Books and binders lead Monday’s Senate debate

Library improvements were the main topic of discussion at Monday night’s Student Senate meeting.

Morgan Nelson, senate president, said that a new coffee shop is going to be built in the library. She said that the library was looking for student input on wood stains, and passed around a packet for student senators to vote on a stain they preferred. She also said that there were two options for the coffee shop: a coffee shop with a staff, or high-tech vending machines. Nelson said that using vending machines would reduce the budget used for the coffee shop, as workers would not need to be hired.

Nelson added that the coffee shop would accept students’ bonus bucks which are purchased with their meal plan.

Nelson also said that Student Senate is pushing for 24-hour service at the library. Nathan Pindell, constitutional court member, said that how late the library stays open will depend on how many students show up to use the library’s new services.

Vice President James Bahensky said that “smackbook” is now posted outside the cafeteria. Smackbook is a poster where students can post comments and concerns about campus life.

Bahensky also said that senate is changing how clubs nominate homecoming royalty. Clubs members can go online to CSC, click on the current students tab, the Student Senate link, then homecoming nominations. Senate will only take nominations from clubs recognized by CAB. All nominations are due by Sept. 16.

Secretary Beth Wroblewski said that senate would like to purchase matching folders for the senators. The cost would be about $8 each and the folders will say Chadron State Student Senate. Senator-at-Large Corey Paz asked from where the allocations for the folders would come. James Bahensky answered that it would be an office expense. Paz asked to table the discussion until a later date.

Vice President for Finance, T.J. Thomson said that senate currently has $18,740 un-allocated funds in their accounts and asked senate to allocate $150 for family day activities from the student activity fee account which was approved.

Senate also swore in five new members, Joe Reedy, senator of B.E.A.M.S.S.; Erica Misner, senator of B.E.A.M.S.S.; Jacob Rissler junior senator-at-large; Randy Hughes, senator-at-large; and Brook Fairhead senator-at-large.

In another matter, Luke Wright, CAB president announced that the college’s Week of Welcome events went well. CAB will be focusing primarily on homecoming in its upcoming meetings.

Bahensky asked for people to consider signing up to work on the Time Capsule project.

Laure Sinn, coordinator of student activities, announced that Family Day is Saturday, Sept. 10. This year’s Family Day includes horse-and-buggy rides around campus as well as family photos in the Student Center.

Because of the Labor Day holiday, the next student senate meeting is slated for 5 p.m., Sept. 12 in the Scottsbluff Room.