The University of Rhode Island student senate internally elected new senators and committee chairs, as well as passed their first bill under the new admin during Wednesday’s general assembly meeting.
Following a new senator orientation given by President Goswami, the assembly internally elected eight new senators. These senators required a nomination from a sitting senator in the absence of a student body election.
All eight senators were voted in unanimously: Sens. Kairy Gonzalez, Sophia Pramuka, Lynn Sawyer, Ariana Parvaresh, Madison Hinricks, Clarsie Chamberlain and Bitanya Hailu. Sen. Kyra Boucher was voted in as the new college representative for the College of Nursing.
Only one committee chair role featured two senators competing for the spot: external affairs committee chair. Sens. Kendal McCloskey and Matthew Cayer ran for the position, on similar platforms of improving off campus housing.
Sen. McCloskey won the vote 18-6.
The senate elected the new director of treasury, Sen. Nick Cronin. Sen. Cronin sat as vice director of the treasury during the last administration, where he assisted previous director Ethan Bose in crafting the 2024-2025 $1.3 million budget. The vote was unanimous.
“With your support, I will focus on my primary goals on increasing senate fundraising efforts to strengthen our own finances,” Sen. Cronin said.
A new director of communications was elected to replace predecessor Vice President Feroz. Public relations major Madison Kolterjahn was voted in unanimously.
The vote for speaker of the assembly was pushed back to Wednesday, April 24, as one candidate had to return home for a family emergency and could not attend.
Senators approved their first bill of the administration to loan radio station WRIU funding from the senate reserves to construct a new radio tower. The last tower was destroyed in a 2022 storm and the station has been operating off an antenna on top of the Memorial Union since. This decreased broadcasting range, said student senate advisor and director of the Memorial Union, Carl Stiles.
Stiles gave an orientation speech to the assembly, introducing himself and the role of being a senator.
“Let’s talk to our students,” Stiles said. “Find out what their needs are, find out a way that we can help them accomplish those needs and get those resources so that they can be successful.”
The floor was opened for questions, and senators asked for advice for serving in student government. Making connections with constituents is key, Stiles said.
Long term goals for URI were brought to the table, including building refurbishments to the Memorial Union.
“I would love to see our facilities upgraded so we’re competitive across the world,” Stiles said.
Stiles is working on night programming on the first floor, which he introduced to the senate. The goal is to bring karaoke, band and trivia nights to the ground floor, Stiles said.
The next (and last) student senate meeting of the spring 2024 semester will be held on Wednesday, April 24, in Memorial Union room 300 at 6:30 p.m.