Greek Week is going on and the student government encourages Eastern students to participate; enough to have passed a resolution delaying the usual 7 p.m. meeting time to 8:30 p.m.

Two new resolutions will be introduced at today’s Student Senate meeting.

One resolution, written by Senate member Zach Samples, is asking for money from the student government’s budget to plant a tree on April 22; this will be the last year the student government will have to plant a tree because of a recent bylaw change.

Samples, the university development and recycling committee chair, is in charge of this year’s Green Week.

Because the bylaw will not take effect until the next academic school year, the student government is still required to plant the selected oak tree in the South Quad with a plaque.

“While the budget cuts were necessary, it’s sad that it had to happen,” said Samples, a freshman history major. “If the budget allows it, we could always start it up again.”

Green Week will be taking place from April 18 to April 22.

The slogan for Green Week is “For 51 weeks EIU bleeds blue but for 1 EIU bleeds green.”

Throughout this week, the student government will be collecting recyclables on the Library Quad from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. each day.

Any RSO, hall council or Greek organization can participate in the Green week competition.

“Organizations are encouraged to donate recyclables because for every pound donated, the organization will receive one point for the Green Week competition,” Samples said.

The student government will be collecting donated recyclables, paper, aluminum and plastic throughout Green Week, but on April 21, students are encouraged to go dumpster diving.

“We cannot accept glass because we do not have the proper facilities to dispose of it,” Samples said.

Senate members will be in charge of tables with surveys on the public perception of the student government on the Library Quad.

“Students are encouraged to fill out these surveys so that student government will know what they need to improve on,” Samples said.

The second piece of legislation is asking for money from the student government’s budget to pay for more transportation for Student Action Team members so they can lobby in Springfield on April 14.

President Bill Perry’s office is already funding for the first two vans and if the resolution is approved, the student government will be paying for the third van.

According to Samples, the vice chairman of the Student Action Team, the Student Action Team bylaws state that they are supposed to lobby in Springfield at least once a semester.

Christy Anderson, a senior communication disorders and sciences major, is the student executive vice president and is also in charge of lobbying in Springfield.

“We have to be at at least three (lobby dates) to retain our voting rights,” Anderson said.

Samples said university funding will be one of the topics the Student Action Team will be lobbying on.

“We want the lawmakers to send the university these funds in a timely manner so that the university can serve students in the best way possible,” Samples said.

Erin Riedl can be reached at 581-2812 or at edriedl@eiu.edu.