University Times

The Staff Association Council (SAC) launched a new year July 31 with the installation of a new officer and new members.

At the annual SAC orientation luncheon, 13 new members began serving two-year terms.

New members are: Christina Bennett, Institutional Review Board; Sean Bridgen, CAS Advising; William Contos, Housing; Trisha Crowe, Career Services; Steven Feinert, CAS Advising; Ryan Handrahan, Katz Graduate School of Business; James Lyle, Engineering; Linda Marts, Medicine; Mary Beth Mengel, Staff Association Council secretary; Carol Neuner, School of Education; John Oravetz, General Studies; Malinda Weems, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (computer science), and Lynne Welshons, Medicine.

In addition to the installation of new members, the council in a special election chose Angela Peskie as the new vice president of communications.

Peskie will hold the position for one year, serving out the term of a council member who left the University. "I can provide staff with the information they need to make informed decisions, and be approachable to staff if they have suggestions or concerns that SAC needs to address," Peskie stated.

As communications vice president, Peskie will oversee production of the SAC newsletter, SAC Tracks. She is a staffer at the Research Conduct and Compliance Office.

SAC President Barbara Mowery told members that the top two goals for SAC this year are to increase members' participation in University activities and on SAC committees, and to benchmark employment-related issues.

"Benchmarking is part of the University culture as a whole," Mowery said. "We need to start collecting data on issues that affect staff."

Mowery said she was frustrated last January while lobbying against an increase in the computing and network services fee, which is paid by all students, including staff registered for classes.

The Board of Trustees student affairs committee, and later the board, voted to hike the fee for part-time students from $30 to $65 per term.

"I didn't have the information at that time to say how many staff take advantage of taking classes, which the trustees committee considered [to be] a small number," Lowery said. "Later I found out that more than 1,000 staff took at least one course last year."

Mowery also announced plans for the SAC-sponsored second annual flea market and crafts sale, dubbed "Trash to Treasure."

The event will be held in the plaza between Posvar Hall and Hillman Library (Posvar Hall Galleria in case of rain) on Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Participants can rent tables to display and sell their wares: $20 to rent one table; $30 for two tables; additional tables $5 each. For more information, contact the SAC office at 4-4236; e-mail: sac@imap.pitt.edu Proceeds benefit the SAC Book Fund for Children of Staff.

–Peter Hart