On Wednesday, the URI Student Senate laid out plans for the spring semester, and included the election of a new Student Organizations Committee chair.
The meeting opened with an announcement for Bob Flynn, director of the Center for Military and Veteran Education, to be a guest speaker at next week’s Student Senate meeting. The Senate hopes Flynn’s visit will result in a new liaison position in the Senate.
The Standing Committee reported covered changes in scheduling and leadership for the spring semester. The Academic Affairs Committee changed their meeting time to Tuesdays at 4 p.m., and elected to create the Military and Veterans Liaison position. The External Affairs Committee proposed a new committee next week with a focus on the Senate itself.
“The committee will review constitutional bylaws,” Senator Chris Hoover said.
The Cultural Affairs Committee will host two Narcan training sessions this semester, the first of which has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts. Committee Chair Senator Meilin Reyes urged senators to attend. The first training session will be held March 4 at 5:30 p.m.. The Executive Board shared plans to host two guest speakers next week, to be announced, as well as welcoming a Housing and Residential Life representative.
Vice President Jonah Steinweh-Adler gave a brief overview of the new Senate suggestion box, proposed by Student Affairs Committee Chair Sophia Buono.
“The idea is that if you have an idea that pops into your brain, if you want an organized place to put that idea you can put it here,” Steinweh-Alder said.
The Student Organization Committee elected a new chair, Senator Madeline Clyde. The vote passed unanimously, and Clyde ran unopposed. Her first action as a committee chair was to propose the name change of the student organization, Be the Match. The organization works to match individuals in need of bone marrow with possible donors. They also swab volunteers to expand their donation registry. The organization will now be known on campus as the National Marrow Donor Program to align themselves with the national organization. The bill was passed without contest.
No senators elected to speak during the open forum, and the meeting adjourned with roll call.
The Student Senate will meet next on Wednesday, Feb. 7.