Student GovernmentA Voice for Students

The meeting began with a call to order, the Pledge of Allegiance, and opening role call. Those Senators absent for the first meeting took their Oath of Office, and we moved into approval of the journal (minutes from the previous Senate meeting). The journal was approved. We did not have a speaker at this meeting, so we moved into Open Floor Comments from the Student Body. A student came to speak on an issue being calendared and attempted fast track through the Senate, illegal drug policies on campus. We then moved into reports from the student body officers. Student Chief Justice was not present, but Student Body Treasurer Murray, Student Body President Walsh, Student Senate Pro Tempore Barker, and Student Senate President Gatlin all spoke on issues pertaining to their plans for business over the summer and what they have been doing up until this point. Meetings with administration, committee meetings, and appropriations changes were discussed by the officers. Next, the Senate Committee Chairs were able to speak. Many committees spoke on meetings they had already held and meetings that they were planning to hold. (More detail on these reports will be made available once the minutes from this meeting are made public on the website.)

We moved into a period of comments and announcements where Senator Cockrell commented on the bill he was presenting that night. We moved into first reading and second reading of legislation. Below is a summation of what happened with legislation that night.

Here is a list of the legislation brought up at this meeting:

R 04, Rivalry Preservation Act- University Affairs Committee Report was given, and the legislation was approved in second reading.

R 05, Fee Referendum Act- read in first reading, sent to the Committee on Tuition and Fees.

R 24, Medical Sanctuary for Students Involved with Illegal Drugs- approved to be calendared for first reading, approval of emergency fast track to be considered in second reading, motion to send legislation to the Committee on University Affairs made and approved, legislation sent to the Committee on University Affairs.

After second reading of legislation, we moved into miscellaneous business, more comments and announcements and then closing roll call and adjournment. Senators were reminded not to lose steam over the summer, but to keep in contact with their committees and ask feedback from students on ideas that they have for legislation. Summer is a great time for Senators to work on legislation and compose bills to be presented at the beginning of the semester in August. Senators were then asked to stay after to have their picture taken for the website and mingle.

Remember to contact your senators if you have any concerns or questions. If you have an idea for a potential piece of legislation, find your Senator in the Student Government directory under your college and email them about your ideas! The job of the Senators is to represent their constituencies!

Here is where you can find the agenda, roll calls, and as soon as they are approved, the minutes:

April 25, 2012
Next Meeting:

August 22, 2012