Student Senate Elects New Clubs Liaison and Diversity Committee Chair
A group photo of the Fall 2018 Student Senate (Photo Mary Frasier/The Gettysburgian)
By Joseph Maguschak, Staff Writer
Student Senate held its weekly meeting this past Monday, November 5. Both a new Clubs Liaison and Chair of the Diversity Committee were announced, followed by concerns of Senate’s new Greek Life Committee.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Nick Arbaugh ’20 made it known that Student Senate is still accepting applications for those interested in the Greek Life Committee. Senate wants diverse views on Greek life to better the college community and bridge the gap between members and non-members of Greek life. It was also announced that Hannah Dalzell ’20 has been appointed as the new Chair of the Diversity Committee. Dalzell plans to make it a priority of hers to attend as many culturally diverse club/organization meetings on campus as possible.
Parliamentarian Abby Hauer ’21 then took to the stand to address an adjustment of an amendment to Student Senate’s Constitution. This amendment deals with clubs’ attendance at Senate meetings.
Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization requested funding from Student Senate for a field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. The club felt as though the trip would be an educational experience, open to and benefiting the entire campus community. The request originally received a vote of 5-2 ‘no’ from the Budget Management Committee but was then brought before the entire Senate. Some members of Senate were concerned that the aquarium would not tailor to some specific STEM majors, therefore being a waste of Senate’s funding. Others argued that it would be educational and helpful for students with all types of interests. It was stated that the goal of the trip is to explore and allow students to find what interests them the most. GECO was allotted the full amounted requested, $690.00.
The following clubs were allotted money to put towards food for Burg Burst:
Asian Student Alliance – $600.00; Black Student Union – $544.74; Gettysburg African Students Association – $500.00; Latin American Students Association – $548.82.
The International Club was given $400.00 towards its Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, celebration. This upcoming event, co-sponsored by both the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the International Student Center, will include the decorating of mandalas and a speaker from the Business Department.
A forum to elect the new Clubs Liaison to Student Senate was hosted by Alexa Secrest ’20 of the Gettysburg News Network, a Student Senate recognized organization. The candidates were Courtney Cholewa ‘22, Jackie Crowley ’20 (abroad video submission), Ethan Murphy ’20 (abroad video submission) and Grace Wenzel ‘21. Wenzel won the election via secret ballot and will take over as Clubs Liaison in the spring semester in 2019.
Students have been requesting that Bullet Hole open before 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Some people have expressed concern about the new Greek Life Committee. They do not want it to disrespect Greek life as a whole and create a barrier between Greek life and the rest of the College. Arbaugh then made it clear that the goal of this committee is to foster dialogue among groups of students to see the social dynamics on campus from different points of views.
The Student Safety and Sustainability Committee has e-mailed Bullet Hole with its concerns about sustainability and ways to improve and become more environmentally friendly. No one has gotten back to the committee in nearly two weeks, which Arbaugh says is “unacceptable.”
Student Senate will reconvene Monday, November 12.
