Thursday, Feb. 8 at 3:45 p.m. the Elizabethtown College Student Senate met in Hoover 212 for their weekly meeting, where they met with administrative offices to discuss upcoming events.
The meeting began with a roundtable of representatives from administrative offices. Senators asked the directors of Information and Technology Services (ITS), Facilities Management and Dining Services questions concerning their offices.
From ITS, Executive Director Todd Spahr answered concerns surrounding issues with the campus Wi-Fi cutting out, requesting that if the Wi-Fi cuts out for more than five minutes at a time to report it to ITS. Spahr also addressed the problems that students have accessing JayClock using Chrome or an Android, informing them that they are currently working with Human Resources on a replacement for JayClock. Spahr also spoke on college tech and software upgrades and the Innovation Lab.
Director of Facilities Management and Construction Mark Zimmerman discussed the lack of accessibility to the Vera Hackman Apartments from the parking lot. While there are accessible apartments, there is no ramp to the apartments from the parking lot.
Zimmerman said the area will undergo changes as the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being is being built and they hope to do something temporary during the construction. He also spoke about possibly updating the recycling stations and the work order system. Zimmerman also explained the current procedures for ice removal.
Director of Dining Services Eric Turzai answered questions concerning the future status of the Blue Bean Café and the possible new café in the High Library. He assured the senators that the Blue Bean will not disappear once the new café is created.
Turzai also discussed the pricing strategy for meal swipes, meal costs and the meal exchange system for athletes when they have practices or games. He also listened to feedback from students regarding the current location of the food trucks.
Turzai also made two announcements. The first was about a database that is currently in the works and lists the nutritional value of everything Dining Services offers. The second announcement concerned the upcoming Pirate Fest dinner Wednesday, Feb. 28. The seafood-themed dinner will last from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., students dressed in pirate garb can participate in a search of a pirate ship filled with 400 water bottles, one of which contains four tickets to the Baltimore Aquarium and four tickets to a pirate ship.
Student Senate also discussed the start of two new committees to work more closely with the administrative offices, including a food committee and a Facilities committee.
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Marianne Calenda gave an update on the progress on the Bowers Center and reported that the Elizabethtown Borough is moving ahead with approving the building. The Center’s projected completion date is in Aug. 2019.
Director of International Student Services Kristi Syrdahl reported that faculty can use the Starfish system instead of the early warning system. She also announced that there will be an event Thursday, Feb. 15, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Dining Services agreed to have Asian food for the event.
Student Senate also voted in support of a letter for medical amnesty. The letter would not affect the College’s current campus laws. However, the letter could help bring state laws closer to Etown’s policies.
Student Senate is considering adopting an evaluation system for Etown students to give feedback on their senators. However, it will be put through the senate floor before it is approved to go onto the website.
