The new Student Senate met for the first time on April 11 and again on April 16.
The purpose of Wednesday’s meeting was primarily an information gathering and introductory session. Gil Valadez addressed the new and returning senators for the first time as Grand Marshal.
"First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate all of you," Valadez said during a brief welcome speech.
"The reason we’re here is to make this place better," Valadez said. "We have a choice now to work as a body, to accept each other’s differences, and to really get some things accomplished."
Senators took turns introducing themselves to the board before turning to some of the general business facing the new body.
Valadez explained the committee system and the appointments he would make over the next few weeks, calling for volunteers for both Senate committee chairs and seats on other committees across campus.
Two more meetings were scheduled before the end of the semester, including the one held on Monday. Valadez also scheduled an informal orientation brunch, hoping to get the group off on the right foot as a body.
Class of ’02 Senator Chris Gill made a motion to suspend the Senate’s bylaws so that he could put forth three amendments to the document, which included some changes to the Senate’s committee structure.
After a brief discussion, the Senate decided to delay the suspension until April 22 to give new senators time to familiarize themselves with the current bylaws before jumping into changes.
At Monday’s meeting, Valadez made three appointments: Gill to the position of parliamentarian, Harol Baez as secretary, and Class of ’03 Senator Chris Mather as vice chair of the Senate.
The Senate also scheduled an additional meeting for the end of the semester. The body will meet twice more before the semester ends—on Sunday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 25. President of the Union Ariana Twitchell is expect to start bringing E-Board appointments to the Senate for approval starting at the April 25 meeting.
