Student Senate met for their weekly meeting Thursday, Oct. 21 at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212.
The meeting began with administrative reports, starting with Dean of Students & Executive Director for College Diversity, Equity and Belonging Nichole Gonzalez. Gonzalez first let students know that the board of trustees is on campus. She also spoke about moving forward with the approval process for the College’s strategic plan that has been in the works since last spring.
Assistant Director for Housing & Resident Life for Student Activities Rina Carpenter spoke on the Office of Student Activities (OSA) HUB being reopened. The HUB is located next to the mailroom and is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The purpose of the HUB is to have a place where students can ask questions and learn more about upcoming OSA events.
Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Belonging Ellis Bonds spoke, thanking the Student Senate for participating in the safe zone training. This was Bond’s last Senate meeting, as his official last day at the College was Oct. 25.
Counseling Services and Student Health Director Bruce Lynch said that rapid at-home COVID-19 tests were purchased and ordered; however there is no current timeline as to when these tests are expected to arrive.
First-year senator Brendan Guy raised concerns about the procedure of student athletes being COVID-19 tested. Guy said that in his experience little direction was given on how to complete the test and once the oral swab was turned over to the coaches, it was up to their discretion to mark the test as either negative or positive.
Both Lynch and Gonzalez said that the procedure in which student athletes use will be looked into.
Moving into student comments and announcements, first-year senator Marlaena Ciabattoni and Guy recited a piece of work titled “Human Rights Are Not a Political View,” calling for the Student Senate to continue to push for advocating for all student rights.
Sophomore representative Megan Gangl spoke on behalf of the entire class of 2024 senate cohort on how they are calling for a written apology from employed leaders of the College from lack of communication and action after harmful language was used in a classroom. The class is also calling for an ad hoc committee to be formed to push the leaders of the campus to be more honest and open to the campus community about this incident.
Executive President Andrew Furman began executive cabinet reports with the statement that on Friday, Oct. 22, Executive Vice President Christina Schnee and himself will be meeting with the board of trustees. Furman also reported that the Senate strategic plan will be rolled out Thursday, Nov. 11, with a rain date of the last meeting of the semester.
Schnee reported that there are currently three judicial reviews occurring and the committee will be meeting later that evening.
Executive Secretary Jalen Belgrave reported that his committee has reviewed all the class constitutions and has sent out revisions to be made.
Executive Treasurer Kyle Cappucci reported that his committee will be starting preliminary research into the concrete project idea to put menstrual products into bathrooms across campus.
Executive Publicity and Marketing Chairperson Jessica Freels announced that Trunk or Treat will be held Wed. Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Leffler Chapel parking lot.
Transitioning into new business, Advocacy & Service Committee Chairperson Maddi Holmberg gave a presentation on Into the Streets, including a timeline of the day and activities that senators can expect to be completing throughout their day at Mennonite Central Committee.
Both Traditions and Business Communications committee updates revolved around thanking everyone for the work put into planning this year’s Homecoming.
The meeting was then moved into executive session.
Student Senate meets weekly on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212. Meetings are open to all the campus community.
