Since April of 2018, the Student Senate has proposed and written over 40 resolutions because of the work from its students who are a part of the numerous Senate Committees.
These Senate committees focus on specific areas of student concern.
According to the Student Government website, there are two types of committees: standing and permanent.
Technician sat down with Amy Clemmons, a College of Humanities and Social Sciences Senator, University Affairs chairperson and a second-year student majoring in political science and sociology, to discuss and go further in-depth about the eight active Senate committees.
Standing Committees
According to NC State Student Government Student Body Documents, standing committees are responsible for looking over and considering every question or legislation the Senate or President hands over. These committees also prepare legislation they deem necessary for the welfare of the Student Body or as directed by the Senate.
Academics
This committee is responsible for policies regarding academic reform, university academic policy and the evaluation of professorships and courses. In addition, the committee deals with issues regarding the university calendar and Health & Exercise Studies, according to the Student Body Documents.
For example, in November of 2018, the committee proposed the Examination Books Act, which encourages students to utilize Green Books for exams in order to be more environmentally friendly.
The committee also proposed the Academic Calendar Communications Act in September of 2018, which stated that students should be updated of major changes to the Academic Calendar in a more frequent and detailed manner. However, in November of 2018, Student Body President Jess Errico, vetoed the resolution.
Finance
According to the Student Body Documents, the Committee on Finance is responsible for the expenditure of student body funds. The committee focuses on reviewing finance bills, advising the Student Body Treasurer and other positions on spending and inspecting budgets and expenses of departments. In addition, the committee also reviews the annual student body budget proposal.
However, according to Clemmons, Finance also allocates money to all of NC State’s student organizations.
“Different student organizations can request money through finance and set up a meeting with them to explain why they need money and how they will use it,” Clemmons said. “The Finance Committee will then request money for the student organizations through the treasurer’s office.”
Just recently, this committee has allocated $1125 to Period at NC State, an organization committed to promoting menstrual health on campus, and $3000 to Child Rights and You at NC State, which supports grassroots organizations across India.
Government Relations and Oversight
This committee, also known as GRO, is in charge of reviewing amendments to student body statutes and the constitution, creating election procedures and considering amendments to the rules of Senate, according to the Student Body Documents.
Clemmons stated that this committee mainly focuses on the rules of the Senate, making the focus internal.
GRO’s focal point is on how [the Senate] operates,” Clemmons said. “So, how we should behave during Senate meetings, and or how we should address the Senate president. There is a lot of legislation that goes through this committee, because Senate is always working to change statutes.”
In November of 2018, GRO’s Chair Act was passed, which legislates the NC State University Student Senate to amend all uses of the words “chairman” and “chairperson” in Student Body Statutes to be replaced with “chair,” in order to use more inclusive language.
Student Relations
According to the Student Body Documents, the Committee on Student Relations is responsible for addressing issues of diversity concern, policies dealing with University Housing, Student Media, Inter-Residence Council, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Union Activities Board, and Student Involvement and Athletics.
Clemmons said that this committee deals with issues that affect students directly. For example, most recently, this committee presented the Title IX Protections Act, which states that the Student Government of NC State supports students who have experienced sexual assault and harassment, and they object to the Department of Education’s proposed Title IX regulations.
University Affairs
Clemmons states that this committee focuses on the administration side of the university, unlike the Student Relations Committee, which focuses on the student side of the university.
“We work with NC State transportation, University Dining, the NC State Bookstores and basically every facility on campus,” Clemmons said. “We work to have an open dialogue with all of these facilities. We let them know what students want and how they can adapt to meet student needs.”
The most recent legislation this committee has passed is the Fossil Fuel Industry Act. The resolution encourages the university to reinvest funds from NC State’s endowment fund into more socially and environmentally friendly avenues, like renewable energy.
Permanent Committees
Permanent committees differ from standing committees, because unlike standing committees, each permanent committee has at least one specific job or objective that must be completed in each legislative session, according to the Student Body Documents.
Appropriations
This committee is a very important aspect of what Student Government does, because the committee ensures a fair distribution of Student Body Funds to registered student organizations, according to Student Body Documents.
According to the appropriations website, Student Government appropriations occur twice every year. The Appropriations Packet releases in on Jan. 22 and the application closes on Feb. 4.
In September of 2018, the committee proposed the Fall 2018 Appropriations Act, which passed unanimously in Senate. The bill proposed an allocation of $72,646.67 to 213 different student organizations.*
Tuition and Fees
According to Clemmons, this committee focuses on student tuition, fees and other monetary charges. They also annually review all proposed student fee increases.
“Luckily, State did not have any fee increases this year for the Committee on Tuition and Fees to look over,” Clemmons said. “However, we did have a fee increase a few years ago on Carmichael Gym. For something like this, Student Government would either give our stamp of approval or reject the fee increases.”
This committee has not proposed or passed any legislation this senate session.
Committee for Onboarding and Leadership Development (COLD)
According to the Student Body Documents, this committee ensures advocacy and training for all members of the Student Senate. Those on this committee are also responsible for leadership development initiatives.
Clemmons stated that COLD plans all Senate-related activities, including the Student Government retreat, and helps to educate new Senators on the Senate structure and procedures. In addition, COLD also reviews all appointments made to the Student Senate.
Recently, COLD approved the appointments of Lilly Neal to the office of chair of the Board of Elections for the spring semester and Taylor Pulliam to the office of communications director of Student Government for the 98th session of Student Government.
*Editor’s note: Appropriations committee’s legislation has been correctly updated.
