SENATE BEAT IS A HIGH-QUALITY GOAT
As the end of the semester creeps over the horizon, Senate discussed the plan they hope to complete before the end of the school year, over the summer, and in the long term.
Vice President Jefferson Ratliff reported from a meeting between himself, Director of Community Safety Gary Granger, and Senator Meera Balan that Community Safety is now fully staffed. The organization had previously experienced problems staffing last semester in part due to the effects of COVID and growth in demand for private security in the greater Portland area. In that meeting, they also talked about Renn Fayre and Owl Fight safety measures, highlighting the importance of keeping vehicles off the Great Lawn.
Head Treasurer Anahi Sanchez Marcial, representing Financial Committee (Fin Com), encouraged students to arrive at Financial Committee meetings on time; between 7:30 and 7:45. While she noted that if that wasn’t possible attendees could email Fin Com to let them know that they were on their way, the committee will usually disperse if no one arrives within the first 15 minutes. Treasurer Sanchez Marcial also reminded students to email any proposed budgets to money@reed.edu by Tuesday at 11:59pm Treasurer Sanchez Marcial pointed out that these regulations are not specific to this semester, but will be part of the process indefinitely, as they are codified in the bylaws.
Senator Andrew Happy reported from the Student Committee on Academic Policy and Planning’s (SCAPP) attendance of a broader Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) meeting that SCAPP “had reiterated its disappointment over the tearing down of the SJP banner,” that hung in the GCC and invited faculty members to contribute to a replacement banner.
Senator Andrew Sakahara reminded students that election petitions and platforms are due to the Election Czars by April 8th at 11:59pm. He also announced that the list of candidates and the wording of the ballot referendum unveiled last week would both be revealed next during Senate Public. He also reported on a meeting with Conference and Event Planning (CEP)’s Assistant Director Megan Callero a slew of events coming to the Quad “around lunch on Fridays,” including the April 5 Multicultural Festival (date of publication), Spring Fling on April 12th from 11:30am to 2:00pm, and Earth Day the following week. He also announced that, as part of Earth Day, goats would be coming to the GCC Quad. Senator Caroline Spiggle inquired about the quantity of goats that would be in attendance, and Senator Sakahara responded, saying, “The quality of the goats is good, the quantity of goats is unknown.” Senator Sakahara also advised student event planners that, in the event that another event is booked during their time, they should reach out to CEP.
Senator Lily Garvey reported for the Bylaws Committee that the bylaws would be out soon. Despite the Sisyphean nature of bylaw reform this semester – always seeming just around the corner, but never quite here – she emphasized that they were almost done. Senator Garvey also reported in conjunction with Senator Philip Dussin that the two had successfully released a Hum 110 survey, and celebrated the student feedback on academic services so far. She reminded students that the survey is still ongoing, and encouraged them to submit responses. Garvey announced that the results will be presented in a meeting to Associate Dean of Students for Academic Life Steve Abrahão and Hum 110 chair Nigel Nicholson.
Senator Bella Moore announced that, in a meeting with Title IX and 504 Coordinator Christy Martin, they had been “in the very early stages of discussing what it means when a member of the student body harms another member of the student body, and what privileges and consequences entail from that.”
Senator Caroline Spiggle announced that the Disability and Accessibility Resources (DAR) Committee would be hosting a neurographic art activity during reading week, for the Accessibility Committee that they were working with CARDS to develop fidget baskets for longest, and that for Autism Awareness Month (this month!) – they are seeking to do outreach and education to faculty and departments, and working with Director of Academic Support Christy Martin to reinvigorate engagement by admin, staff and faculty with the accessibility committee (Christy Martin can wear many hats). Caroline also reported for the Commons Committee that the tea and coffee station has been modified as a result of a student accessibility request, and she reported for CARDS that the CARDS “closet is open.”
Senator Lucy Knight-King reported that Facilities will be able to move furniture into student spaces much earlier than expected; rather than coming in over the summer, it can be moved by the end of next week.
Senator Balan announced for the AOD committee that a new poster will be unveiled before Renn Fayre. She also announced that the CARDS repository will launch this Friday. The repository is a document for students and community members that will contain resources related to serving and supporting disabled students. She also announced that CARDS will be hiring advocates, and encouraged students who had recommendations for Autism Awareness Month projects to reach out to cards@reed.edu. Senator Balan also announced that, after meeting with CSOs, she has decided to reopen discussions about what efforts to better light the area around the studio art building might look like.
Senator Lindsay Worell announced that a Title IX questionnaire will be sent out in SB info, similar to the recent AOD questionnaire, whose results will be published in the Quest. She also reported that Student Life had been discussing the best ways to ensure that Seniors who live off campus can find safe housing during Renn Fayre, and reported for Residence Life that because Financial Aid information is no longer sent directly to Res Life, students should reach out to Res Life directly if they have concerns about storage for over the summer.
Student Body President Andee Gude closed out the meeting, reporting on a lunch with the Assistant Director and Career Advisor at the Center for Life Beyond Reed (CLBR), and that both were interested in strengthening alumni-student relationships and emphasized their investment in the mentorship program. They also reported for Student and Campus Life that they were hopeful to expand wifi access in Foster-Shultz especially, saying that they would reach out to “the person who does that here.”
Speaking up from the audience, Chief Information Officer Val Moreno said that they were working on a 5-year security plan that would be phased in at the end of this year.
Senate Public meetings are held weekly on Wednesday at 4:10 in the Student Union.
In appointments, Omar Yousiff was hired to the Commuter Planning and Policy Board, and Tia Muehr was hired as SU Assistant Manager: