Two liberal arts senators needed

On Monday, Sept. 28, Student Senate met for their weekly meeting with three positions still open, two in Liberal Arts and one for the Kent dorms. 

On student senate, there are three spots for each department in their bylaw: Business, Mathematics and Science (BMS); Education, Human Performance, Counseling, Psychology and Social Work (EHPCPSW); Liberal Arts, and at large. There is also one senate position to represent each dorm building on campus. 

With the lack of an election this spring, due to COVID, they weren’t able to replace the senators that left and now, without a Club Fair, they are working to find ways to spread the news about the open positions.

“We are trying to email Jennifer Mendyka to email us an application. We also emailed a couple of liberal art professors so they can tell their students the contact information and the website where they can apply.”

Umeta said that they’re trying to do that on a larger scale, with things like flyers, but she feels like they can do more, because she doesn’t know if people know.

There are a few requirements with applying, but the biggest one senate is searching for is someone in the liberal arts department.

“They need to have a 2.5 GPA, a resume, two recommendations, and then a personal statement, which shouldn’t be a lot,” Umeta said, “Just why they wanted to join senate for paperwork purposes and for us to get to know them. That’s the requirements.”

They are will work with anyone who is willing to apply and with anyone who reaches out to them for the position. They currently have two applicants that they’re working with, but they wouldn’t represent liberal arts because they’re not from the department.

Another position that they are looking for applicants is the Kent senator. Due to the lack of a Club Fair, student senate was unable to explain their role and their job to freshman who might be staying in the freshman dorm rooms. 

With the search to fill these spots, they don’t have to worry about troubles because they have enough positions filled, but they would like to have insight into each building and department to know all the happenings of campus.

As students move farther into their classes, they tend to stay in one building for all of their classes. With a proper representation from each department, it would allow a balanced insight throughout campus.

“Our senate is not full, but it’s full enough to function,” Umeta said, “So, it’s not like we can’t survive without those two senators, but we just thought we should fill it up.”