Student Senate met on Monday in their new meeting place, the Mark Community Room in Westlawn, across from the entrance to the dining hall. 

The meeting began with Aaliah Higareda, president of the art club, who came with a proposal for a club fair in the second semester. Higareda noted that the only club fair of the year happens during orientation week.

“Returning students don’t get the opportunity to look at the new clubs,” Higareda said. “And also new clubs form all the time.” 

The proposal was received positively by the senate, and ideas were tossed around for a club fair coordinated with a convocation. Next steps for the senate involved reaching out to the Campus Activities Council to see about a possible collaboration. 

Patty Hartshorn, director of health and wellness and title IX coordinator, spoke to the senate, updating them on current initiatives being run by the office of health and wellness for students. One example includes women’s power hour, a dedicated time on Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. for women to work out in the Recreation Fitness Center weight room without worrying about distraction or judgement. Additionally, a final immunization clinic is scheduled for late March, though the date is yet to be finalized.

Initiatives for further down the road include adding baby changing stations in some public restrooms by the 2025-2026 school year; adding more convocations similar to the healthy masculinity convocation last week with a focus on “healthy holistic perspectives for how we see ourselves and our relationships;” seeking a community partner for an initiative to provide feminine hygiene products on campus; and further expansion of Dash’s Cache. The office is also discussing a transportation program to help students do things like off-campus internships, though that is in the early stages and a plan has not yet emerged. 

Student Senate will collaborate with the commuter student association on a Valentine’s Day event, open to all students. Participants can decorate cookies in the commuter lounge from 4- 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. 

The senate is meeting with the Association of Student-Athletes and administration on Thursday, Feb. 13 to discuss the college’s plans for renovations in the RFC. The same day, other members are meeting with the career networks office to discuss a leadership skills workshop.

Finally, the senate discussed issues in the Octavio Romero Apartment building: the threat of communal fines stemming from trash buildup in the elevators and an excessive amount of fire alarms in the last week causing a safety issue when not all the students evacuated. 

Student Senate will meet on March 10 at 6 p.m. in the Mark Community Room across from the dining hall in Westlawn.