student senate
September 25, 2025
Senate welcomes new faces and policies
Six students were elected to the Student Senate earlier this month, increasing the total number of members on the governing body to 10. This is the largest senate representation since the 2015-16 term. Five students will serve as at-large representatives this year, with two of them alternating in the spring semester: Kaleb Barham, a first-year biology major; Jalani Brooks, a junior molecular biology and biochemistry major; Harry Cruz, a first-year history pre-law major; Senper Solomon Teferi, a junior nursing major (fall); and Shalom Teferi, a sophomore molecular biology and biochemistry major (spring). In a four-way race for the student liaison...
March 27, 2025
Student Senate summary 3/27
The Student Senate’s bi-weekly meeting was held in WL 309 on Monday evening. It opened with introductions, and started with a few questions for Chandler Buchfeller, director of residence life and housing. The senate had several questions to follow up on the meeting Buchfeller and Brian Mast, director of facilities, had with students living on the third floor of the Kulp Residence Hall earlier this month to speak about concerns of mice and a broken toilet. They inquired if there would be a potential for students to use Coffman for housing instead of Kulp, but Buchfeller said no. He did...
March 13, 2025
Student Senate summary 3/13
Four members of Student Senate met on Monday evening, one of their biweekly formal meetings, in the Mark Community Room in Westlawn. The meeting was opened with comments from the floor — Emma Gingerich, a senior history major, voiced concerns about the lack of convocation credit for Monologues, a misunderstanding between box office and seniors about commencement tickets and the state of the leadership hub. I’m a student leader with [Prevention Intervention Network],” Gingerich said. “We used to have our meetings there, and it was a really good space, but with the Westlawn construction, the dining hall staff took it...
February 13, 2025
The role of Student Senate
This semester, for the first time ever, The Record has covered every Student Senate meeting in some capacity with our new column, “Student Senate summary.” I’ve personally attended every meeting, and done the reporting, (don’t tell my staff, but I plan on delegating it at some point soon) which has been an eye opening experience and prompted the question, what should the role of Student Senate be at Goshen College in 2025? There have been five meetings so far this semester. The first four were comprised of myself, the actual senate and, for two of the meetings, a friend of...
February 13, 2025
Student Senate Summary 02/13
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...
February 6, 2025
Student Senate Summary 02/06
The Student Senate has met twice since the most recent issue of The Record, meeting on Jan. 23 and 27. A motion was passed to reduce the frequency of senate meetings to biweekly. Student Senate President Javier Reyes cited a lack of agenda items and a desire to “lower [the Senate’s] stress and time commitment to being [at meetings] in person.” The motion passed 5-0. A concern was raised during the meeting on Jan. 23 about the state of some of the washers and dryers in laundry rooms across campus. The concern had come through the grapevine and was not...
January 16, 2025
Student Senate Weekly 01/16
Student Senate met on Monday night for their first meeting of the new semester. The agenda was light, with mostly housekeeping items discussed. One initiative that was discussed was a goal relayed to the student senate from Patty Hartshorn, director of health and wellness, to make feminine hygiene products more readily available for students. The senate expressed a desire to assist her in this goal. Other notes included a potential leadership skills workshop for the spring semester, a potential collaboration with CAC for a prom event and potential “flower grams” for Valentine’s Day. One thing that did get finalized was...
October 10, 2024
Student Senate: Voices of Goshen College student body
The Student Senate is the connection between the student body and administration here at Goshen College. Spencer Castillo, co-adviser and admissions counselor, said that the “Student Senate is the voice of the Goshen College student body.” He works with Gilberto Pérez Jr., co-advisor , vice president of student life and dean of students, to guide the senate in advocating for diverse student groups, helping secure funding for clubs and organizations and facilitating discussion that shapes campus policies. The president of the senate is Javier Reyes, a sophomore pre-med major. After having taken leadership roles in high school and...
