Student Senate met for their weekly meeting Thursday, Oct. 7 at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212.
The meeting began with administrative reports, starting with Dean of Students and Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging Nichole Gonzalez. Gonzalez began with addressing her recent choice to cancel the guest speaker Joe Basrawi that planned to come to campus as a part of an event with Elizabethtown College’s chapter of Turning Point USA. Gonzalez mentioned that there were a few reasons that led to this ultimate decision, one of these reasons being that this speaker event was being advertised before going through final approval.
Gonzalez also addressed the recent bias related incident that occurred in an occupational therapy class where a professor used a racial slur. She said that this incident is being investigated and handled. While the professor was not named, it was made known this professor was an adjunct and will not be returning to the classroom.
Associate Dean of Students Jenn Crowder spoke on behalf of the Office of Student Activities. She spoke about upcoming activities on campus, such as mocktails and karaoke which was held in the Bower’s Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being, along with Conrad’s Corner.
Director of Housing & Residence Life Jenn Azevedo had an update, noting that applications to become a Residential Assistant for the 2022-23 school year are now open. Applications can be via the student employment portal on the College’s website or a link to the application has been posted on the Jay’s App.
Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Belonging Ellis Bonds announced that his last day at the College will be Oct. 25. Prior to his departure, he will host Safe Zone Training on Oct. 12 and 21 at 10 a.m. in the McCormick Classroom located within the High Library. In honor of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, a panel entitled “Coming Out Stories: The Different Narratives” will feature Dr. Dawnielle Simmons, Dr. Evan Smith, Bonds and sophomore Samhar Almomani as speakers.
Associate Dean for Student Counseling and Health Needs Bruce Lynch spoke first about the retirement of College Health Liaison Eileen Wagener. The College will have a new nurse Katie Frey beginning Oct. 18. She will be located at Sycamore Square.
Questions were raised about making rapid COVID-19 tests available for students on campus. Lynch noted that they can’t have students utilizing rapid COVID-19 tests that are available to student-athletes as they do not have enough people available to administer the tests. He also said that the College is looking to order self-administered COVID-19 tests; however, these tests are in short supply, which has delayed the College’s ability to order them.
Center for Student Success representative Curtis Smith spoke that midterm progress reports were just wrapped up and Starfish notifications went out to all students.
Moving into students’ comments and announcements, Executive Cabinet Secretary Jalen Belgrave took the podium speaking about how Student Senate has become so focused on event planning that it’s motto of “advocating for students rights” has not been the priority. He explained that Student Senate needs to be challenging the institution to do better and holding faculty and staff to a higher standard.
Committee updates all pertained to the final planning stages for homecoming.
For new business, the ad-hoc Student Workers Committee presented their resolution to be sent to the Senior Leadership Team, which would propose that the minimum wage on campus be raised to $10 an hour.
A vote was taken to move into an executive session.
Student Senate meets weekly on Thursdays at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212. Meetings are open to all of the campus community.
