To say the Student Senate has been busy would be an enormous understatement.
The Student Senate didn’t waste any time jumping right into second semester by welcoming new faces to the Senate, hosting new events and increasing their accessibility to the student body.
Just this past Monday, March 7, Student Senate hosted the Campus-wide forum on sexual misconduct. The event took place in the Chapel in a town-hall style forum opening up the floor for open discussion and questions. Co-President Bobby Rassmussen and Co-President Elect Hercheran Singh assisted the administration in facilitating the event.
In addition to hosting events, the extension of the Health and Housing committee, known as the Heart Champion, took initiative in hosting the Bystander CPR Training on March 8th in the Heritage Room.
The Senate has had much success in the turnout and feedback of events, so much so, the Take Your Professor to Lunch event is returning this spring starting early April. The Take Your Professor to Lunch event provides to students with the opportunity to talk with your professors and get to know them better over a free buffet lunch.
Student Senate also welcomed new members this semester. Sophomore and Management major, Syed Aizaz Haider is one of the new additions to the Senate as the International Center Representative. Along with a new International Center Representative, there were new Co-Presidents elected by the student body this semester for the 2016-2017 school year. Junior Biology major, Herchran Singh and Alex Shaikoski will take the spots next year for Student Senate Co-Presidents. However, the Student Senate is still looking to filling more vacant positions, including seeking candidates for the Diversity Chair as well as the Ombudsperson position.
The Ombudsperson position is based in the Ethics Committee Chair, Election Committee Chair and monitors the conduct of the Senate. The new member taking the Ombudsperson position will join Senate for the remainder of this academic school and next year as well.
“This semester, we will have a few new faces join Senate after we fill all of our opening positions as we look forward to a busy and productive semester in Student Senate,” Student Senate member, Abbie Swenson said.
The Spring semester is just getting underway for the Senate as they have plenty on their to-do list. Some of the charges and tasks on their agenda this spring includes: Budgeting, Implicit Bias Intervention Programming, visitation hours in residence halls, promotion of mental health, and the mirrors in the Lund weight room.
The Senate continues to stay busy making a difference on campus but, more importantly, they continue to listen to the students and remain easily accessible by tabling outside the Caf every Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We look forward to a busy and productive semester in Student Senate” — Abbie Swenson
“Senators are continuing to table each monday to interact with and be more accessible to their constituents. We take the comments and concerns voiced at the table to our Cabinet meetings and discuss what our next steps could be,” Swenson said.
By tabling outside the Caf, the Senate provides students with a chance to voice their opinions/concerns, ask questions and bring ideas forward for improvement on the campus.
Community Comment every Monday, is another outlet for students to be heard, as every Monday night a portion of the Senate meeting is reserved for the members of the Gustavus Community. Student Senate will continue to work towards satisfying the needs and wants of the Gustavus students.