Senate Beat Isn’t the Only Late-Night Snack
By: Eli Ashcroft
Though there are still a lot of committees brainstorming plans and creating channels of communication, this week's Senate saw several appointments and the start of changes to Commons.
President Andee Gude reported that the Student Committee on Diversity (SCOD), which has three Senate and three non-Senate members, made two hires over the week, and that they and Vice Treasurer Lucy Knight-King met with the students who run the M.L.L.L. and Pride Center to work on acquiring new furniture for those spaces.
The results of the Funding Poll were released this week. Head Treasurer Anahi Sanchez Marcial encouraged the clubs that didn’t get into top 30 to reach out to the Treasury, saying that they can “figure out different pools of money that we can allocate funds from.” Speaking to student concerns about Beer Nation and Funding Poll, Treasurer Sanchez Marcial reaffirmed the importance of non-Funding Poll sources of money, and said that she wanted to make sure that Beer Nation could “thrive during Renn Fayre.” Speaking on behalf of the Financial Committee, Treasurer Sanchez Marcial recommended a budget of $430.46 be allocated to Tango Club, a recommendation taken with unanimous approval.
Senator Lily Garvey reported that the first Academic Support Services meeting was scheduled for March 1 and that she and Senator Philip Dussin were planning to survey current and past Hum 110 students about “certain aspects of the curriculum [and] about their experience,” and encouraged audience members to fill it out when they see it.
Senator Meera Balan announced that an initiative is in the works to ensure that there are halal options every Friday in Commons, and reported that she had a conversation with Associate Dean for Health and Well-Being Yasodha Gopal about considering the option of having an EpiPen in Commons. In more announcements about Commons: Senator Philip Dussin announced that Late Night Pizza is returning – if you are reading this the day of publication (Friday, February 16) then it will be available tonight. Senator Dussin noted that if popular and successful, then the operation may be expanded.
Senator Andrew Sakahara alongside Vice President Jefferson Ratliff said that, due to there not being any proposed legislation to consider, their scheduled meeting with Vice President for Student Life Karnell McConnell-Black for the Legislation Committee was canceled. He also reported for the Bylaws Committee that efforts were underway to make the bylaws “make more sense.”
Assistant Treasurer Emma Benson announced that International Student Services has three positions open that are open to international or domestic students.
Senator Bella Moore announced that, as a result of work with the Committee for Accessibility Resources and Disability Services (CARDS), there will be a 2-hour study hall every Tuesday in the Info Shop from 5:30-7:30pm. She said that though the space is open to anyone, it is primarily meant for students with ADHD who are seeking body doubling.
Senator Lindsay Worrell announced that, in conversation with Residence Life, she had raised concerns about student access to emergency housing, especially in the wake of the “pipe burst, flooding, fire, ice storm, etc.”
Senate Public meetings are held weekly on Wednesdays at 4:10 in the Student Union.