Adrian Northrup

Rest easy students of UW-Eau Claire, your public trustees have been working diligently. The French-Charlier administration took over the gavel on April 9, and this session is looking to be most productive and responsive yet. Here is an update of our recent activity:

Just last week, President Ray French appeared in Madison and spoke with the Joint Finance Committee concerning the building of our new student union. With minor exceptions, the proposed project was well received and we anticipate that this behemoth project will finally commence.

With the end of the year approaching, Student Senate is organizing its annual Don’t Dump It Donate It Day. This is a cooperative effort with numerous citywide organizations to bring in donations of reusable clothes, household items, and furniture that can be donated to a good cause. Visit the Senate Web site, www.uwec.edu/studentsenate, for more information.

Student Senate’s Organizations Commission recently held a leadership building workshop. Members of campus organizations were invited to participate in an event meant to raise awareness and cooperation amongst campus organizations by way of building membership and being more effective at raising funds and getting out a strong message.

Eau Claire’s United Council Delegation also visited Madison last week in a joint effort with other UW schools to raise awareness of rising tuition costs. Seven Eau Claire students spent a day at the capital meeting with our local representatives discussing the prospects of adequately funding the UW system to prevent further hefty tuition hikes.

Student Senate also makes it possible for the campus lawyer, Harry Hertel, to continue his practice. The RIAA has been recently publicized for taking legal action against dozens of Eau Claire students. Your peers have been targeted for file sharing and Student Senate’s Legal Service are helping these students receive sound legal advice to best determine which course of action is the best for them.

Our Information Technology Commission is currently conducting a survey to determine the success of the laptop rental program at the library. Demand has exceeded supply and we are looking into additional purchases or simply allowing for the rental of software needed by students to complete school projects.

Coming this fall, every computer on campus will be updated with Windows Vista, and Student Senate will do everything it can to ease this transition for the student population.

Recent critical comments made by certain individuals can rightfully be directed at the way our general assembly meetings were conducted last session. At times, it could be described as anarchy at the podium, but a new session began this month and a new direction of professionalism and civilized discourse was adopted.

In the last three weeks your Student Senate discussed and debated resolutions concerning a range of topics including the renovation of the Organizations Complex, the extension of library availability during April Recess, reinvestment in higher education and a request that all students of sophomore standing also receive electronic midterm grades.

This is also an excellent opportunity to remind you that your Student Senate will continue to be here to field your questions and concerns. Your input is invaluable. Additionally, the best way to make an impact on Student Senate is to join it. Any student can be eligible to join one of the Student Senate’s or the university’s infinite committees or commissions. Most of what work there is to be done is done by a committed select few and the end product can often go unnoticed. Regardless, your student representatives are here for you and can be reached directly by a visit to our office, Davies 132, by e-mail, [email protected], or by phone 836-4646.

Boer is a senior geology major and the webmaster and public relations director for Student Senate.