Wednesday, the Student Senate discussed tuition and fees with Vice Chancellor and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Mike Mullen, updates to campus and the services available to students, and a new initiative regarding menstruation on campus. The Senate also appointed positions and voted on a non-discrimination act for the Student Senate.
Mullen began the meeting by announcing that there will be no fee increases for the 2019-2020 school year.
Despite this, Mullen voiced concern about the 3 percent raise pool for the university which could impact the costs of operating departments such as Student Health Services and the Counseling Center.
James Withrow, president pro tempore of Senate and graduate student studying entomology and plant pathology, responded to Mullen by asking about student involvement in discussions about the budget.
“It seems like students are brought into the process pretty late; have you considered bringing them in potentially earlier on?” Withrow asked.
Mullen answered by stating that he was unsure how this earlier involvement would work, but that the potential was still in discussion.
Mullen reminded the Senate of the emergency fund for students, the Feed the Pack pantry, meal plan scholarships and the Meal Share program, indicating that details for these initiatives are available on the Pack Essentials webpage.
Mullen also gave updates on initiatives for students with food and housing insecurity, the academic success center and renovations in Carmichael.
The Academic Success Center in D.H. Hill Library will offer tutoring, academic counseling, undergraduate research, drop-in advising, and an innovation lab. This project, as well as the completed renovations to the Carmichael complex, are scheduled to be completed in 2020.
Mia Connell, a fourth-year studying sociology and political science and former student body vice president, spoke at the meeting about We Bleed Red. Connell explained the organization’s initiative to combat limited access to menstruation-friendly facilities and to encourage the use of sustainable products by providing free menstrual cups to students.
Connell says that the organization is collecting data from this project as well as creating a documentary to lessen the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Iain Dixon, a fourth-year studying computer science and applied mathematics, and Mitchell Moravec, a graduate student studying public administration, were appointed by the Senate to the respective positions of Senate Webmaster and Director of Wellness.
Senate also voted in favor of legislation creating a non-discrimination clause to bring Student Government into compliance with a Student Involvement policy requiring all student organizations to have a non-discrimination clause written into their constitutions.
