Senate plans to discuss 5 topics at open forum

Senate allocated $850 for an election day watch-party event, and prepared for many other allocations next week after the open forum at 5 p.m. today in the Student Center. Senate President Katrina Hurley said that she plans to live stream today’s open forum on Facebook to allow students to give their input through comments on Facebook.
The agenda for the forum will include the Christmas tree decorating event, “Student Health 101” magazine subscription, an inflatable mascot, Senate incentives and/or scholarships, and the Peru State College Senate Conference.
Hurley presented a suggestion for Senate to host an election watch-party Tuesday in the Student Center. Senate allocated $850 for the event. For decorations, $100; food from Dining Services, $400; and prizes, $350.
Vice President Karson Langley proposed a Christmas tree decorating event. Langley said they got the idea for a Christmas tree auction from Wayne State College senators on the Senate trip to Peru State College Thursday and Friday.
Senate is going to buy a 3-foot tree for every club that wants to participate. Clubs will purchase decorations and the decorated trees will be on display for a silent auction open to the entire community. The money will be given to the local Care and Share Drive to buy Christmas presents for children who are less fortunate.
Tree decorating would take place between Nov. 28-Dec. 2. Senate would then invite students and community members to bid on the decorated trees from Dec. 5-12. The one who bids the most would be allowed to take the tree home, and the money raised would go to buying Christmas presents for underprivileged children. A concern was brought up with how this fundraiser would work with the Foundation Office. The event was referred to a committee appointed by Hurley to look into details of the event.
Pat Beu, senior director of student affairs, said that the subscription for the magazine “Student Health 101” is coming up in the near future. The yearly subscription is $4,100. The amount will be voted on at Monday’s meeting, or in an online vote if the subscription is due before Monday.
Beu said according to the stats he receives from the magazine, in October there were 744 visits to the site, and from a survey of 160 students, 74 percent said they would take what they’ve read and apply it to their daily lives.
Sen. Josh Mayer brought a proposal for an inflatable mascot. The mascot’s potential name would be Lil’ Elmo, and would cost about $4,300.
Mayer brought in a quote from Alex Helmbrecht, director of college relations, that stated he thought the inflatable mascot “is a fine idea.” Adviser Susan Schaeffer asked Mayer to check with the athletic department and cheer team to see if they have funds for a mascot so Student Senate would not have to cover the costs of the mascot.
In addressing questions about why there needs to be two mascots, Mayer said in the Elmo costume, it is hard to move, it’s hot, and the head easily falls off. Mayer said from his experience in the mascot, he couldn’t be as active and move around as much as he would have liked because the outfit is not ideal for that.
Five senators, five senate executives, two CAB executives and one adviser, went to Peru State College, Peru, last week for a meeting of senators from WSC, PSC, and CSC. Hurley said that the senators discussed how to be better servant leaders and shared ideas on how to improve all three campuses.
Hurley said PSC has the same company of Dining Service as CSC does and they, after three years, were able to get their food services open during breaks. Hurley said she will be receiving their proposals and what they did to try and speed up the process here.
Senators also said that at WSC there are cars that pick up students at parties so they aren’t drinking and driving. The cars can also be used for students who do not have cars.
Hurley said that last year Senate brought up the idea of an Uber-type system but there were problems with liability with the school. WSC pays about $80,000 a year for the cost. Senators will continue to look at the options available.
Student Trustee Coy Clark said that the student trustee from Wayne State College is working at trying to get the student trustees a vote on issues at the Nebraska State College System’s Board of Trustees.
Hurley planned to appoint a new senator at the meeting, but he was unable to attend because “he has an essay due in like an hour,” Hurley said. But Hurley was able to appoint Sen. Mikayla Gallagher to a justice of the court. Senate approved and Gallagher resigned her position as senator. There are now no liberal arts senators as part of Senate.
Chief Justice Sam Merrill read an opinion of the Court that asked for a motion to impeach Sen. Clayton Hinmann for five unexcused absences. A petition to impeach was filed by Sen. Carly Slaght.
Beu said there will be interviews for someone to take Associate Athletic Director Chris Green’s spot as student activities coordinator and NPAC coordinator since Green has moved on to his new position. The candidates will be having lunch in the cafeteria at noon today and Friday and students are invited to attend.
Senators are interested in starting a committee called the Dorms and Grounds Committee. Clark originally proposed creating this committee at the Oct. 24 meeting.
The reason for the committee is because the Campus Improvement Committee only has five members taking on almost all of the Student Senate’s issues. The committee would take on the tasks that deal with the dorm issues on campus. The Campus Improvement Committee would fix other issues on campus.
Senators will vote on creating this committee next week after looking at the Campus Improvement Committee’s bylaws to see if there are overlapping issues.
Sen. Jessica Hartman reminded senators that a petition for the library to be open on Saturday has been emailed out to all the senators. Hartman suggested senators try to get all of their signatures by Monday so the petition can move forward.
Sen. Michael Stuebe said that there have been multitudes of complaints about the heat being turned on already. He asked what decides the heat being turned on. No answers were given at Monday’s meeting.
Schaeffer said that faculty members at WSC and PSC talked about having rooms of puppies during finals week and suggested Senate looks into getting that for finals week here. She said there are mental health benefits from animals.
Vice President of Finance Curtis Steven reported $89,818.10 in projected funds.