Senate votes to continue funding ‘Student Health 101’

At Monday’s meeting, senators allocated $3,774 for “Student Health 101” with the stipulations that at least partial funding from administration is researched and the magazine is looked into putting on the Guidebook app. Senator discussed the thoughts and concerns brought up at the Senate open forum hosted Thursday, Nov. 3. Senators discussed the possibility of doing monthly events instead of “Student Health 101,” but there was no longer time to discuss those possibilities as the subscription is due Friday. The vote was passed with a count of 12-5.
Senate President Katrina Hurley reported that she will continue looking into waivers for senators and will report back to Senate so they can continue to research incentives and/or scholarships for senators next year.
David Nesheim, interim director of assessment, was allocated $180 for six $30 Amazon gift cards that will be given to six randomly selected students who complete the NSSE survey that is sent out to a select number of first-year students and a select number of senior students.
Hurley said that there will be an online vote Wednesday to reimburse senators who went on the Student Senate trip to Peru State College. The total cost for gas and food reimbursement was $1,847.03. An online vote, that opened at 8:13 a.m. Wednesday via EagleMail, had to be responded to by 5 p.m. Wednesday. By that deadline, there were five yes-votes and four abstained-votes. According to Hurley, the vote does not carry because there was not a quorum by deadline. A quorum is two-thirds plus one and there are 16 senators.
In the past Hurley has said that any allocation more than $1,000 would first need to be discussed at an open forum before going to a vote. This allocation has not yet been discussed at a forum but Hurley said Wednesday night that allocation would be discussed at the open forum hosted today in the Student Center.
Senate allocated $850 for an election watch party Oct. 31, and after the allocation found that the Social Science Club was already planning a watch party, Hurley said. The money had already been spent on decorations, pizza, and cookies so the event was co-hosted Tuesday night.
Sen. Josh Mayer said that he has not been able to talk with Joel Smith, athletic director, because Mayer said he is on medical leave for the time being. Mayer postponed the discussion about the inflatable mascot until Smith is back and Mayer has time to contact him.
Vice President of Finance Curtis Stevens reported $88,968.10 in projected funds. He also said he has been placed for student teaching in the spring and will no longer be able to continue his duties as vice president of finance. After talking with Hurley, Stevens decided it would be best if Senate would nominate the replacement and allow Stevens show him how to do all the tasks as vice president of finance before Stevens leaves. Sen. Lukas Kluber was voted as the replacement.
Letters of appeals were sent and accepted by the Court for Sen. Tileen Sullivan and Sen. Betel Weldemeskel.
Hurley said the open forum Thursday, Nov. 3 was shared on Facebook Live. She reported that the video had at least 200 views. Issues with the video were that it was too hard to hear people, and that it was a struggle to hold the camera and senators recommended getting a tripod.
Hurley also had a new senator on the agenda to be sworn in again this week after he missed the last meeting that he was supposed to be sworn in at. He was unable to attend the last meeting because, “he has an essay due in like an hour,” Hurley said at the Oct. 31 Senate meeting. There was no reason given for his absence this week.
School senators mentioned that classrooms are too hot and asked what the process is to fix it. The solution was to place a work order in with the building manager.
Sen. Jessica Hartman also reminded senators, again, to bring their library petitions back in to Senate, signed, so Senate can move forward with the petition.