The Student Senate meeting began Tuesday with an unusual tone – it was the last meeting of the term for the current senators and student body leaders.

The meeting followed the same protocol as usual, except for a couple of surprises.
SMU head coach June Jones opened the podium with words of gratitude.

“I am proud that you have supported us through the good and the bad,” Jones said.
Jones said that SMU’s football team has a considerable impact on the school, so student support is crucial; one way in which Jones measured the football team’s importance was by the increased percentage of number of hits on SMU’s website since the bowl games.

The website’s activity rose between 35 and 40 percent since the football teams recent success.

Next, three freshmen spoke at the podium on behalf of the pending legislation, “A resolution encouraging the extension of dining hours at on campus dining locations.”

“As a freshman, one of the problems I face on the weekends is that I do not have a car to [go] eat off campus,” SMU student Pooja Patel, said. “It is a problem for anyone who does not have a car.  Another problem with Umphery Lee closing early is that a lot of us have meetings.  I had a meeting that ended after 8 p.m., and Umphery Lee was closed; so was Mac’s Place.”

SMU freshmen Luke Friedman and Esther Liu agree; Friedman says, despite the inconvenience of the schedule, not being able to eat on campus imposes a financial burden.

“If you have these meals paid for, it is pointless to pay money for an additional meal,” Friedman said.

The next debated piece of legislation authored by Dedman 1 senator Kellie Spano entitled: “A resolution requiring senators to author or co-author one piece of legislation