Students discuss new plans for government

This week Student Senate's agenda was dominated by workgroups and the discussion of the reinstatement of several rules and regulations deleted by Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk. (see related story)

On the minds of some former and current senators this week, however, were bigger questions of the proper structure for student government. A group of students met three times this week to work on drafting a new student government constitution.

The group plans to have the draft ready before spring break and present it to the student body. After break they hope to vote on it and present it to the faculty by April 15.

Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk said she supports periodic assessments of student government. "It is healthy for student government to look at itself every three years or so," she said. "I am delighted students are thinking about this."

At a meeting Thursday night, composed of current and past senators and interested students, some of the issues of the restructuring were discussed. The changes deal generally with improving the Senate's efficiency and representation of the student body. Joe Whitaker, student assistant to President Nancy Dye and former Senator, talked about some of the changes the group has currently been discussing.

On Thursday the group discussed cutting the Senate from 30 seats to 15 seats in order to create for more efficient governing. Under that type of structure each senator would be awarded more responsibilities and power. Senators would have office hours in order to be more accessible to the student body and coordinate open forums for students. Senators will be required to coordinate amongst each other more efficiently.

The group also discussed the election of Senators. One idea proposes that Senators be elected by geographic location such as dorm, co-op or off-campus in order to better represent the student body by being tied to a specific constituency. The second method proposes that students running for elections can be endorsed by a particular organizations on campus. The student would then represent that organization as part of their commitment to the Senate.

Whitaker said, "There is a chronic problem of lack of students of color and low-income students on Senate." According to Whitaker, in 1995, 17 out of 32 senators were students of color and low-income students. By the end of the 1995 fall semester, that number dwindled to three. Students hope that the two proposed systems of election would address this issue.

The group also talked about the creation of two new positions; one to train senators in how to do their job and the responsibilities of being a senator. This would entail educating the senator about how the governing system works and how to participate effectively in it. The second new position would oversee the efficiency with which the senators deal with each other and with the student body as well as inform them on what their job requires of them.

Whitaker said, "If you have higher standards and higher consequences [there will be] compensation for senators." The type of compensation was not specified.

At its routine meeting on Sunday, Senate continued to work on on-going projects in work groups. The body is working with Director of Conference Services Michelle Gross on a survey concerning the present meal plan. Another group discussed the College's contract with AT&T which will be further investigated. Another workgroup also discussed whether college employees can take classes, but no decision was reached.