The Student Government Senate passed a resolution supporting extended library hours during the concentrated study period beginning Dec. 2.The resolution passed unanimously in the last senate meeting of the fall semester Wednesday night.The resolution urges and requests the library to stay open 24 hours during the concentrated study period and final examinations.Sen. Amanda Gammon, College of Arts and Sciences, said library officials have informed her the number of students visiting the library has steadily increased throughout the semester.”It’s just an opportunity to help the students by providing a better study environment during that time,” said Sen. Brandon Jones, College of Basics Sciences, who co-authored the bill.The library currently closes at midnight during the concentrated study period, Gammon said.This resolution comes after the library began closing at midnight again after the hours were changed to be regularly open until 2 a.m. last year.Student Government President Stuart Watkins also tried to reinstate the extended regular hours earlier this semester but failed because of library budget difficulties.”It was no longer feasible to stay open from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. [on a regular basis],” Jones said. “It is not feasible because the budget of the library was cut over $500,000.”Jones said he will be speaking with library officials in the coming days about extending the hours for the coming concentrated study period.The Senate also approved editing the budget to reallocate money formerly located in a salary reserve to the newly created vice president salary.The student body passed a referendum on the fall ballot prohibiting vice presidents from being employed outside the University and making the vice president a salaried position.This amendment will now allow vice president Martina Scheuermann to begin collecting her salary which is set at a maximum of $2,500 per year depending on how many hours she reports, said Sen. Chris Sellers, College of Arts and Sciences, who proposed the amendment. Scheuermann said she will quit her job working at the Tiger Card Office and begin drawing the salary next semester.The senate also passed a resolution at the meeting requesting the University schedule regarding spring break to continue having spring break following Easter Sunday.The need for this resolution was sparked by reports that the Faculty Senate will consider a resolution regarding the placement of spring break at its December meeting, resolution co-author Andy Palermo, University Center for Counseling and Advising.- – – -Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at [email protected]