Gustavus Adolphus College

Welcome to the Student Senate website. You are welcome to contact us regarding any suggestions, questions, or other comments you may have.

Upcoming meetings

Student Senate will focus on Student Organization allocations the next two meetings. Each will be at 7PM in the Board Room. The first meeting is on Monday May 11th, the following on Monday May 18.

Senate news feed

May 12 2009 Press Release

Posted by Senate Webmaster on 12 May 2009 | 10:52 pm. Read/comments.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senate Kicks off Budgeting Process with 6 Hour Meeting
May 12, 2009

On Monday night, Student Senate began the two-part process of financing student organizations for the following academic year. The situation required great restraint on the behalf of Senators. More student organizations than ever before are asking for Senate allocations. On the other hand, Senate will have fewer funds this year because of a smaller batch of incoming first-years.

Senators were tough but fair in their allocation of funds. Many members of student organizations turned out in order to defend their budgets or advocate for more funds than recommended. Senators appreciated their attendance. Like all other meetings, budgeting meetings are open to the public. Members of student organizations are allowed to attend these meetings and speak out on behalf of their budgets.

Ultimately, Senate came close to meeting its goal of appropriating funds for about half of the student organizations requesting funds. However, if the budgets have not been completed by the end of the next meeting, Senate has arrangements already in place for a special session to close out the year. The budget process has gone smoothly to this point because of reforms made in the budgeting guidelines. For example, no organizations will be funded for food unless there is a significant cultural connection with a particular food item. As the discussion moves forward, Senate is confident that all funds will be allocated in a fair and justified manner.

Contact:
Ben Lundquist
PR Chair
Student Senate

May 5 2009 Press Release

Posted by Senate Webmaster on 5 May 2009 | 9:03 pm. Read/comments.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Senate Weighs in on Proposed Amendments, Sends Resolution to Board of Trustees
May 5, 2009

At last night’s Student Senate meeting, senators debated the merits of two proposed amendments to Senate’s constitution.  The first amendment proposed dealt with the position of the Academic and Student Affairs Chair.  The amendment sought to divide the position into two co-chairs.  Senators did not feel that an amendment was necessary to balance the workload, and the proposal failed.  The second of the proposed amendments extended stipends to the Administrative Director.  This proposed amendment passed the full senate, and will be on the ballot at the next Senate election.

Senate passed a resolution to the Board of Trustees requesting a response in regard to the recent actions asked of the Board by the Student Senate.  The full resolution in context can be seen in Senate’s glass case outside of the Market Place.

21+ Dive Night has been pushed back until next weekend.  The Senate Rock-a-Thon is still scheduled for Friday night from 6PM-6AM.  There will be live music and other entertainment, free food, and Cold Stone ice cream.

Senate discussed the college’s proposed marijuana policy updates.  Senators posed many thoughtful questions in regard to the policy, and hope to continue to be a part of the conversation.

Contact:
Ben Lundquist
PR Chair
Student Senate

Passed: Reaffirmation Of Voice, Constitutional Amendments, and Eddie James Incident

Posted by Senate Webmaster on 4 May 2009 | 9:34 pm. Read/comments.

At this evening’s Full Senate Meeting, the Senate passed the following resolutions and amendments to the Constitution.

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Subject:  In response to the Eddie James Ministry concert held outside the campus center on Wednesday April 22, 2009.
We, the Student Senate of Gustavus Adolphus College, reject the words and messages spoken by the Eddie James Ministry directed toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, and ally community.  We wish to express our support for the aforementioned groups.  Although the Eddie James Ministry event was not funded through Student Senate means, we, the elected representatives of the student body, want to make it clear that any actions which do not “protect the rights of self and others” and “promote the well-being of all members of the community” are not allowed.  We ask for students and their respected organizations to ensure the speakers they invite or the events they host respect the guidelines stated in the Gustie Guide and that they uphold the Gustavus values of Excellence, Community, Justice, Service, and Faith.

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Gustavus Adolphus College
Student Senate Constitution

Article X – Stipends
1)    The Co-Presidents shall each receive a stipend of $500 per semester
2)    The Finance Chair, Controller, Technologies Director, and Administrative Director shall each receive stipends of $250 per semester.
3)    All stipends must be included in the Constitution.
4)    Any adjustments to stipends will not take effect until the academic year following their enactment.

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Resolved, to be delivered to the full Board of Trustees:
The Student Senate exists to represent the will of the student body and to elevate the general welfare of the campus community.  Whereas the Senate had submitted formal resolutions to the full Board of Trustees and:
1)    the forwarding of the resolutions to the full Board through the President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees was not in a timely fashion;
2)    the response to the resolutions did not address the differences between the Student Senate resolutions and Faculty resolutions;
3)    the Student Senate resolutions were not on the Board of Trustees Agenda during the Spring 2009 meeting;
4)    the response from the Chair was not a formal response voted on by the full Board;
5)    the response from the Chair made reference to a letter that was not addressed to the Student Senate or the student body;
the Student Senate finds a clear need to reassert its voice to the Board of Trustees.  The Student Senate respectfully requests a formal response from the full Board of Trustees directly addressing the Student Senate resolutions before the end of the semester.

Senate-l

What is Senate-l, you ask? Senate-l is the technical name for the Senate Mailing List. Anyone is welcome to join the mailing list. It is meant to act as a medium of communication to the Gustavus community. By signing up for Senate-l, you will...

• receive minutes from all Senate meetings (full Senate and committees) via email
• be able to post discussion topics and see what others have to say about topics that are being talked about on campus

To subscribe or unsubscribe from Senate-l, visit the Senate-l page.