Environment Chair Christine Dougherty urged members of Student Senate during its weekly meeting to increase awareness of the EcoPhones program at SMU on Tuesday afternoon.

EcoPhones is an organization that collects used and broken cell phones and used ink cartridges. The phones donated that still have value are refurbished and sold at a lowered price to people who may not have the financial means to buy a new phone. Used ink cartridges and phones that cannot be re-used are recycled in accordance with state and federal EPA guidelines.

According to INFORM, Inc., cell phones contain toxic substances that can leak into soil and groundwater when thrown away in a landfill. These substances include arsenic, lead and cadmium. The cadmium from one phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of water.

Dougherty reminded Senate members that there is a white box located in the SAC office where students can recycle their old cell phones.

In other business, SMU Pom and Cheer requested funding from Student Senate to go to the NCAA championship later this year. Pom and Cheer squads have raised more than $30,000 through fundraising throughout the year, but still need help in reaching their $41,000 goal. The issue was tabled and Senate will return to it at a later date.

Student Senate approved the recommendation to fund LeaderShape DFW $5,000. The money will help pay increasing curriculum fees and the cost of sending 30 students, at the cost of $700 per student, to the upcoming Leader Shape conference.

Student Senate also passed a resolution amending 21 pages of its bylaws.

“The most important change is that senators will now elect Student Senate Officers instead of having them appointed by the president,” says Research and Recommendation Chair Ben Hatch. “I believe this will help the organization long-term.”

A new senator was inaugurated Tuesday night. Charles Norvell will now serve as the Cox graduate senator until next year’s inauguration.