’s constitution, PPOC is meant to give students the opportunity to learn about wilderness and the outdoors, along with recreational activities.
First-year senator Rylee Conley was the only one to ask a question about PPOC, which was where students would go to explore wilderness. This question was met with immediate laughter from the legislative body.
Parliamentarian Sienna Wraith said the club not having a set destination for trips isn’t a valid reason to not approve its constitution. They also added PPOC could still provide a unique and interesting experience to students.
PPOC’s constitution was approved with a 9-0 vote.
President Christian Rangel took time to speak about the Pittsburgh Student Government Summit, an initiative he ran for President under, which Rangel called a success.
CCAC, La Roche University, Pitt and Pitt Greensburg attended the summit. Rangel said Duquesne University was set to attend but backed out at the last second.
Additionally, updates to the role of the Director of Downtown Engagement (DDE) were added to solidify the role.
Parliamentarian Wraith said the original resolution creating the position listed special duties as something that will be added in full, but was missing.
“There were no actual special duties in there,” Wraith said. “Furthermore, there weren’t any actual responsibilities at all, and we can’t add those into the constitution without actually focusing on them.”
Wraith said the position in its original form amounted to getting paid in the office to do nothing, which they said is unacceptable.
The resolution to add the special duties to the constitution passed unanimously.
During both open floor comment periods, senators discussed the possibility of using flex dollars off campus. Senator Rylee Conley opened the discussion during the first open floor with an anecdote on Giant Eagle stores accepting Panther Funds, Pitt’s equivalent to flex dollars, and how a similar program could happen at Point Park.
First-year Senator Jayden Cochran mentioned flex dollars at grocery stores during the second open floor, noting if flex dollars could be used at a future Downtown grocery store.
Dean of Student Life Michael Gieseke, who was in attendance, said the issue of flex dollars being used elsewhere has been a discussion over the last 60 years. However, Gieseke said the university isn’t large enough to sway corporations into getting into agreements with stores and restaurants like Pitt can.
