SMU’s new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Paul Ludden spoke during this week’s Student Senate meeting on Tuesday. Ludden’s five goals include moving SMU forward and making it better, improving the undergraduate experience through independent projects with faculty members, improving SMU’s relationship with the city of Dallas, improving the international programs for students and improving the faculty.
“We have to hire people who are better than we are,” Ludden said.
Senate President Katherine Tullos announced a Task Force Town Forum to be held at 5 p.m. on Oct. 30. The location is not yet known. Tullos spoke with Dee Siscoe and confirmed that the Greek community will not be leaving campus.
The Senate passed a motion appointing Grace Brauser as the new Cox Senator. Senate Chief of Staff Jonathan Lane said Kristen Clark will be presented next week for the Communications Chair.
Senate’s Student Concerns Chair Patrick Kobler discussed the need for legislation on the Good Samaritan Law. Kobler also said his committee would like the Task Force meetings to be open to students in order to stay better informed about the issues being addressed.
“The committee also feels that over-enforcement is causing students to binge drink. We need work on open communication with SMU PD and faculty,” Kobler said.
The senate passed a motion to give Engineers Without Borders $1,490 to go to Mexico and work on a water-purification process.
Senator Ronald Lowenfield announced his resignation from the Senate upon receiving an accounting internship.
Lee Hinga, from the Association of Black Students talked to the senate about Jena 6, the persecution of six African American boys in Jena, La. The ABS is working on a letter writing campaign and encourages all students to wear black on Thursday for the Jena 6.
Mackenzie Warren announced that there will be a campus-wide fundraiser and awareness campaign to benefit the refugees of Darfur. Dollars for Darfur will be held Oct. 5-12. Oct. 5 and Oct. 8-12 from 7:45 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Flagpole. Chi Omega is hosting “Donuts for Darfur” to sell donuts. Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) is hosting “Kappa Dogs for Darfur,” a late-night hot dog sale. Eight sororities will hold “Panhellenic Pasta Dinner for Darfur” at the KKG House at 7 p.m. Tickets to the potluck dinner are $5. On Oct. 11, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority will sell popsicles at the flagpole throughout the day.
For more information about Dollars for Darfur, contact Mackenzie Warren at [email protected].
