Student senate members debated issues of Charleston, including the new speed limit on Fourth Street as well as a Facebook page by the Charleston Police Department at their meeting on Wednesday.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, said Tuesday’s change in the speed limit on Fourth Street went from 30 mph to 20 mph.

“We had reached a point where something had to be done,” Nadler said. “I know it seems slow, but even when I’m driving I personally feel more alert.”

The student senate members questioned Nadler on where the funding for safety measures on Fourth Street had come from.

Nadler informed them that Eastern and Charleston often share expenses depending on the measure and that the groups meet periodically.

“They’ve been very responsive of our concerns,” Nadler said.

Blair Jones, student government city council representative, spoke to senate members about her experience at Tuesday’s city council meeting where two Eastern professors talked about Charleston Police Department’s Facebook page that featured their son’s mug shot and rude comments.

The page also featured public safety information and press releases that are given to all major media outlets.

“I don’t think it is fair for them to post the mug shots; it implies (the accused) are guilty and law states we are innocent until proven guilty,” said Brittany Brooks, a student senate member.

Jarrod Scherle, student executive vice president of student government, compared the site to an online police blotter.

“It is cruel, but is just like an online police blotter, but the DEN runs a police blotter and we don’t complain about that,” Scherle said.

Erin Deason, a freshman political science major, disagreed with Scherle calling the site an abuse on social media that encourages online bullying.

After continued discussion, the members of the student government decided to write a resolution against the site, write a letter to the city council and attend to the next city council meeting to voice their opinions.

“I brought it up at last (Jan. 24) city council meeting and talked to Charleston Police Chief Baker, but received some pretty generic response about how the information is from press releases and that they monitor the comments for profanity,” Jones said.

A family came to the Tuesday’s city council meeting and protested the page.

“It could be any student on the page,” Jones said.

“This is something that directly effects the students,” said Zach Samples, speaker of the Student Senate. “It is critical we look into it.”

The senate unanimously passed emergency legislation to move their next meeting to 6 p.m.

The reasoning was so they can all attend the “Blue Out” event taking place at 7 p.m. during the Men’s Basketball game at 7 p.m. in Lantz Area on Feb. 15.

“I’m very excited for the event,” said Deason, one of the organizers. “In high school, school spirit was huge and I just want to bring that to Eastern.”

They also tabled bills on budget freezes for the Student Recreation Center, University Board and Student Government.

Scherle announced April 18 as lobby day where he and student government members will travel to Springfield and lobby local legislators to favor the funding of MAP grants and a new science building for Eastern.

“My goal is to get 1,000 signed letters from Eastern students to bring to Springfield,” Scherle said.

The next Student Government meeting will take place in the Arcola/Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union at 6 p.m. on Feb. 15.

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