Liz Healy (right) presents a check to student body president Taylor Russ (left) that will help fund student scholarships.
SMU Student Senate received a thankful gift Tuesday afternoon at its closing meeting of the semester. Liz Healy, former Student Body President and current Student Representative for the Board of Trustees, presented a $40,000 anonymous check to the Mustang Leadership Scholarship fund. The fund was established to give students the chance to receive scholarship for those seeking leadership opportunities within the University.
The first scholarship of $6,500 will be awarded to a student next fall at the Red-Blue Tailgate. This amount is the largest amount given to any student by a student organization on campus.
The Student Senate followed its usual forum of a call to order, a moment of silence and roll call. Following the roll call, a speaker’s podium was set up, allowing students and organizations within the university to voice their opinions and views on issues at hand. Many of these students are leaders within campus organizations, and spoke on issues regarding activism, progressivism and human rights.
Frances Goldshmid, a student and winner on the show “Treasure Hunters,” called for students to get involved and to have opinions. “Progressivism is about instigating change and positive change at that,” he said.
Following these speakers, the senate began looking at the issues that face the University. One of the biggest debates, causing the most argument and frustration among the Senate, was the Student Code of Conduct.
This code makes sorority and fraternity governing councils responsible for their actions. It requires these Greek organizations to be accountable for their members and what they choose to partake in.
“This piece of the code is a controversial piece and it is something that the legal affairs, the administration and the student Senate will have to continue work on,” said Taylor Russ, Student Body President.
New business followed these controversial topics. One is a resolution urging the administration to consider the shortcomings of its contractual obligations with Aramark. Another is that the University is looking at a resolution to honor Leo Pucacco for his efforts in advising SMU’s prospective engineers.
These two resolutions were passed late Tuesday night. To view what was passed Tuesday students can go online to studentsenate.smu.edu. There students can also find minutes and material covered at past meetings and news about future gatherings. For students interested, the SMU Student Senate meets every Tuesday from 3:30- 6:30 p.m. in the Hughes-Trigg Forum in the basement across from the theater. Their first meeting for next semester will be held on the first full week of school.
