Student Senate proposes to let students have bigger voice in Senate

A short Student Senate meeting Wednesday night brought discussion on Black Student Union, a proposal of how to get students more involved with the senate and the appointment of a new senator.President Gabby Bacha announced that Student Senate will be supporting the Black Student Union events throughout the month of February. Events include the Black Diamond Awards and Harlem Nights.Senate was posed with the “Referendum Proposal,” presented by University Life Commissioner Jordan Kelley and Health Science and Professions Senator Courteney Muhl.According to the proposal, Student Senate would run an online poll when there is an issue that would affect the university’s student body, such as the Survivor Advocacy Program crisis earlier this academic year. After the online poll has concluded, whichever proposed resolution received the majority of student votes would count as a one-third vote in senate. For example, if 68 senate members are to vote on an issue, the student vote would count as 34 votes. This would end being 102 votes in total.“This allows Senators the senators to get a more accurate pulse of the student opinion on key issues before voting and acts as a way for students to make their voices on campus,” Kelley said in a later email.Members of senate raised concerns about the proposal, including concerns that they would have to re-evaluate the Senate Constitution and questions about what issues would be considered to affect student body as a whole.No resolution has been made toward the referendum proposal.Upon the end of the referendum discussion, Pablo Beierle was appointed West Green Senator, effective immediately.President Bacha also encouraged members to attend the Board of Trustees meeting this Friday, where the Board will be considering a tuition raise for incoming students.