The University of Rhode Island Student Senate discussed campus housing plans, recognized five new student organizations and condemned this year’s raised parking pass prices.
The senate introduced and passed a resolution urging URI’s Transportation and Parking Department to decrease the price of campus parking passes. The senate argues the university should be prioritizing new parking areas and student accessibility. Prices of resident parking passes have increased by 72% and commuter passes by 52%, raising the prices to $500 and $275 respectively, according to the resolution.
“This resolution is not against anyone,” External Affairs Committee Chair Arpan Utkarsh Singh said. “It is just in favor of the URI student body.”
Sen. Conlan Bremer presented a bill creating a disability advocacy liaison for the student senate. Bremer hopes that the position will help increase accessibility on campus for both physically disabled and neurodivergent students. The bill passed unanimously.
The senate recognized five new student organizations. Representatives from the organizations joined the senate and presented their club’s mission statements. The senate recognized the Heart Club, the Student Nurses Association, Rhody Stronger Together, the Disc Golf Club and the Climbing Club.
Campus Affairs Chair Cameron Hudson reported on a variety of campus updates. Hudson spoke with Housing and Residential Life and Student Development Assistant Vice President Thomas Cooley about campus housing plans.
The Graduate Village will be demolished in May of 2026, according to Cooley. Graduate students living in the village or planning on living in the village will be moved to Gateway Apartments.
Hudson also mentioned that the university has a contracted pest control expert who is on campus three days a week. Students struggling with pests should file a work order through the URI MyHousing portal.
The next student senate meeting will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Union Room 300.
