The Student Senate considered plans for an amendment to the Rensselaer Union Constitution that would set up regular meetings between officers of the Union and administrators, including President Shirley Ann Jackson.
The amendment was committed to the Rules and Elections committee on Tuesday. RNE will consider the implications of the amendment and put it in the appropriate format for a constitutional amendment. The wording will be brought back to the Senate on April 2.
The ideas expressed at Tuesday’s meeting should remain intact, however.
As stated, the amendment places a responsibility on the Union officers to meet with administrators. It requires records of the meeting be kept and made available to students, and also states that policy proposals should be presented at these meetings before going to vote by the Board of Trustees.
Concerns about the actual power of the amendment were at the forefront of the Senate’s discussion. Since the Union Constitution has no power over the administration, there is no way to enforce a requirement on administrators to attend the meeting. Even if meetings are held, there is no guarantee that administrators will reveal important plans to the students.
However, Valadez feels that the amendment can still provide a service. Failure to cooperate on the part of the administrators would be a clear sign that they don’t care about input from students and could prompt further action.
Senator Chris Gill expressed strong opposition to the amendment. “I don’t think it does what Gil wants it to do ... I think it is deluding ourselves to think this changes anything,” he said. Rather, he thinks that student government bodies need to make stronger statements and stand up to the administrators.
“Basically, student government needs to grow a spine,” he said.
Gill was in the minority, however, casting one of only two votes against sending the amendment to RNE.
The amendment still has a long road ahead of it, even if it is approved at next week’s meeting. Ultimately it needs to pass a referendum vote in which at least 20 percent of the student body participates. At least one month before that vote occurs, it must go to the president of the Institute to be presented to the Board of Trustees.
Despite the imposing requirements and end of their terms looming, Valadez urged senators to stay committed to their jobs as they work on the amendment.
“You’re here to serve as a representative of some very frustrated students,” he said. “Let’s focus our energies.”
