Spring Break
Speaker elections scheduled for last meeting
State of the University, Senate Addresses also on agenda
Bob Bajek / Student Government Editor
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
Tiffany Turner and Jarrod Scherle will be running for Student Senate Speaker at the final Student Senate meeting of the academic year at 7 p.m. today.
Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin said only Turner and Scherle are running to his knowledge. He said if there were a third candidate, that it would be a surprise because candidates announce their interest early.
Turner, student vice president for business affairs, said she is starting student teaching in the spring and was not quite done being a leader on campus this fall.
Turner brings experience to Student Government.
"As speaker, I would offer knowledge of Student Government with six semesters," Turner said. "I have been a senator and executive, so I think I could bridge that gap. I think I got personality to continue to bring to the senate and get out to the students more."
Scherle, a third semester senate member, has served as Residence Hall Association president ,and was elected this April to continue serving as a senate member. Scherle said his main goal is making the senate more effective for the benefit of the student body.
"I'd like to see more projects come out of the committees," Scherle said. "(I will) keep a closer eye on the committees, making sure they are producing key, viable results like tangible projects for the students."
Turner said to improve Student Senate's image, she wants to implement the campus constituency involvement bylaw change passed at the April 15 meeting.
"I want to bring senators to various organizations on campus," Turner said. "I think it is important we do what we say we want to do, but actually find ways to do so."
Scherle said the speaker has to meet with the committee chairs at the Council of Chair meetings. There, he would help them gain ownership of their projects to foster initiative. He would use this influence as a stepping-stone for guiding the committees to work effectively.
"I want to fully realize the senate's potential of leadership," he said.
Scherle said he wants a better working relationship with The Daily Eastern News for an accurate portrayal of the senate and provide more open forums in the Grand Ballroom to improve Student Government's image with students.
Other agenda items include the State of the Senate Address and the State of the University Address. Griffin will deliver the Senate Address while Student Body President Levi Bulgar will present the University Address.
"It will be a brief recap of the senate's highlights this semester, some of the things I think we changed for the better, and I might even give my opinion on where I think the senate should go after I leave," Griffin said of his speech.
A bylaw change for the Housing Committee will be voted on.
"RHA is supposed to represent the students in university housing right now," Griffin said. "The bylaw change seems to make the committee a liaison of RHA."
Griffin said the Housing Committee might become a one-man entity. Other duties like the Off-Campus Housing Fair of the committee will be passed off to External Relations.
University Board Chair Mike Usher said the UB constitution would be updated at a consent agenda vote. He said there have been some inconsistencies fixed.
"We are keeping it pretty much the same," Usher said. "There are a lot of things outdated, like how we don't have Amp Magazine anymore as a UB entity, or how much we pay our coordinators."
Coordinators are now paid $125 a month, instead of the $75 stated in the constitution.
The UB coordinators also cannot win any prizes at events anymore. Usher said this was a problem in the past and the right is forfeited because coordinators are student leaders.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin said only Turner and Scherle are running to his knowledge. He said if there were a third candidate, that it would be a surprise because candidates announce their interest early.
Turner, student vice president for business affairs, said she is starting student teaching in the spring and was not quite done being a leader on campus this fall.
Turner brings experience to Student Government.
"As speaker, I would offer knowledge of Student Government with six semesters," Turner said. "I have been a senator and executive, so I think I could bridge that gap. I think I got personality to continue to bring to the senate and get out to the students more."
Scherle, a third semester senate member, has served as Residence Hall Association president ,and was elected this April to continue serving as a senate member. Scherle said his main goal is making the senate more effective for the benefit of the student body.
"I'd like to see more projects come out of the committees," Scherle said. "(I will) keep a closer eye on the committees, making sure they are producing key, viable results like tangible projects for the students."
Turner said to improve Student Senate's image, she wants to implement the campus constituency involvement bylaw change passed at the April 15 meeting.
"I want to bring senators to various organizations on campus," Turner said. "I think it is important we do what we say we want to do, but actually find ways to do so."
Scherle said the speaker has to meet with the committee chairs at the Council of Chair meetings. There, he would help them gain ownership of their projects to foster initiative. He would use this influence as a stepping-stone for guiding the committees to work effectively.
"I want to fully realize the senate's potential of leadership," he said.
Scherle said he wants a better working relationship with The Daily Eastern News for an accurate portrayal of the senate and provide more open forums in the Grand Ballroom to improve Student Government's image with students.
Other agenda items include the State of the Senate Address and the State of the University Address. Griffin will deliver the Senate Address while Student Body President Levi Bulgar will present the University Address.
"It will be a brief recap of the senate's highlights this semester, some of the things I think we changed for the better, and I might even give my opinion on where I think the senate should go after I leave," Griffin said of his speech.
A bylaw change for the Housing Committee will be voted on.
"RHA is supposed to represent the students in university housing right now," Griffin said. "The bylaw change seems to make the committee a liaison of RHA."
Griffin said the Housing Committee might become a one-man entity. Other duties like the Off-Campus Housing Fair of the committee will be passed off to External Relations.
University Board Chair Mike Usher said the UB constitution would be updated at a consent agenda vote. He said there have been some inconsistencies fixed.
"We are keeping it pretty much the same," Usher said. "There are a lot of things outdated, like how we don't have Amp Magazine anymore as a UB entity, or how much we pay our coordinators."
Coordinators are now paid $125 a month, instead of the $75 stated in the constitution.
The UB coordinators also cannot win any prizes at events anymore. Usher said this was a problem in the past and the right is forfeited because coordinators are student leaders.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
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