Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News

Cole Rogers receives a standing ovation after his state of the university speech during Wednesday night's meeting. (Bryce Peake | The Dailey Eastern News)

Cole D. Rogers gave his last state of the university address on Wednesday night, covering many of the changes in student life over the last year.

The speech was a part of Student Senate's last meeting of the semester, held in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Rogers started the speech off with the many changes within the university in the last year.

One of the changes was the inauguration of President Bill Perry. "He has established EIU as a first-choice school," Rogers said.

Rogers also mentioned the cultural diversity requirement debate. "Cultural diversity is a huge issue," he said. "It is a prevalent issue and more importantly it must be talked about."

Rogers touched base on the tuition increase for the 2008-2009 school year.

"That is because of the legislature and them not making us and higher education a priority," he said. "We need to make an effort as students to make our voices heard."

Rogers said student government should continue to go to Springfield and lobby for more money for higher education.

Also concerning the tragedies that took place at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech, Rogers stressed campus security. "We need to focus more of our resources on this issue," he said.

Karen Armour, chair of the shuttle bus committee, prepared a Powerpoint presentation about the Panther Shuttle Bus service.

Armour and the shuttle bus committee conducted research through surveys about the improvements to the shuttle bus service.

The poll concluded that 109 of 127 students surveyed voted for a third bus to go to Mattoon.

Also a new logo and slogan was developed for the shuttle bus: "Get on the Bus."

Armour said she hopes whoever is the next shuttle bus chair will have the same intensity she had. "All I can say is get on the bus," Armour said.

Megan Ogulnick, speaker of the senate, also gave her last speech.

Ogulnick said she finished her speech this morning, and it was not because of a result of procrastination. "I wanted to make the perfect speech," she said, "one that truly affects the accomplishments of this last semester."

Ogulnick said she made her mark. "I wanted to give back to the school that has given me so much," she said.

Ogulnick then spoke of the many accomplishments the senate as a whole has accomplished throughout the school year.

With actions such as approving diversity by-laws, the Banner system, and transferred credits, Ogulnick said a foundation has been laid down.

"We have laid out a great foundation for those who take our positions as we are gone," she said.

The student senate followed Ogulnick's speech with elections for the next Speaker of the Senate. Fellow student senate members Isaac Sandidge and Paul Reed were nominated.

Isaac Sandidge was voted in as Speaker of the Senate with a vote of 15-11.

"I feel very honored to be given the opportunity to serve the senate and this position," Sandidge said.

Rogers said afterwards many things still remain to be done and taken care of. "There are always improvements to be made," he said.

Rogers continued to encourage his fellow senate members to work for students.

"You have a direct impact on all of the students around he said," Rogers said. "Make your own direction and you stick behind it."



Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.

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