Tonight’s meeting of the Student Government Association Senate will feature the presence of several guest University Administrators.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Javier Cevallos, Dean of Students Jo-Anne Vanin, Director of Housing Services Michael Gilbert and Director of Parking Services Michael Brennan are among those invited to come and speak to the Senate.

Senate Speaker Aaron Saunders explained that having these guests come and speak to the Senate would allow the administrators to explain their roles within the University of Massachusetts.

“I’ve spoken with Michael Gilbert, who is receptive and more than willing to talk to people,” Saunders said. “I don’t want to see Senators jumping down their throats about issues, but for this to serve as informational in regards to what they do. As for issues themselves, they can’t be expected to answer them all during announcements. That’s why we’re [also] setting up meetings with administrators outside of the Senate.”

Saunders said that this is an opportunity for Senators to meet and get involved with these administrators.

In cooperation with University administrators, SGA members have been looking into other areas they form motions to present to the Senate. One motion on the agenda urges the administration to look at the University budget and correct its imbalances. The motion is asking the administration to look at the funding being put into athletics versus academics and to shift the “imbalanced” budget to a more equitable system.

“We spend a lot more of a percentage of money on athletics, and when a senior can’t get into a class we need to look into why this is occurring,” Saunders said. “This motion is simply asking administrators to re-evaluate the Universities priorities.”

Senate members have also been working to get involved with the possible room and board fee increases that may occur in the future.

Associate Speaker Bill Powers, Secretary of University Policy Jen Casavant and Senator Dan Saunders met with Vice Chancellor of Finance Paul Page, Director of Dining Services Ken Toong and Gilbert in an effort to review future fee increases.

“We know there will be fee increases in order for [administrators] to keep up to their quality of performance,” Powers said. “But we have questions of whether the fee increase in these services is worth the cost. Our main concern is that room and board stay affordable for students.”

Saunders also commented on the possibilities of future fee increases by explaining that the University needs to look at what funding is really necessary.

“This is an ongoing debate. There has been a [string] of increases of over 13 percent in the past four years,” Saunders said. “Take the video cameras, for instance. There is no proof of their asset to this campus – if anything, you feel as though you’re being watched. If Housing is going to sell a nine percent increase to students, they are responsible to look into their own organization as well.”

Members of the Senate will address residential life, funding and other issues at their weekly meeting at 7 p.m. this evening in Campus Center room 168 C.