Student Senate presents honors and welcomes new members in final meeting of the semester

As the semester wraps up, so do the activities of student organizations. Student Senate celebrated its turnover of power and awarded honors to outstanding Senate members during its last meeting of the year.It was not all fun and games, however, as one of the first orders of business was to call an executive session to discuss a “personnel matter.” The issue came up again later when discussing a resolution regarding the appointment of the justices on the Judicial Panel.[AdSense-A]No statement was released from Student Senate by time of publication.The changing of power started with the appointment of Walter Milhoan to Chief Justice of the Judicial panel. The appointment of justices Matthew Thomas, Christopher Spartano, Noah Barr and Madison Grogan followed suit. Alexis Mroczka was also appointed to be the Clerk of Courts.Nick Eaton was voted in as director of Students Defending Students, and Molly Kardasz was appointed to be assistant director.Senior Honors were given to Shawndea Woods (Associate Justice), Kurt Rollins (Executive Justice), Lauren Boulding (Justice), Cheryl Mukosiku (Director of Research), Mikel Zeidenstein (SAC Senator) and William Kolenky (Russ College of Education Senator).The distinction of Senator Emeritus was awarded to Charlotte Klimovich (COC Chair), Sarah Pinter (Environmental Affairs Commissioner), Saira Brown (Patton College of Education Senator), Jacob Haskins (University Life Commissioner), Ellenore Holbrook (SAC Commissioner), Steve Lichtenfels (2016-17 Treasurer), Courteney Muhl (2016-17 Vice President) and Hannah Clouser (2016-17 President).Outgoing President Clouser left the Senate body with positive remarks during her last executive report.“You’re all amazing people, and I’ve enjoyed working with you. Senate has been my college experience, basically. The commitment that it takes to give more … it’s not just a regular student organization, it’s much more,” she said. “Just being willing to go and do things, to make change for the better shows how much everyone in this room really cares ... Good luck. Senate is a lot, but it’s good.”Former Vice President Courteney Muhl reflected on the amount and success of Student Senate legislature during the 2016-2017 year.“It is important to step back and reflect on all the things that you did this year,” she said, before listing some of the more prominent things Senate accomplished.[AdSense-A]

Here are a few things she listed as what 2016-2017 Student Senate will be remembered for:

Alden Library 4th floor will soon have 24-hour access24-hour swipe access to laundry rooms

• • Guest swipes in dining halls
  • Lights will be added to South Green’s basketball court
  • Enacting the first referendum, regarding conceal-carry on campus
  • Helping fund port-a-potties for fest season
  • A full year with public relations team, SAC budget team and Judicial Panel
  • SAC changed Senate rules to give senators the best work possible
  • Environmental Justice Summit
  • Gender neutral housingInternational and undocumented student legislation

“The work that you all did this year is absolutely phenomenal,” Muhl said.The new executives, who were sworn in by Vice President for Student Affairs Jason Pina, are President Landen Lama, Vice President Nicole Schneider and Treasurer Zach Woods.https://twitter.com/OHIOUSenate/status/854859022155075584Senate will not meet again until classes resume in the fall.