USS Meeting Attendance Low
Business carries on as usual
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
The University Student Senate (USS) continues to struggle with a lack of student interest, even among its own members.
At the most recent USS meeting on March 11, only seven of the 18 senators showed up, one fewer than the number required by the body's constitution to approve regular voting matters.
The USS has different voting requirements for various types of proposals. For regular proposals, they need a simple majority of 51 percent, or 10 senators, to vote in favor.
At the most recent USS meeting on March 11, only seven of the 18 senators showed up, one fewer than the number required by the body's constitution to approve regular voting matters.
The USS has different voting requirements for various types of proposals. For regular proposals, they need a simple majority of 51 percent, or 10 senators, to vote in favor.
However, fewer senators are showing up, which makes passing proposals a more complicated process. If a senator misses three meetings in a row, her vote is suspended so she doesn't hold up the business of the senate. Suspended votes lower the number of required votes to pass a proposal.
As of the March 11 meeting, three senators had been suspended, including the former USS president Tushar Gogia, Lang senator Pat Korte, and Parsons senator Helen Weselcouch.
Accounting for these suspensions, the senate needs eight votes in favor to pass a proposal.
Some senators aren't troubled by the meager attendance. "Attendance always varies depending on the time of year and what issues are being presented," said Dan Schulman, USS co-chair. "That's the same with every student government or organization in general."
Still, despite the low turnout at the March 11 meeting, the USS managed to continue on with other business by soliciting votes from absent senators through e-mail when a vote required it.
WOMEN IN PHILOSOPHY
Students from the People in Support of Women in Philosophy, a New School for Social Research philosophy group, received funding for their spring colloquium, which brings notable women philosophers to The New School for a discussion with students, faculty, and the outside community.
PARTIES
The USS approved funding for four of its spring events including a party to promote issues of sustainability entitled "Green Party" which is scheduled for April 20. The USS hopes to work with sustainability groups around the university including ReNew School and Net Impact.
DEMO GUIDELINES
Sarah DeGray, a New School for Social Research student on the committee to revise the university's campus demonstration guidelines, gave a brief update on the status of the revision process. The USS had commented on a draft of the revised rules and DeGray said she had brought those to the revision "task force" which is made up of trustees, administrators, faculty, and students. She said she anticipates the task force will release a revised document after a March 19 meeting.
CAREER SERVICES
Daniela Capistrano, a General Studies senator, had been on the agenda to present about her efforts to build a new career services website, but never showed up to update the senate. In a separate interview on March 12, she said that a career services website would allow students better access to the resources in a centralized location.
More by this Author
Featured Articles
