Student Senate focused on ways to get more students involved inall aspects of the university during Tuesday afternoon’sweekly meeting.
Student Body President Chip Hiemenz asked senators to serve onboth the Dining Services Advisory Board and Dedman UndergraduateCouncil. While no senators immediately volunteered to serve oneither, Hiemenz seemed confident Senate would have a presence atboth. Vice President Liz Healy also strongly urged the senators toget involved. “That’s the way things improve,”she said. “Everyone here needs to step up to theplate.”
Senate Director Arlene Manthey brought several campus issues tothe senators’ attentions including the SMU Rides program,3140 Café and the effects Hurricanes Charley and Franceshave had on students from Florida and other states on the EastCoast. All these issues, she said, were important to students andtherefore important to the Senate. “We should bethere,” she said. “We should show oursupport.”
Manthey also reminded Student Senate to continue its efforts tobe involved in all aspects of student life. “We need toremember to look beyond our borders,” she said.
Secretary Gabe Travers reported that the annual revision of theStudent Code of Conduct would begin next week. All proposedrevisions to the code are due by Oct. 8.
Student Senate voted unanimously to deny the environmentalcommittee’s request for $92 for materials to publicize therecycling campaign. In doing so, the senate was following therecommendation of the finance committee last week to denyadditional funding because of concerns the supplies would be lostin the Student Activities Center.
The Senate voted to provide Student Foundation with only halfthe initial amount requested to purchase 50 magnetic signs to beused during Homecoming. Student Foundation wanted the signs toprofessionally display the names of dignitaries during the annualHomecoming parade. Senate agreed, in a split vote, to provide $359toward the project in an effort to show the Senate’s supportfor the foundation, which also puts on annual events such asCelebration of Lights and the Mane Event.
In old business from last week, the senate voted on a bill tofund the Program Council Black Awareness Committee’s requestfor $750 toward a soul food dinner. Full funding for the program,which will include free soul food as well as speakers to educateattendees about African-American history, was approved in asplit-Senate vote.
Student Trustee Thomas Kincaid spoke to the senate about theBoard of Trustee’s upcoming week. The Board will beginmeeting today and will continue with almost 48 hours of meetingsthis week, he explained.
“Board members will take over the student centerThursday,” Kincaid warned senators jokingly. He encouragedthe senators to introduce themselves and have conversations withthe trustees. These conversations are good for both the trusteesand the student body, he said.
