The 90th session on the University’s Student Senate saw as many as four Senate officer posts being contested, along with appointments of the recently elected freshmen senators and other student government officials.
Nevin Kessler, vice chancellor of University advancement, started the proceedings by speaking on the importance of having a strong alumni association and the University’s ongoing efforts to bring alumni back to campus in ever greater numbers.
The University currently receives $500 million in endowments, which works out to roughly $14,000 per student. Kessler spoke of the alumni’s importance in growing this resource and urged freshmen senators to engage more actively in campus life.
N.C. State has 177,000 living alumni, a largely untapped resource. Kessler said he emphasized the seriousness of this issue and reiterated the fact that endowment for the University was considerably less when compared to other land-grant institutions.
“A long-lasting relationship with your alma mater can be an enriching experience,” Kessler said.
This was followed by an election for the appointment of Matthew Tucker for the College of Natural Resources seat. Tucker was voted to be appointed by consent.
This was followed by the Senate reading legislations and referring them to their respective committee. The Tuition and Fee Recommendation Act was referred to the Tuition Committee. The Tuition Committee will be hosting a meeting with the chancellor Wednesday.
An important bill discussed was the Surplus Bill, in which the Student Government proposed to disburse the 2009-2010 budget surplus, amounting to $39,884, to the Appropriations Committee. It was proposed that 60 percent of the surplus would be used for the fall semester and the remaining 40 percent in the spring.
The 13 recently elected freshmen senators were installed into office.
The Senate meeting also consisted of the election of four Senate officers. Elections were held included the Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary, Legislative Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Election for the Senate President Pro Tempore seat saw both contestants, John Tucker and Ethan Harrelson, being thoroughly questioned by the Senate. This was followed by intense discussion after they left the room. Eventually, Ethan Harrelson was elected the new Senate President Pro Tempore
Lauren Irwin and Rebekah Jewell ran for the Senate Secretary. The Senate questioned them on everything ranging from the number of credit hours they were taking to the number of other organizations on which they held important, official posts. The discussion that followed saw similar lobbying by various groups in the senate as for the Senate President Pro Tempore election. In the end, Irwin retained her position as the Senate Secretary.
The Legislative Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms elections were decided almost immediately with Caroline Yopp and Teresa Heath retaining their current positions.
Senate President Stephen Kouba agreed to hear the general arguments and comments of Senate members after the elections.
Yopp said she suggested the Senate elections might have been influenced on belonging to a fraternity or sorority.
“Let me bring the elephant in the room out into the open. The elections should not be decided on whether you are a Greek or not, and whether you share fraternities with the Senate members or not,” Yopp said.
