In sweeping action Wednesday night, the Government of the Student Body took initiative to put two controversial issues to rest.

In a landslide decision, GSB senators voted 26-4-1 in favor of a resolution to support the current three-week winter break. In addition, a bill to ratify a contract between GSB and the Inter-Residence Hall Association for student-run radio station KURE’s funding squeaked through the senate, coming a mere two votes shy of dismissal.

In response to Faculty Senate support for lengthening the winter break from three to four weeks, Rick Cordaro, RCA, wrote a resolution to support the current class schedule.

The debate centered around the advantage ISU students have in the extra week of summer break with the current three-week vacation.

“I have talked to people in my community who expressed concerns [about a four-week break] because they had received internships [or] because they got to work that extra week in the summer,” said Jason Shenton, USAC.

Tom Loynabhan, chairman of the Calendar Committee, and Thomas Weber, chairman of the calendar ad-hoc committee on the Faculty Senate, were on hand at the meeting to discuss the advantages of a four-week break.

“We ought to concentrate on things that would enhance the missions of the university, like research and education,” Weber said.

He outlined advantages such as extra time for faculty to attend professional meetings, do extra research and prepare for spring semester courses over the prolonged winter break. In addition, Weber said students would benefit from a longer time for winter study-abroad courses and synchronization with other school calendars in the case of cooperative courses.

A three-week break, Weber acknowledged, gives students a jump start on hitting the summer job market and more time for summer session classes.

The impact of the decision on the student body was the main concern.

“We have to remember who we represent,” said Ashley Herr, engineering. “We don’t represent the faculty of this university. We represent the students. That is a significant amount of money we can earn in a week.”

According to a poll on the ISU Web site, 53 percent of voters favored the current three-week break, said Alex Olson, off campus. However, he continued, the majority of students support the three-week break, while the staff voted for the four-week break.

A decisive vote in favor of the current winter break reflected the student input.

“The students have spoken, and they have been heard,” said Jonathon Weaver, TRA.

In other legislation, the senate ratified a contract that split KURE funding with IRHA. Because KURE is seen as a service to any ISU student, more funding responsibility will shift to GSB’s domain. By fiscal year 2001, IRHA and GSB each will have 50 percent ownership of KURE.

According to the contract, GSB will gradually take on 75 percent of KURE’s operating expenses during a five-year period. Currently, GSB finances capital equipment for KURE, and it will continue to do so.

“[KURE] directly benefits the student population,” said Dave Sims, IRHA president, who attended the GSB meeting. “You guys represent that population.”

The agreement, which has been in the works since the beginning of the school year, barely survived the senate vote. A contract ratification needed two-thirds approval, or 20 votes at Wednesday night’s meeting, to pass. The bill passed by a vote of 21-10.

“It’s a benefit for us knowing we can depend on money from IRHA,” said Jeremy Williams, GSB finance director. “It’s in our best interests to pass this. Quit thinking of your pocketbooks and start thinking of the students.”

Since KURE was determined a valuable service to any student, not necessarily just those who live in the residence halls, KURE will now be under the authorization of both GSB and IRHA.