The nine members of the Student Senate who represent various majors and colleges within the University will represent slightly different constituencies next year.
Senate Bill 8, passed in November, requested that the Senate, in conjunction with the ASUO Constitution Court, look at how the academic seats are distributed.
“I think this is a great idea,” said Senate Vice President Jonathan Rosenberg, who co-sponsored the bill. “We need to look at where the constituents exist around campus and to make sure everyone is represented in a balanced fashion.”
The Constitution Court has the authority to examine and redistribute academic senate seats every two years, according to Article 12, section 10 of the ASUO Constitution.
On Jan. 23, the Court released its opinion on the new makeup of the seats. The biggest changes are to the two social science seats.
Seats 14 and 15, which are currently known as the social science seats, will be called arts and sciences seats next year. Both seats currently serve all the non-science majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, said Sen. Athan Papailiou, who serves in Seat 16. Seat 16 is currently the science seat but will now also be called an arts and sciences seat.
Under the new distribution, the seats serve different departments with no crossover.
Rosenberg said the distribution is examined every few years because enrollment in various colleges and departments within the University changes, and redistribution is the best way to divide up the work between the senators and provide equal representation for all students.
“Senate needs to adapt to the campus environment,” he said. “Senate needs to be responsive to the student body.”
The other notable changes are to Seat 10, which represents the College of Education and School of Journalism and Communication. That seat will now represent the Community Education Program and National Student Exchange as well. In addition, Rosenberg’s seat 12 now represents the psychology department as well as the School of Architecture and Allied Arts and the School of Music.
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