SMU’s Student Senate convened yesterday.

The meeting began with a Speaker’s Podium.

Joe Ramirez spoke on behalf of The Association of Latin Professionals in Finance and Accounting, in reference to the association receiving full charter from Senate.

Dr. Bill Detwiler, chair of the Emergency Management Task Force at SMU, informed Senate of the precautions SMU is taking in its preparedness for a global pandemic, which is a very real threat.

He discussed SMU’s crisis plan and its cooperation with the Dallas community in the effort for prepardness, should a pandemic occur.

He outlined the crisis managing procedures that would take place if SMU is struck.

Dr. Detwiler spoke very truthfully about the facts of the destruction that a pandemic could cause.

Senator Jessica Narvaez commented, ” Dr. Detwiler was very informative about the reality of a pandemic striking. Should bird flu strike, it is comforting to know that SMU is prepared.”

Tara Gregg promoted the third International Women’s Peace Conference, that will be held July 10-15, 2007. The conference will feature numerous women of esteem and power including: Nobel Peace Laureate’s, Betty Williams, Jody Williams, and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and Co-President of Peace Women Across the Globe, Ruth-Gaby Vermot Mangold.

The Indian Student Association encouraged Senate members and the SMU community to attend their celebration and performance honoring the years of Indian tradition and culture.

The event in Hughes Trigg Ballrom on Oct. 28, 2007, will feature performances by SMU students and authentic Indian food.

Dr. Rick Halperin spoke on the new Human Rights minor being offered in Spring 2007. According to Dr. Halperin, SMU is one of the first school’s in the south, and No. 12 in the nation to offer the minor. Halperin expressed his hopes of SMU becoming the first university to offer a Human Rights major.

Chair Kelsey Eaton said, “I think this is a wonderful minor that SMU has decided to offer. It allows students who have a love for helping the human race foster their passion in a school-room setting. “Senate discussed the new legislation submitted by Dedman II Senator Mora Namdar, a resolution urging the administration to establish a Human Rights major degree program. The legislation emphasized the honor it is to have

Dr. Rick Halperin, Chair of Amnesty International USA, and one of the leading human rights experts in the world, willing to undertake the effort to establish a Human Rights major. The legislation will be voted on in the next Student Senate meeting, held Nov. 2.