The Student Association Senate passed several resolutions concerning security in residence halls in a marathon meeting Tuesday evening.

The resolutions were drafted as a result of thefts and other security problems that have plagued Aston Hall this year.

Senators discussed a provision that would provide compensation for Aston and other residence hall occupants who have had valuables stolen and can prove the University was at fault.

The legislation also included a provision to address student concerns with Aston Hall’s safety and security. Senators said the resolution would also call for security personnel to be in the building from 6:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. to check student IDs, the same procedure currently followed in other residence halls.

Aston Hall has barely any security, and this (winter break theft of) 13 laptops, this is not an isolated incident, said undergraduate Sen. and Executive Vice President-elect Cathy Resler (CSAS), the sponsor of the bill.

Graduate Sen. Tom Sargent (at large) agreed.

I’m appalled that the University has not addressed this problem, and I applaud Cathy’s efforts to make them respond, he said.

The resolution passed with a vote of 18-4.

A second issue addressed at the meeting was residence hall key-ins by maintenance and housekeeping staff members. The provisions included a better system of notification of upcoming maintenance work and posting housekeeping schedules so students are not surprised when University employees enter their rooms.

When I first got here, I was amazed that they could do this, said undergraduate Sen. Daniel Loren (ESIA), sponsor of the resolution. I was taking naps in the middle of the day, and I’d wake up and there’d be five people in my room changing my air conditioner filter.

Other senators agreed the University policy is a violation of a student’s right to privacy if the student is not properly notified of the key-ins. The resolution passed with a unanimous vote.

In addition, the Senate passed a resolution asking the University to ban person-to-person, on-campus solicitations of students by credit card company representatives.

Graduate students Amy Davidge, Leann Fox and Gene Fisher created and presented the resolution, after receiving more than 160 signatures in a petition to bring it before the Senate.

It’s a big problem, which is targeted by credit card companies who give students with low income rates high credit limits when they know their parents are there to bail them out, Davidge said.

Senators were initially hesitant to accept the resolution.

If someone offers you a credit card on the street, you can say no, Resler said. It’s the freedom of the person. It’s capitalism. It’s American.

The resolution passed 19-1 with two abstentions.