Photo courtesy of Flickr
Student Senate held its weekly Thursday meeting Oct. 10, 2019 at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212.
With no student comments or announcements, the meeting began with administrative reports. Vice President for Student Life Dr. Celestino Limas began his report by speaking about the Marketplace To-Go program. As previously stated, the program requires students to swipe their ID cards and then scan a QR code using the Etown Jays App. Limas added that because of food safety regulations, if students want to take items that are not self-serve to-go, dining service staff members cannot put the food directly into the to-go container. Students will have to transfer the food themselves.
Limas continued by mentioning that the Jay Truck will be outside the Ira R. Herr Field for both the men’s and women’s soccer games during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
He also talked about Campus Security’s shuttle to Kmart. With Kmart closing, Campus Security is looking to expand the shuttle program to include the Shoppes at Belmont. This shuttle wouldn’t run as frequently but would allow students to shop at a wider variety of stores.
Limas finished his report by sharing that the Director of Community Living Jenn Crowder and her staff worked to gain commuter access to the residence halls. Now, commuters can swipe into residences until 11 p.m. everyday.
Assistant Director of Student Activities Zac Pace reported that Conrad’s Corner will be open the weekend of Halloween. He said that they are planning to have festive drinks and activities.
Senior Dylan Warner told Pace that students informed him that they don’t feel like they know about the Office of Student Activities’ events. Pace answered that OSA is working on Instagram marketing and posting about events on the television screens across campus.
Office/Work Station Manager for Facilities Management Bob Mrgich could not be present for the meeting but sent in his report via email. Mrgich said that the new Schreiber Quadrangle commons door was installed Wednesday, Oct. 9. Now that the door is compatible, the card access system can be installed.
Senate procedures were put on pause when President Cecilia McCormick entered the meeting so that she could address senators. McCormick said that there is “no pressure” for students to come to her inauguration because she “understand[s] that students are so busy.” She also apologized for the number of email reminders that have been sent out.
“I listen to you and I want to listen to you as we go on,” McCormick said. She emphasized this when talking about how she’s working to solve the employment problems in Dining Services.
After the break for the president, senators returned to agenda by picking up with executive cabinet reports. Senior Publicity and Marketing Chair Julia Aleo used her report to remind senators that Trunk or Treat is Oct. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Leffler Chapel parking lot.
New business started off with a learning session, where senior Student Senate President Holly Francescone explained how to make a motion. The learning session is to help new senators adjust to how senate functions and to remind returning senators of the correct procedures.
Francescone then led an update on the student activity fund. At Senate’s April 11, 2019 meeting, senators voted to move forward with the idea of a student activity fund on the terms that it would ultimately be a campus-wide vote. At the Sept. 19, 2019 meeting, senators voted that now was an appropriate time to bring it to the rest of Elizabethtown College.
At this meeting, Francescone provided a timeline that the executive cabinet created. Senators plan to vote on a model for the fund at the Oct. 31 meeting. If a model is voted on, there will be various information sessions and times for questions to be answered before a campus-wide vote prior to the end of the semester.
New business ended with an election for the at large position on Academic Council. The rest of the meeting was dedicated to committee and class updates where themes for Trunk or Treat and Homecoming items were shared.
