Student Senate met for their weekly meeting Thursday, Feb. 9 at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212.
The meeting began with administrative reports where Associate Dean of Students Jenn Crowder reminded students that the housing intention form and spring break stay request form are both due on Feb. 15.
Associate Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEB) Darcey Mills reported that Haircuts by Alex will be taking place in the Mosaic House from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, DEB will be hosting a Ubuntu mentor paint night in the Mosaic house. Participants will be able to create a piece of art to mark Black History Month. Those wishing to participate should contact Mills.
Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) Director Javita Thompson reported that the sign up for the spring break service trip to Richmond, Va is open until Wednesday, Feb. 15. The trip will run from March 6-11 and the cost is $300. Students can sign up on the CCCE website.
The sign up is also open for the April service trip to the YWCA to volunteer at the Race Against Racism event on April 29th from 7-11 a.m. Students can sign up on the CCCE website.
Spring day of service will be held on March 31 and more information will be released soon.
Moving into committee updates, Traditions Chairperson Abigail Lindsay reported that the committee is working to continue to plan Blue Jay Day which will take place on April 28 from 11a.m.-2 p.m. More information is coming soon.
Moving in class updates, Class of 2025 President Emma Sager reported that the class took the feedback given to them about how to improve the counseling service space and are beginning to plan the process of implementing the ideas.
Class of 2024 President Lindsay reported that the class has put out the first social media post for Junior/Senior. The event will take place on April 15 from 6-11 p.m. at the Lodge at Liberty Forge. The theme for the event will be revleaved via Instagram on Feb. 15 which is two months out from the event.
Moving into New Business, a motion was made to alter the agenda moving the Transition Committee presentation before the advocacy project presentation, in which the motion was seconded. A vote was then held, in which the motion did not pass keeping the agenda the same.
The Class of 2023 presented their advocacy project which is focusing on community outreach to local high schools. Their aim is to make college seem more accessible to those whom it may have been out of reach prior.
The Class of 2026 then presented their advocacy project to create a greater sense of community among their class year. They plan to implement this through holding more social events to allow the class cohort to gather together.
The next order of New Business was a presentation by the Transition Committee of the new Constitution for a Student Assembly.
This committee was created after a student presented an alternative structure of government last spring semester during a Senate meeting. A vote then went out to the student body to form a committee to write a Constitution, in which the vote passed. Therefore, the committee is now presenting said Constitution.
Key differences include cutting the number of Senators from 60 down to approximately 40. There would not be Class Senates, as there would only be four senators for the senior, junior and sophomore class years and six for the first-years.
In place of the Class Senates, each class year could have a club in which they would be responsible for carrying out many of the duties of current class years, as well as carrying out the Traditions such as Homecoming and Tree Lighting.
Questions and suggestions were given to the members of the Transition Committee in a moderated session.
The committee will return to next week’s meeting with their final version of the Constitution.
Student Senate meets weekly on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212. Meetings are open to all the campus community.
