3/23 Student Senate Meeting Minutes

Posted By on Mar 24, 2026 | 0 comments

The Gettysburg College Student Senate provided the following minutes. Besides formatting, they have not been edited in any way.

Guest Speaker

Robert Iuliano, President of Gettysburg College

  • Congratulations to the newly elected Senate Officers.
  • Training students on AI usage is a new focus of the college.
  • Gettysburg is outperforming competitors in emerging areas. Gettysburg faculty passed three new majors last year, as well as a second new master’s program. West Quad and the ballroom are being redone.
    • The provost has provided expanded access to 3+1 programs and graduate program partnerships.
    • Over $100 Million in financial aid is awarded.
    • Three new sports have been established on campus.
    • Gettysburg ranked in the Top 10 in six categories in the Princeton Review. Gettysburg was also identified as a “dream college” in a new book by a college critic.
  • Questions & Answers
    • With pressure from the federal government on institutions, how is the college responding?
      • President Iuliano spent a week in Washington meeting with legislators.
      • A key focus in government has been on international students.
    • It seems that new departments are coming at the expense of traditional departments. Is that correct?
      • Tenure-track positions and professor allocations are based upon student interest

Richard Russell, Professor of Psychology

  • Professor Russell joined Gettysburg Senate a few weeks ago for a roundtable on AI usage on campus and training.
  • Gettysburg is introducing a new initiative to ensure students graduate with a strong understanding of effective and responsible AI usage.
    • Current faculty do not have the coordination needed to handle AI usage, so the first focus will be training faculty on AI and designing a coordinated approach to AI among faculty.
    • The initiative will combine discussions with students, faculty, and experts in AI.
    • An AI team will be formed with faculty, staff, and students. Students will be given some agency in determining the policy surrounding AI usage.
    • Each program and department will have a faculty and student AI coordinator.
    • The initiative will begin in the coming academic year, but more information about student positions will be coming out soon.  This program is a work in progress, and they are actively seeking feedback
  • Questions & Answers
    • What is the criteria for selecting student AI representatives for departments?
      • The criteria are being determined currently, and Professor Russell will return with further details. The positions will be paid, and provide meaningful experiences for participating students.
    • How do you plan on getting students to follow the guidelines of the program?
      • The values of the initiative match the goals and mission of Gettysburg College, and are intended to help students flourish in the age of AI.
      • AI guidelines will vary based on department, but there should be some continuity.
    • As positions are being paid, are the funds coming out of the department budgets?
      • No.
    • How do you plan on ensuring that the use of AI is sustainable from an environmental perspective?
      • There is an environmental cost to AI, but it is not significantly higher than other internet usages. All online activities have environmental costs, but AI is not extensively higher.
    • If this is an issue that the community cares about, it will be addressed.
      • What are peer institutions doing in this area, and what are the goals for the next few years? \ It is unclear what peer institutions are doing at this point, as most programs are emerging. We are on the earlier side of AI programs, but there are a few institutions that have developed a few years earlier. We are performing well among similar institutions.
    • Are there any short-term goals of the initiative within the remainder of the semester?
      • The initiative is being rolled out and announced over the coming few months. The hiring and payment structure will also come soon.
      • Next year, the main focus will be on information gathering about usage, attitudes, and opinions about AI usage. The program will put on events and host AI programming for faculty.

Approval of Minutes

    • Motion passed.

Officer Reports 

  • President Roman Jordan
    • Congratulations to the newly elected Senate Exec.
    • President Iuliano will be hosting Lunch with the President in Bullet tomorrow. If
      you are interested, contact Alfredo.
  • Vice President Duquette
    • Thank you for participating in the election.
    • If there is a guest speaker, it is disrespectful to be on your laptops or speaking.
  • Parliamentarian DiLuzio
    • Congratulations to Jocelyn, Garrett, and Olivia on their election.
    • 617 votes were cast in this race, making it the largest turnout in 7 years.
    • Technocratic elections are opening tonight through Sunday. Only one semester of Senate experience is required. Next week, there will be a forum.
  •  Treasurer Amer
    • $7,000 is remaining in the budget, but based on the spending of clubs so far, we have about $17,000.
  • Secretary Bumps
    • BSU is presenting a budget, and they have perfect attendance this semester.
    • Club and Senate attendance have been poor recently
  • Inclusion Officer Delena
    • No Report.

