A recommendation will be made to the university president by the Student Senate, that a student be added to the proposed President’s Cabinet.

The senate passed the resolution Wednesday, with sentiments that students should be a part of the cabinet since students make up half of the Charleston population.

Various government officials from the Charleston and Mattoon area will be a part of this cabinet, whose main purpose is public relations, Donna Fernandez, Student Relations Committee chair, said at the meeting.

It was not clear Wednesday how the student representative would be chosen.

The senate also will recommend implementation of semi-monthly payment for student employees as soon as appropriate technology is in place to the Human Resources Department, the Payroll Department, and Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs.

For semi-monthly payment to take place, students would have to convert to electronic funds transfer because student payroll checks can only be printed once a month.

Results of a survey that took place last fall indicated 91 percent of those surveyed would prefer semi-monthly payment, Internal Affairs Chair Ronnie Deedrick said.

At the time the subject was brought up, 20 percent of student employees had EFT, and since the survey, the number has increased to 40 percent, Deedrick said.

Payroll technology can be switched by December, Deedrick said. The senate will continue to encourage more student employees to take advantage of EFT in order to institute semi-monthly payment.

The senate vote on the University Board’s proposed $5 per semester concert fee will take place after spring break. UB Vice Chair Caleb Judy made the concert fee presentation at the meeting and answered questions. In accordance with senate bylaws, the bill must be tabled one more week before the vote can take place.

Senate members also discussed three possible bylaw changes.

Duties of the Housing Committee may become more expanded on off-campus housing issues. Current duties are somewhat vague on off-campus housing issues, Housing Chair Alison Mormino said.

Proposed modifications provide for the committee to organize a housing fair to be put on in November, creation of a Tenant Union to address concerns of off-campus students, maintanance of the Landlord Registration program and to update and publish an Off-Campus Housing Handbook each fall semester.

Under the new Recognized Student Organization representation system, the Student Relations Committee assigns a senate member for all the RSO’s that want it. Previously, the Housing Committee assigned on-campus senate members to go to hall councils. A proposed bylaw change would have the Housing chair work with the Student Relations chair on assigning the hall councils.

A resolution passed a few weeks ago has now been proposed for a bylaw. It says students who apply for senate positions but are not seated will be offered positions on committees as non-senate members.

By instituting this bylaw, students can gain some Student Government experience for when they apply for a senate seat again.

In other business, two new RSO’s were approved.

The Charleston Green Party’s purpose is to encourage students and the local community to become politically involved and to promote the ideas and philosophy of the Green Party.

The Holler Association’s purpose is to promote social and cultural opportunities for the Eastern community and to provide fellowship through karaoke.