This week in Student Senate: Vice President of Student Affairs Kathy Collins said goodbye as a new Senate Director of Operations said hello.
The session began with the Senate passing a resolution honoring Collins who is retiring. After the resolution passed, Collins entered the room to say goodbye. Prior to her speech, Speaker Christopher Bove gave a statement.
“Over the last two years I have sat across the table from Vice President Collins many times to discuss important issues facing the University,” Bove said.
He mentioned that he and Collins would discuss things from housing to in-person classes. He also said that he was thankful for her as he would go to her “about every little thing that crosses my mind.”
Collins then came onto the stage and began her speech, thanking the students for the opportunity and thanking them for choosing the University of Rhode Island. She mentioned her background as being the first person in her family to go to college and to get a graduate degree. Collins said that students are going to make mistakes, and that’s okay.
“Give yourself a break, find a way to always laugh at yourself,” Collins said. “I crack myself up every day.”
She looked back at her work on campus, including the construction of Brookside and updating the food services on campus. Collins will be leaving the campus next week and said the students will be the thing she misses most.
She cited burn out as one of the reasons for her leaving.
“I’m also the person who goes to the hospital,” Collins said. “I’m also the person who calls parents when a student passes away. I’m the person that goes to funerals. I’m that person.”
She said that she has not forgotten the name or the life of any of the students that have died during her tenure.
Collins said that after years of working during the month of August, she has a vacation planned with her family this August. She ended by saying that URI is a special place and that while they have made improvements, there is still work to be done. After her speech, she was met with a standing ovation, and presented the resolution by Bove.
A new Director of Operations for the Student Senate was also named. Will Njeru was nominated by Senate President Bolu Taiwo.
“He’s great,” Taiwo said. “He’s been a really active senator, he’s really trying to get involved and I love that.”
Njeru spoke upon his nomination.
“This is my first year on campus, I am a freshman and I am determined to fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my ability,” Njeru said.
Njeru was confirmed by the Senate unanimously.
Taiwo also asked for the Senate’s opinions on things that can be changed on campus, as she is a member of the committee of strategic planning. Some ideas that were discussed included campus being more accessible for transfer students, meal swipes and parking in the fine arts lot.
The Senate will meet again next Wednesday, Feb. 23.