One of the first things new Student Senate Speaker Mike Walsh wants to change is the way students think about Eastern’s student government and its role on campus.

“A big area in my book is how the students of Eastern view Student Senate,” he said.

He plans to increase awareness about student government by creating and distributing a pamphlet detailing the main duties and functions of Eastern’s student government.

“A lot of students know that we’re here, but they don’t know what we do and they don’t know how much influence we can have,” he said.

The student government information could possibly be included in the pamphlet that Larry Ward, student vice president for business affairs, plans to make showing a breakdown of student fees, Walsh said.

The senate is currently made up of 26 senate members who sit on various subcommittees and submit proposals to the Board of Trustees for approval.

“I run the meetings,” Walsh said. “It’s my job to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

Walsh has one semester of experience on Student Senate and realizes how important it is to help the new senate members with carrying out their duties and understanding the legislation process.

“People thinking he doesn’t have any experience will be his biggest challenge,” said Student Body President Caleb Judy.

Senate member Kyle Donash has no doubts about Walsh’s leadership ability.

“He’ll use his inexperience to his advantage,” Donash said. “He might have fresher ideas, a new perspective.”

As a result of his inexperience on Student Senate, the former Thomas Hall Council President has established a senate mentor program in which the 16 new senate members will be paired up with older members at their first Student Senate meeting this Wednesday.

“I think it’s vital that they (the new senate members) know what’s going on from the get-go,” he said.

The older senate members will guide the new members and will help them feel more at ease in their new positions.

“As a new senator, I remember feeling a little intimidated,” he said.

During the first senate meeting Walsh also plans to hold a mock Student Senate in order to familiarize the new members with the meeting structure and process.

“I think a lot of time is wasted in the beginning of the semester because a lot of the new people don’t know what’s going on,” Walsh said.

Last semester Walsh was a member of the Student Senate External Relations Committee that worked closely with the Charleston community to find a resolution for the behavioral problems that existed at the 2002 homecoming parade.

His work on the external relations committee and the negative comments he heard from area residents about students have prompted him to begin a community newsletter to strengthen ties with the city of Charleston.

The newsletter will highlight good things Eastern students do, such as painting area houses or holding successful fund raisers.

Walsh is prepared to use his tuition waiver for being the Speaker of the Senate toward funding the community newsletter if student government cannot cover its cost. Walsh said he can afford to do this because he still receives a military tuition waiver.

“We’ll find funding,” he said. “If I have to pay for it, I’ll pay for it.”

Walsh said he worked on developing the newsletter during the summer and it is still in the planning stage.