Advisor Reports

  • Jon Allen
    • Ballroom Grand Opening will take place on Wednesday, 3/25, from 4 to 6 PM

Committee Reports

  • Board of Committee Chairs – Vice President Duquette
    • No Report.
  • Academic & Career Affairs Committee – Raiyat Haque
    • Wednesday 7 PM in CUB 206.
    • No Report.
  • Budget Management Committee – Treasurer Amer
    • Thursday 5 PM in CUB 230.
    • BMC will be meeting at a different time
  • College Life Advisory Committee – Nataleah Jones
    • Friday 2:45 PM in the library.
    • No Report.
  • Dining Committee – Trey Hunter
  • Inclusion Committee – Dejah Hill
    • Wednesday 4:30 PM in the Library.
    • This week’s meeting will take place at 3 PM.
  • IT Committee – Parker Dominick
    • Friday 1 PM in West 229.
    • No Report.
  • Opinions Committee – Charlotte Bruchey
    • Friday 1 PM in CUB.
    • No meeting this week.
  • Outreach Committee – Secretary Bumps
    • Wednesday 4 PM in CUB 251.
    • No report.
  • Rules & Administration Committee – Parliamentarian DiLuzio
    • Thursday 4 PM in the Library.
    • No Report.
  • Wellness & Safety Committee – Sophia Hume
    • Friday 5 PM in CUB 206.
    • No Report.

Club Reports & Announcements

  • Relay for Life is taking place on Saturday (3/28) from 12-4 PM in the ballroom.

Student Concerns 

  • The hummus in service has a weird texture and strange colors.
  • WiFi has been bad over the past week.
  • Bullet fruitbowl should count as a side rather than an entree.
  •  Bullet sides are getting smaller.
  • Bullet has been pushing to-go containers as opposed to dining-in containers, which are
    less sustainable.

Budget Requests

  • Black Student Union
    • BSU is hosting the second annual Black ASF, which will take place on April 15-17. They initially requested $6,000 and have reduced the budget request to $4,500.
    • Black ASF is a celebration of black joy.
    • Event Schedule
      • Thursday, April 16th
        • Networking and Entrepreneurship Workshop in collaboration with the Center for Career Engagement and the Deltas.
      • Friday, April 17th
        • Lecture featuring Dr. Yusuf Salaam connecting Black experience to broader historical and structural conversations.
        • Collaboration with Africana Studies & English Departments.
        • Trap & Dine Dinner will take place in collaboration with Mosaic House and The Fellaship. Features speakers on popular dishes of the culture and hip hop.
      • Saturday, April 18th
        • Field Day in collaboration with Culture Shock on Stine Lake.
        • J’ouvert (pre-dawn celebration starting Carnival in some Caribbean Nations) about energy, freedom, and community.
    • Budget
      • Thursday
        • Snacks – $100
        • Marketing Materials – $100
      • Friday
        • Servo Catering – $100
      • Saturday:
        • Refreshments & Snacks – $500
        • Rita’s – $300
        • Ballpons – $200
        • Barber, Bead Station, Henna, etc – $800
        • Bouncy Houses & Game Truck – $2,500
    • Questions & Answers
      • How much of the $2,500 is for the bouncy house?
        • The game truck on its own was $2,500 last year, which was a discounted rate, and the provider is bringing the bouncy house for free out of appreciation for the event.
      • Which room is the speaker going to be held in?
        • They intend to host the event in the Mara Auditorium.
  • Motion to approve $4,500.
    • Motion passed.

Old Business 

  • None.

New Business 

  • None.

Adjourned at 8:09 PM EST.

Author: Ella Prieto

Ella Prieto '26 serves as the Editor-in-Chief for The Gettysburgian. Previously, she worked as the Managing Editor, News Editor, Assistant News Editor and as a staff writer for the News and Arts & Entertainment sections. Ella is a double major in Public Policy and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a Writing Minor. On campus, Ella volunteers with the Casa Swim program, is an It’s On Us Fellow in the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX, the President of Order of Omega and is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She loves to read and keep up with celebrity drama in her free time.

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