SMU Student Senate focused on the recent flooding and water damages to resident halls in the Speaker’s Podium section of this week’s session.
Sen. Ben Hatch said several rooms on the ground flood of Snider Hall were damaged. According to Hatch, students have voiced concern regarding the administration’s response to the water damage in residence halls. Hatch added that some students stated the administration appeared to be administering a “find a friend and sleep on their floor” policy in reaction to the damage of several residence hall rooms.
Hatch stated his outrage at the administration’s response, mentioning that students in Snider Hall related to him a possible appearance of black mold in damaged rooms. Clarifying that all remarks were made by students in the residence hall and not confirmed by Residence Life and Student Housing as of yet, Hatch urged Senate to consider pushing legislation in response to the events following the flooding.
President Liz Healy then welcomed all the senators back from spring break and inaugurated the new law school senator, Victoria Rossi.
Vice President Taylor Russ encouraged senators to attend the Diversity Symposium this Thursday and pushed senators to start wrapping up legislation and funding proposals.
Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Caswell visited the session to discuss his views on Senate’s recommendation to amend the Student Code of Conduct.
Several student senators voiced concerns for the level of involvement that the university administration holds over Greek organizations, and Caswell said that while both IFC and Panhellenic organizations possess individual charters and rules, the university’s code of conduct trumps the authority of all campus student organizations, Greek or not.
Some Senators felt that the university could “wash their hands” of certain legal situations that would arise out of controversial events such as hazing. Caswell assured Senate that the University Student Code of Conduct presides over all organizations so as to prevent hazing and other negative occurrences.
Caswell encouraged Senate to rethink the wording of its recommendation, which will be sent to President Turner in the upcoming weeks.
A bill to fund $3,000 to the third-year graduate acting class to attend a showcase in New York and Los Angeles received much debate.
The showcase, according to Sen. White and two representatives of the Meadows graduate acting class, would provide a way for students to perform in front of various agencies so as to procure representation after graduation.
The students requested the $3,000 to purchase invitations so acting agencies could be invited to the showcases and to duplicate copies of head shots, an 8 x 11 glossy photograph.
According to Healy, the headshot serves to identify an individual actor in an audition process and stands as an integral part of getting a job. Debate centered around the exact dollar amount to be funded the graduate acting class, as many senators felt that headshots were the equivalent of a business card or portfolio and must be paid for by the individual student.
The Senate eventually agreed to fund the graduate acting class $1,000 for invitations, since inviting agencies to view the performances was the sole purpose of the showcase.
The Senate then discussed and tabled a bill to fund $2,075 for the Association of Latino Professionals to attend the 2006 National Convention and Case Study Competition.
The bill was set aside, and more information on the event and travel arrangements were requested by Senate as a whole. A bill to fund $4,685 to the Brothers Under Christ for an annual concert was also discussed and will be further detailed next week.
