During Student Senate’s meeting Thursday, March 21, senators spent the majority of their time in debate.

The junior class senate is responsible for organizing junior/senior formal, and it has been the precedent that they provide a bus for transportation. However, it is not a requirement, and the funds can be hard to come by.

Senators debated two options: setting aside $350 as an emergency fund for each class senate or leaving it to the junior class to fund on their own. The first option did not restrict the money’s use to the bus; however, it was intended for that.

Concerns revolved around the fear that the money would not be used for its intended purpose. Ultimately, the first option was approved, but amendments were quickly proposed and approved. The first amendment states that the $350 would be paid back if the event is profitable. The second amendment states that the amount is subject to change.

Student Senate’s March 28 meeting was their semiannual meeting with senior staff members. The meeting began with four presentations from members and then opened up to sections of questions from senators.

Elizabethtown College President Carl Strikwerda began by presenting on the College’s university status. “There is no difference between a college and a university,” Strikwerda said. He then added that there is a better market perception of universities.

Since the College is being ranked as a university by some sources, the question of changing the school’s name has been brought up. “This is something we need to talk about,” Strikwerda said.

However, the meeting moved on to a presentation from Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Elizabeth Braungard. Braungard talked about the launch of the “You Minded” campaign’s second phase, which includes student stories.

The third section of the meeting on the changes in event planning was presented by Vice President for Student Life Dr. Celestino Limas and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty Dr. Betty Rider. These changes were previously talked about in senate, since the event planning committee asked for senators’ feedback.

Limas said that the goal of 20 percent event reduction is “up for discussion.” Rider added that she and Limas will be the ones to decide whose events get priority if any problems arise within the tiered system of importance. “I don’t think we’ll see many issues where people will be denied,” Rider said.

Limas said that they wanted to have enough discussion about event planning now so that the topic can be tabled over the summer. This would prevent any final decisions from being made without student input.

The final presentation was an update from Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management George Walter about the recruitment campaign.

Walter shared statistics comparing the number of applications, FASFA applications and deposits from this year to last year. He reminded senators that there is still another month until the May 1 response deadline, so the numbers are not official.

Senior Treasurer Joshua Baker asked if there is a way to monitor the professors involved in meeting prospective students, since some tour guides said there is a variation in levels of enthusiasm. Rider answered that Admissions works with the department chairs to identify the best faculty to represent Etown.

Senators then moved on to ask questions about Dining Services. Junior Holly Francescone began by reading comments about the Jay Truck from a student survey, including one that blamed Student Senate for the lack of the food truck.

After this, student employees from Dining Services shared stories about their working conditions. Strikwerda responded that senior staff will “work as hard as we can” to find a solution.

The following session of questions surrounded academic programs.

Senators shared concerns about how rigorous some programs are, specifically music therapy. Rider said that programs that require accreditation, like music therapy and occupational therapy, are harder to adjust.

Rider went on to answer other questions, saying that faculty will be trained in Canvas to increase usage and that new programs are being considered based on high school students’ feedback. Sophomore Rachel Freed asked if there are plans to standardize grading scales across campus, or even within departments, and to standardize courses that have multiple sections. Rider said that they are working on standardizing First-Year Seminar courses, as well as others.

The rest of Student Senate’s agenda was tabled for its next meeting.