On Tuesday, February 5, the Student Senate’s meeting included a variety of updates, from new appointments to the latest Student Union budget. Grand Marshal Julia Leusner ’08 began the meeting with the introduction of the new Inter-Fraternity Council Liaison, Jonathan Babiec ’09, and also informed the Senate that interviews for the Judicial Board are underway and appointments will be announced within the next week.
Senator Teddy Tablante ’10, chair of the Committee of Student Life, light-heartedly asked if anyone had “any ideas on how to make it snow” in hopes of having help for the plans for Winterfest on February 23 outside of Commons.
Christopher Goldsmith ’09, chair of the Rules and Election Committee, presented the GM Week 2008 Election Handbook, which outlines the schedules and rules for Grand Marshal Week and election at the end of March. The main point of interest was the change in the number of nominations necessary for a name to be on the ballot. The new nomination requirements are now set at 600 for Grand Marshal or President of the Union, 150 for undergraduate class officers or senators, 50 for class representative offices, and 25 for council representatives. Discussion occurred over the legitimacy and enforceability of GM Week rules banning “passive campaigning” within “casual conversation” without first declaring candidacy. The handbook was approved by the senate.
At the meeting yesterday, President of the Union Erik Swanson ’08 delivered an overview of the Union Budget to the senate body.
“We worked really hard [this year] to tighten up the budget,” explained Swanson. He explained ways in which he has tried to accomplish this, such as decreasing the amount of money reserved for contingencies. Plans to renovate the Games Room are underway as well, according to Swanson.
Swanson mentioned the Honda Civic Tour concert—which features Panic! at the Disco, Hush Sound, and Phantom Planet—planned for May 3, and said that money is being budgeted for a concert next year as well.
He also noted a planned one to three percent increase in the student activity fee, which would put the activity fee around $520. The formal proposal will be brought before the Senate in the near future for final approval.
During the meeting this week, the Committee for Community Relations also reported that it is waiting on a date for Pizza with the Mayor and that Troy Student Housing is supposed to come in to a Senate meeting in the future. TSH is supposed to be making a presentation to the Senate as a follow-up to one made last spring semester to demonstrate that the management has improved since it was under the name of RPI Rentals.
The Finance, Facilities, and Advancement Committee also noted at the meeting that the enforcement and lack of strict adherance to the Institute sign policy is being investigated. The committee is also looking into the finance and facilities aspect of the renovation of the Best Western Rensselaer Inn into a residence hall, as well as a possible proposal to change CDTA Shuttle Route 86. Also included in the committee’s report was that the Student Sustainability Task Force said it was in the process of writing a performance plan, and that the EcoHall Challenge begins on February 19 and will end in April.
