Retrospective speeches looking back at the semester were the main topic at the final Eastern Illinois University Student Senate meeting of the school year on Wednesday in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Speaker of the Senate Megan Fox gave the State of the Senate speech.
She highlighted legislation the Student Senate passed over the semester including support for faculty reinstatement and calls for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate training.
“Our Senate has risen to the occasion time and time again to represent our students in their best interests,” Fox said.
She spoke on the presentations the Senate saw throughout the semester, saying the presentations highlighted the organization’s efforts and were a testament to its work.
The Senate saw the presentation of five budget proposals over the semester: University Board, Student Government Association, Career Services, Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Office of Leadership and Engagement.
“Though budget season is daunting, you handed it with grace and understanding,” Fox said.
She ended by congratulatlating those who were voted into office on their new roles, and she thanked the Senate committees for their work on events.
“No matter how you feel about this semester, it is safe to say that the state of the Senate is strong,” Fox said.
Student Body President Claire Weber gave the State of the University address.
She said the year has had many changes, highlighting changes to the structure of colleges and schools as well as the layoffs that happened in October.
“The university as a whole is still reeling,” Weber said. “We have been lucky that a few select faculty have been granted contract renewals, but the majority still face the end of their contracts.”
She also highlighted those from EIU who have advocated for equitable funding at the state level.
“This has not been an easy year. However, I am so immensely proud of this community I get to call home,” Weber said. “I am inspired everyday by the students and faculty alike who fight so hard for this university.”
Members of the Student Government who went to the Conference on Student Government Associations presented what they learned.
The conference spanned three days at Texas A&M University.
Representatives went to workshops and met with other student governments to exchange experiences and ideas.
According to the representatives, there were presentations on budgeting, conflict management and the use of artificial intelligence in student government.
There were also presentations that members said sparked ideas for them.
Elected Senator Valerie Harmon said a townhall she attended had information on involvement of residential halls, which she said gave her ideas to involve housing officials in SGA events, like Pantherpalooza.
“The idea I had was you need to meet your RAs, complex directors [and] ARDs in a more lax setting,” Harmon said.
She said she also got ideas on how to increase accessibility at events and learned how things such as loud music can be overwhelming.
Senator Jayriel Kizer said she found ideas on how to combat apathy toward student government.
She said it’s important for SGA members to go to students rather than to wait for students to come to SGA.
According to the presenters, the overall amount of money spent for the conference trip was lower than last year. In total, $10,094.42 was spent compared to last year’s costs of $10,607.93, the presenters said.
The last item of the meeting agenda was the swearing in of candidates from the general and special elections.
The following members of the Student Government Executive Board took office and were sworn in at the meeting:
- Student Body President: Mason Tegeler
- Executive Vice President: Sam Erwin
- Vice President of Student Affairs: Valerie Harmon
- Vice President of Academic Affairs: Shiloh Frederick
- Student Trustee: John Slater
Four newly elected senators were also sworn in: Elaine Carman-Loveless, Kim Castillo, Nyla Williams and Claire Weber.
Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
