Student Senate met Thursday, April 11 for its last meeting before running elections for next year. The meeting started with questions about summer housing for students staying on campus.

Coordinator of Housing Operations Wendi Kenley answered questions about transportation, saying that a shuttle will run from the Featherton Apartments to Elizabethtown College based on times that students suggest.

Director of Campus Security Andrew Powell then provided senators with his report. He began by saying that for approximately the past eight months, Campus Security has been working on adding veteran parking to campus. Now, that will exist where two 30-minute parking spaces at Alpha Hall previously were. Powell said that they may add more in the future, but they have to be mindful of how limited parking is on-campus.

Office/Work Station Manager for Facilities Management Bob Mrgich followed with his administrative report. Mrgich said that facilities has a $400,000 budget dedicated to various repairs for this upcoming year.

These include minor repairs to Royer Residence Hall to make the rooms “more liveable,” as well as LED installation and paint jobs across campus. In addition to the list of repairs, there is also funding set aside to conduct a study for finding any issues in Thompson Gymnasium.

Mrgich also said that Vera Hackman Apartments South will shut down May 11 [Editor’s Note: This date was reported incorrectly during the Student Senate meeting. The actual closing date will be May 20] and Hackman North will shut down June 10 to begin summer repairs.

During executive cabinet reports, junior clubs chairperson Sarah Conway announced Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), the senate class of 2020 and Mad Cow Improv as the top three clubs from the donation race, held Wednesday, April 10. Conway also said that over $900 was raised for charity.

New business consisted of elections for the executive cabinet for next year, as well as their oaths of office.

Student Senate’s next meeting, April 25, was their last for the year, but it was the first meeting with the newly elected senators for next year.

The meeting began with a special order from Director of Learning Zone Lynne Davies. She provided senators with background knowledge and statistics about disabilities on campus. This report came after the senate class of 2022 focused their advocating for the year on disability accessibility throughout campus. They plan to continue their research and help find more solutions in the following years.

The second special order was the oath of office for all senators, since this meeting began their new term. Student comments and concerns followed with sophomore Emma Ricciardelli asking if the travel fund also applies to summer internships. Sophomore Matthew Hetrick, the new executive cabinet treasurer, answered that it does, and the form for reimbursement will be sent out in the fall.

During administrative reports, Powell reminded students that Campus Security still operates during the summer break. “We never close, just a reminder,” he said.

Davies reported for the Center for Student Success that the Commuter House will have extended hours during finals week.

The remaining portions of the meeting were dedicated to internal committee elections and speeches from senior senators.

With the end of the year approaching, Student Senate has achieved quite a few things. Senate’s main role throughout both semesters seemed to be providing student input for faculty ideas.

Senators gave both positive and negative feedback for things such as the tuition transparency announcement, the Core revitalization plan, the student handbook and the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being.

In addition to that, the two main projects that require student input are residential renewal and the social lounge. Both projects were brought to the senate floor early in the fall semester at their beginning stages.

Residential renewal has included not only the new housing where Schlosser and Royer Residence Halls currently exist, but also how the College handled housing next year with half of Hackman being shut down.

Senators worked to ask questions, as well as provide potential solutions.

The social lounge sprouted from a senate discussion regarding what the Body Shop should be turned into after the equipment is moved to the new Bowers Center. Now, the social lounge has been approved by the Board of Trustees and may be making its way onto campus in the upcoming year.

Senators have yet to set any plans in place for next year besides continuing to provide their input for projects currently taking place and those that will come in the future.