The Student Senate will meet today to continue its discussion of the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act resolution that was tabled during the Jan. 25th meeting.

On the agenda to be acted on are a bill to send Jarrod Scherle, the student executive vice president, to Joliet Junior College for the a Illinois Board of Higher Education meeting to meet with other student leaders in his position as well as discuss the SOPA and PIPA resolution.

The meeting is a requirement of Scherle’s position and is budgeted for.

At last week’s meeting the Student Senate voted to table the resolution 17-12 and it will be up for a vote again at today’s meeting.

Since tabling the resolution to gather more letters for the letter writing campaign, the student government has since collected 264 more letters as Monday.

“I assume they will be more inclined to vote yes now that we have had a bigger response,” said Mitchell Gurick, Student Senate member.

“Everyone has been so willing to help and it has been great to see everyone take time out of their busy schedules to help out and make sure the voice of Eastern students has been heard.”

The senate will also discuss the organization’s open secretary position since Rebecca Jakaitis recently resigned.

Student Senate Speaker Zach Samples said Jakaitis resigned because of other obligations.

“She is in a class with a lot of group projects and with college student schedules something had to give,” Samples said.

Jakaitis, a senior math major, submitted her resignation on January 25th as part of required 2 weeks notice of the paid position.

A student government secretary receives a $300 stipend, and is a hired position, Samples said.

In her letter of resignation, Jakaitis said she was saddened to leave the position and wished the senate the best of luck.

“I have loved my time with student government and am only leaving due to other registered student organizations and school commitment,” Jakaitis said in the letter. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with all of you.”

Samples said he hopes to have the position filled by Feb. 8, the day Jakaitis’ resignation takes place.

Applications are available in the Student Activities Center located in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on the second floor.

Applicants will also be asked to participate in an interview if selected.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. today in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]