OLD BUSINESS
Sen. Brian Simpson talked to a graduate student who feels he does not have representation in the Student Senate. Senators discussed the technicalities of including graduate students, who do not pay the student activity fee, in student groups, including the Senate. Chair Leah Wentworth said there has been talk of forming a graduate student Senate, which the Student Senate will support.
MEET JOE AUSTIN
Joseph Austin, dean of Student Life, addressed the Senate with three issues. First, the office of Christopher O’Connor, assistant to the dean of Student Life, will move from 11 Baxter Blvd. to the Woodbury Campus Center.
Second, Austin said he spoke to students concerned about the large amount of money the Senate controls. He said he personally thinks the Senate would represent the will of the students better than the faculty could. The Senate needed to balance its attention to issues and money, he said, and recently money has been the primary concern. Austin suggested holding public hearings to increase the Senate’s visibility and to encourage student involvement with the Senate.
Finally, Austin said he sees a lot of stand-taking and little of incorporating other viewpoints. He says this is an issue particularly between the Senate and The Free Press.
Sen. Daryl Morazzini said most university newspapers are not supported by student money and The Free Press should not be using money that the Board of Student Organization (BSO) needs elsewhere. Sen. Shaun Quinn responded that this issue would be a good candidate for a public forum.
O’Connor expressed support for moving “beyond thinking in terms of bills and resolutions.” Sen. Matt Amoroso announced a public meeting that has already been scheduled. The forum will be held on Wednesday, April 16 and concerns constitutional changes that will affect student groups.
NEW BUSINESS
Morazzini moved that the Senate ratify the American Sign Language Club constitution as the Constitutional Review Committee did not meet to discuss it. The ratification passed unanimously.
Wentworth read the results of the election. There were 107 commuter and 99 resident votes for a total of 206 votes cast.
Discussion turned to the low voter turnout at the elections. Sen. Dorn McMahon pointed out the difficulty of some commuters to make it to campus for a two-day window. Sen. Mike Norton suggested online elections. Morazzini pointed out the need for more “spectacle.” Sen. Elizabeth Mann agreed, saying the Senate needed to “get on the ball and get students excited” about the elections. O’Connor said students get excited about “issues, not people,” and public forums would help here as well.
Wentworth moved to approve the election results. The motion passed, with Sen. Joshua Dolby the sole vote against.
Norton moved to hold the final Senate meeting in Portland instead of Gorham. Discussion ensued, with senators arguing the symbolic importance of doing business on both campuses versus pragmatic concerns; a BSO meeting is scheduled that afternoon in Portland. The motion failed. Amoroso motioned that the Gorham meeting be held a week earlier instead. This motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sen. Patty Takacs announced a Greek barbecue on April 18 at 6 p.m.
Sen. Tyler Stanley announced an Earth Day shindig, which includes an open mike event, on April 22.