The University of Rhode Island Student Senate was visited by President Marc Parlange and Narragansett Town Council member Jason Colonies, and discussed plans for the university’s future.
Parlange spoke with the council about a variety of campus happenings, including upcoming events and lectures. Parlange is also a member of a state senate committee, formed in 2024, to determine if the university needs a medical school, and discussed the building’s possibility at the meeting.
“Optimistically, we’ll admit the first students in [20]28.” Parlange said. “There’s a lot of details about buildings, about locations, about residency, about partnerships with hospitals. A lot of work to be done.”
Parlange presented plans for new buildings on the Kingston and Narragansett Bay campuses. Parlange said he is particularly excited about the new track and athletic complex, which he hopes will be able to support the Rhode Island Special Olympics and regional high school championships. The university is also hoping to build two new apartment-style dormitories which will free up an estimated 200 beds in the graduate village.
The university is currently working to provide bicycles for free rentals, according to Vice President of the Division of Student Affairs Ellen Reynolds. Students will be able to swipe their identification cards and rent bicycles, similar to Spin in Providence.
The president also briefly spoke on recent federal actions and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic freedom and its core values.
Jason Colonies was invited to speak with the senate by Arpan Utkarsh Singh, the chair of the External Affairs Committee. Colonies and the Narragansett Town Council have been working to overturn the three student housing ordinance, which prevents more than three students from living in a rental property in Narragansett.
“We support you 100%,” Colonies said.
Chair Singh encouraged other senate members to reaffirm their commitment to serving the student body by addressing parking on campus. URI Transportation and Parking raised the price of parking passes by 72%, according to Singh.
The senate will be offering three buses to the Governor’s Cup football game on Oct. 3. Rides will be free for students and tickets to the game are $10. Tickets can be purchased on SeatGeek.
