Senators James George and Rodrigo Moreno-Villarmar discuss the Student Senate’s agenda before the organization’s first meeting of the academic year in the EMU Wednesday night.
The Student Senate began its 2004-05 legislative session Wednesday night, addressing special requests from several campus groups during a relatively quiet meeting.
The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, was the first chance for some incoming senators to learn parliamentary procedure as the Senate prepares for a year marked by a changed accounting system.
One of the special funding requests brought before the Senate came from Recycling Program Manager Karyn Kaplan, who asked the senators to approve about $5,000 to make up for unexpected cost increases. The program falls under the University Facilities Services department but is partially funded by student fees, Kaplan said. Kaplan said a 15-percent increase in health care costs and increases in overhead costs for the program’s classified staff caused the shortfall.
“If we don’t get funding for this, I’m going to have to cut some of our services,” Kaplan said.
After deliberation over the amount of funding required for the program, the Senate postponed a vote on providing funds so it could review further financial documentation at its next meeting.
ASUO Vice President Mena Ravassipour presented the Senate with a request from the Knight Library to help fund the library’s extended hours at the end of each term. The library, which typically stays open 24 hours during dead week and finals week, will not be able to afford to do so this year because of increased personnel costs and budget cuts, Ravassipour said. She asked the Senate to discuss providing $2,000 each term the library is open for extended hours. Several senators spoke in favor of helping maintain the library’s extended hours at the end of each term, with Senator Rodrigo Moreno-Villamar calling the service “crucial” for many students, including himself. The Senate decided to form a committee to address the issue at its next session.
The Senate also released $300 to the International Student Association to fund its weekly coffee hour, a social event the group plans to hold each Friday of fall term. A representative of the group said it spends about $150 on each coffee hour, with all but $30 coming from its existing funds.
Also at the meeting, Senators approved a request by the Arts and Administration Student Forum to release $150 into the group’s fundraising account to cover the group’s recent expenditure on a Sept. 24 event. The event was designed to allow art students to network with community members, a service Prudence Ratliff, an AADSF representative, said is vital for graduate students who need to fulfill a practicum.
A representative of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association was not present to make the group’s special request.
The Senate also held nominations for its officers. James George, Moreno-Villamar, Austin Shaw-Phillips and Sarah Wells accepted nominations for the position of senate president.
Elections for the presidential, vice presidential, ombudsmen and treasurer positions will be held at the next Senate meeting on Oct. 6.
