– Updated at 11:30 p.m. Thursday with clarifications from Turk.

At its first meeting Wednesday, the Government of the Student Body began the fall semester with a discussion of the big developments the city is planning.

“There is talk of a CyRide intermodal facility that would be built south of the Methodist Church on Lincoln Way, as well as a hub for inner-city buses as well as the Iowa State University Police Department,” said GSB president Jonathan Turk, senior in political science.

“Funding for the Intermodal facility is being worked by CyRide, the City, and the University and is applying for federal grant money.  No GSB money is being put towards the project nor is any being asked of.  The senate was asked to consider an opinion resolution to support the idea of a new facility,” Turk wrote in an e-mail Thursday night.

Turk also wrote that the Senate is considering using “its accounts to purchase new furnishings for the women’s center.”

His speech on Wednesday also addressed GSB’s summer activities.

He met with ISU representatives, including several administrators. In addition, he oversaw major renovations and structural changes to the GSB Web site.

A major goal for GSB this year is to increase student financial literacy.

Following the meeting, Turk said, “We need to find ways to implement financial education and financial literacy into orientation courses.”

GSB financial director, Tom Danielson, senior in civil engineering, said he has set personal goals for himself this semester, including creating an international student council umbrella organization. He said he also wants to restructure the finance process. “Every year we need to decide if we want to support organizations or events,” Danielson said.

Turk wants to edit the financial policy as well.

“An aspect of our financial policy is that if an organization is receiving funding from a constituency council, they cannot receive funding from the GSB … I believe the senate needs to review this law, because groups hosting events for the student body should not have to choose who to receive their funding from,” Turk said.

In addition to examining GSB financing, Turk said he wants to improve “relationships with the city and Campustown and the CyRide intermodal facility in town.”