A presidential eye view

Student Senate achieved much this term

By: Ray French

Posted: 5/5/08

With the semester winding down and my term as Student Body President coming to a close, it is time to recap the year of Student Senate. We were very active this year and I am satisfied with what we were able to accomplish and initiate this year. I know the next session will be even more engaged.

The biggest lesson I learned this year was one I was told toward the beginning of the year and now that I look back, it makes perfect sense - "The plan is useless but planning is priceless." Also applicable is the saying that "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." I can honestly say that is how I feel about this last year. We did not get everything accomplished we set out to do, but I think Meghan Charlier and I were able to help build Student Senate as an organization and lay the foundation for the next few years. It is my hope that we do not hear the word "re-building" in reference to Student Senate for a long time.

Looking back at our platform, there are definite pluses and definite minuses in regards to it. Beginning with our pluses, we were able to come through with discounted student tickets for theater events on campus beginning next year. So instead of $5 to $6, theater tickets, next year should be around $2.50 to $3. Second, we were also able to get the Davies Center $48 million project passed through the State Legislature. Beginning this fall, there will be a very extensive and inclusive design process. Our abstract Diversity of Thought pledge had its own positives and negatives. Through the work of our Executive Board, we reignited the Human Rights Awareness Week activities, along with some revamping of the Diversity Resource Center. One thing that is going to take a little longer to happen will be more gender neutral bathrooms on campus. In the end, there is always more we can do to address issues of diversity and equity on our campus.

Two platform issues we were not able to deliver were the course syllabus database and extended Health Services hours. It turns out that extending the hours of Health Services would be too expensive for students overall and the Finance Commission of Student Senate did not support that initiative. Also, while we were not able to deliver the course syllabus database this year, there is growing support among students for "open courseware." This would essentially accomplish the same thing as the database, so we decided to begin discussion on that project this year. This is the pet project of your new President, Tim Lauer, and I know the principle of more transparent courses will not be forgotten.

There were a lot of other things Student Senate was able to accomplish or initiate this year and here is a laundry list of a few: support for the Music Therapy program; we are in the middle of discussions with faculty on midterm grades for all students; support for the renovation of Hobbs Ice Arena; increased the maximum student organizations can receive from Segregated Fees by $550; supported the WAGE Center and assisted in finding it temporary funding for the next year; the creation of the Student Organization Opportunity Fund; the first annual iLead student leadership conference; actively opposing the jail expansion; creation of a group to assess the demand for a mascot; and immeasurable student input in the campus Strategic Planning process. There was a lot more we were able to do this year that would be much too long to put in this column.

While many things went well this year, some things did not go so well. Recently, our elections encountered many difficulties, both technologically and procedurally. This was very trying for the student body and we did as best as we could to resolve the issues when they arose. This was the first time we used electronic voting for the general election. The system and rules were not perfect, but do not give up on electronic voting in the future. Despite many difficulties, I know that this next session will be dedicated to improving the system so that our next election will not have questions surrounding it.

In the end, I believe Student Senate had a successful year and I am proud of everyone that served in it. I hope you continue to support us and let us know when we are failing you. This has been an incredible learning experience for me and thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President. I know that Senate will continue to pursue excellence and remember its mission of working for you.

French is the Student Body President and guest columnist for The Spectator.