The Student Senate’s first public forum of the year had a disappointing turnout, with one student attending, but the conversation was animated and the senators expressed enthusiasm over the discussion. Jennifer Trowbridge, a senior Economics major, spent an hour with most of the senate’s executive board talking about a range of topics, most of which concerned the senate’s continuing efforts to increase its visibility on campus and to get students involved in groups.
Most of the discussion addressed the problem of student involvement. There was also conversation about the new unified fee, parking, and the quality of Aramark’s food. Trowbridge’s thoughts were negative on all these topics, but she had ideas to remedy her complaints.
“Could the student groups put vending machines up?” Trowbridge asked, after complaining about the prices in Aramark’s machines. The senators did not know.
Trowbridge said the main obstacle to creating community in an off-campus population such as Portland, is the lack of centralized gathering areas.
“The common area isn’t in the middle of the campus,” Trowbridge said. Even if it were, Trowbridge doesn’t think it has the kind of facilities needed to foster a community environment. John Marshall, the Senate’s secretary, asked Trowbridge what she thought the ideal common area would be like, and Trowbridge described a room with “a bunch of big fluffy chairs,” like those on the second floor of the Woodbury Campus Center, since people are more comfortable sitting next to strangers on chairs than on couches. She said it should be quiet, gesturing to the machinery whooshing and clattering overhead. She also suggested that WMPG be piped into such a room, a suggestion the senators were all interested in.
“It just needs something in the background, like white noise,” Trowbridge said. “Why not pipe WMPG into all of the university buildings?”
Vice chair Ezekiel Kimball asked Trowbridge if she knew about 11 Baxter Blvd, where the senate meetings are held. She did not and was also unaware that the meetings were held in Gorham every other week. Trowbridge suggested the senate hold some of its meetings in the student center or another central area.
“Set it up here!” Trowbridge exclaimed, gesturing to the amphitheater. “Most people don’t know what the hell the Student Senate is doing.”
John Bronson can be contacted at [email protected]