February 22, 2024
Student Senate focuses on unity, student privacy
The Goshen College Student Senate is pushing for change and unity. The Senate is made up of Gabe Martinez, president; Javier Reyes, vice president; Jaelyn Amhdar, vice president of marketing; and Richard Figueroa Jr., treasurer. Gilberto Pérez Jr. and Spencer Castillo serve as faculty advisers. Additionally, at their last meeting, the Senate voted to accept two new applicants: Carmen Merino as an at-large member, and Ashgaan Al-Bahal, who will serve as the liaison for student organizations. One big focus so far for the Senate has been GC’s website — specifically, the student directory. While on campus and logged in, GC...
October 12, 2023
‘Change will be coming’
Thirty-seven students voted in the Student Senate election held in the Hunsberger Commons on Oct. 4. Gabe Martinez is now president of the Senate; Javier Reyes is the vice president; Daniel Eash-Scott is serving as vice president of marketing; Jaden Richardson is the liaison to student organizations. All candidates ran unopposed. Gilberto Pérez Jr., dean of students and faculty co-adviser to the Student Senate, emphasized the importance of listening to student voices. “The Student Senate is really the one who holds those issues [brought forward by students], and then works to advocate on the student’s behalf to administration,” Pérez said....
November 1, 2019
Open Space hosts conversation about admissions
Student Senate hosted an Open Space about enrollment and recruitment at Goshen College on Monday, Oct. 28. The event was facilitated by Sharada Weaver, a senior and vice president of Goshen College Student Senate, along with other senate members who were in attendance. During the hour, about 10 students participated by asking questions about various topics related to admissions. Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, vice president for marketing and enrollment, and Linda VandenBosch, director of admissions, were at the Open Space to answer student questions and provide information about the recruitment and enrollment processes at Goshen College. The majority of the hour was...
September 12, 2019
Goshen College implements gender-inclusive housing
Goshen College, for the first time in its history, is offering gender inclusive housing. Introduced by Student Senate in October, gender inclusive housing gives students the opportunity to live in the same environment regardless of their gender identity. All throughout the past fall semester, Corie Steinke, director of student involvement, alongside members of Student Senate, resident assistants, and other staff members worked to propose a thoughtful, well-researched plan for what gender inclusive housing would look like at Goshen College. According to Steinke, one of the inspirations for having gender inclusive housing was so LGBTQIA+ students would have a housing option...
September 12, 2019
Student Senate kicks off the fall semester
Like any other governing body, the Goshen College Student Senate has its own constitution. In it is described the outline of the senate’s structure and procedures. It also includes an impeachment trial procedure — which may be useful information for those out there planning a revolt. Before it gets to that point though, there are several steps that students could take to reach out to their local Student Senate members. This year’s Student Senate consists of Khampha Stempel as president, Katja Norton as treasurer, Sharada Weaver as vice president, Debbie Richards as liaison for student organizations, and Madeline Smith Kauffman...
November 28, 2018
Student Senate presents the first State of the Student Address
Student Senate held their first State of the Student Address (SSA) in front of a full crowd on Monday, Nov. 19. The event, modeled after the Presidential State of the Union Address, served as a way to inform the student body about various projects the group has been working on throughout the semester. “The SSA was made so that the Senate can be transparent in all that we are doing, give updates that students should know about and be a bridge between the administration and the GC community,” said Katja Norton, liaison for student organizations. So far this year, Senate...
October 12, 2018
Open Space: Gender Inclusive Housing
Goshen College Student Senate hosted an Open Space on gender inclusive housing (GIH) on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Open Space, a time and space where students can have discussions around a variety of subjects relevant to campus life, is relatively new to campus and has covered a myriad of topics since its conception such as President Stoltzfus’ strategic two-year plan, safety issues and immigration. All students were invited to attend with the intent of having Student Senate and Student Life listen to students’ ideas on what GIH should look like. The event took place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a...