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Senators

Description

Senators are elected student representatives for students that live both on and off campus. They are determined based on a ratio of one Senator for every 18 on-campus residents. The commuter students Senator membership is determined using a ratio of one senator for every 50 commuter students and the student membership of all outlying houses is determined by the students living in the houses at the beginning of the school year following the room lottery of the previous year.

Senators are student representatives of their living areas and are required to represent the public opinion of the areas in which they live with unbiased perspectives. Senators have the authority to make motions on legislation brought up in Senate and to move from one item of business to the next. They also have voting power over legislation proposed during Senate, where each Senator is granted one vote. Students need to have a 2.4 GPA to be eligible for a  position as a Senator in Senate, as well as complete the election process in the fall.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Committees

  • When a Co-Chair requests a committee, senators will need to sign up if they are interested in being on that committee.
  • If not enough senators voluntarily sign up to fill a committee, the Senate Board will assign Senators to the committee.
  • Senators are required to attend committee meetings that are coordinated by the Co-Chair.
  • Senators should actively participate in committee meetings and assist Co-Chairs by completing any tasks designated to them in a timely and efficient manner.

Collaborations

  • Senators should collaborate with their Residence Hall President in reporting all discussions from Senate meetings to their halls, apartment, house, dorm, or commuter students.
  • Senators also need to work with their Residence Hall President to display Senate Minutes and Senate Business in areas that are accessible and visible to residents of the hall, dorm, apartment, or house, or commuter students.
  • Senators should collaborate with their Residence Hall President to handle Physical Plant and other day to day Hall Concerns.

Hall Hours and Hall Reports

  • Senators are required to conduct a Hall Hour each week by setting aside an hour during which they will be available in a suitable location upon request for questions, comments, and concerns that residents bring forth.
  • Senators should provide a Sign-In/Sign-Out sheet that can be posted detailing when they are in or out for their Hall Hour.

Senate Attendance

  • Weekly attendance at Senate is required of all Senators.
  • In the event that a Senator cannot attend Senate one week, she must notify the Senate board at least 24 hours in advance and provide a proxy to represent her hall, apartment, house, dorm, or the commuter students.
  • When a proxy is requested to attend Senate in a Senator’s stead, the Senator needs to provide the proxy with enough information in order for the proxy to perform the Senator’s duties during Senate.

Voting

  • Senators shall be allowed to cast one vote per piece of legislation in Senate whenever a vote is necessary.
  • A Senator’s vote must be made with respect to the wishes of the hall, apartment, house, dorm, or commuter students she represents and not her own personal interest.