student senate
January 22, 2015
January 20 — Student Senate meeting in five points
FIRSST (Functional Immediate Response Student Safety Team) - Student Senate will provide initial funding, and is proposing the institutionalization of this student-led program. FIRSST meets today (Jan 22) at 9:30 p.m. in the basement of the library. A shuttle service will be offered starting this weekend. Refer to the Communicator for more information. Vending machines for feminine products - Student Senate has approved a proposal to install dispensers in highly-frequented campus bathrooms. This proposal will be reviewed by the Space Planning Committee in the near future. Gender neutral bathroom signage – The Space Planning committee has approved the Student...
December 3, 2014
Senate Moves On Initiatives All Semester
With only one returning member from the 2013-14 academic year, this year’s Student Senate members bring many new perspectives to the table. Led by President David Zehr, a junior, the Student Senate has been working to implement both long and short-term changes based on suggestions from the larger student body. Along with the Senate’s annual undertaking of student club funding, promoting and running student elections, hosting club day and preparing for the Board of Directors meeting, they have also been working on a gender initiative, which includes the discussion of the potential inclusion of a gender-neutral dorm floor on campus,...
October 22, 2014
Board Invited Students For Discussion
The October meeting of Goshen College’s Board of Directors allowed student representatives to be a part of one of their meetings as they discussed strategic planning, the hiring policy and enrollment. The Board members arrived on campus before fall break for several meetings, which focused on the college’s mission and future. The board is currently made up of 12 members from nine states and it meets three times a year. In this most recent meeting, the board passed a budget for the upcoming year, noted the growth of the college’s endowment, discussed the hiring policy and the college’s reaccreditation process...
September 17, 2014
Student Senate Eager To Begin
Student Senate meetings resumed with new members on Tuesday to begin working on the new year’s objectives. As Student Senate begins the 2014-15 academic year, they will meet weekly to continue old initiatives as well as begin to implement new ones. David Zehr, president and junior, said that the ultimate goal is to “accurately convey the interests, hopes, concerns, and dreams of the student body in a productive way that can move towards positive social change.” Previous initiatives have included the colorful train underpass mural, changes in the CORE curriculum, more washers and dryers, Campus Connections, and the prospect of a co-ed dorm floor. This year’s...
April 9, 2014
Leaders Entertain Hiring Policy Questions
A crowd of more than 50 students and faculty gathered on campus Wednesday night for a question and answer session about Goshen College’s hiring policy. The event, hosted by Student Senate, brought a panel of administrators, including Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency; James Brenneman, GC president; Anita Stalter, vice president for academic affairs; and Bill Born, vice president for student life, to field questions. Senate’s goal for the event was to learn more about how students fit into the broader governing system of higher education, as well as how Goshen College and its president’s council relate to...
March 19, 2014
Student Senate’s Initiative in support of Gender-Neutral Living
The Residence Life Council has recently been presented with an initiative written by Student Senate suggesting the addition of a co-ed living option for the 2015 academic year. The initiative, after the initial meeting and revision, is currently back in the hands of the administration for further discussion. Student Senate is planning on meeting with administration to go over feedback in the weeks to come, though it is expected that no formal decision will be made for some time. Although discussion of this idea has only begun recently, its development has taken place over the course of the school year....
December 6, 2013
AVI and student senate partnership caters to vegetarians
This semester AVI took initiative in starting conversation with students. Previously, students could express concerns and recommendations via comment cards, but now AVI would like to engage in face-to-face conversation with those they serve. Garret Tyk, resident director of AVI, will meet periodically with a Student Senate committee made up of Karsten Hess, Elizabeth Derstine and Ellen Conrad. “[Tyk] approached us asking if we could get a few people from student senate to gather students and maybe have a meeting with him or someone else from AVI at least once a month,” said Hess. During the first meeting, two students,...
October 6, 2013
Senate aims to represent diverse student body
The student body recently selected five peers to represent them as Student Senate members-at-large. Student Senate is made up of a total of ten students: four cabinet members and six members at large. The four cabinet members take charge of group organization through specific roles: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The current Student Senate president is Caleb Longenecker, a junior. The recently elected members-at-large consist of Gretchen Geyer, a junior, Karsten Hess, a junior, Elizabeth Derstine, a sophomore, Maddie Gerig, a freshman, Ellen Conrad, a freshman, and Isaac Fast, a senior. The new members represent a variety of interests...
September 20, 2013
Senate position for at-large candidates
1. Crystopher Echavarria Statement :- Identity, culture and education: they all fall blend into Goshen student population. As a first year international student, I would be efficient and useful in representing the needs of my fellow peers, especially international and first year perspectives. I would like to be their voice. Something I would propose for the benefit of our entire international and out of state students. We should offer a transportation orientation, so they can familiarize themselves with the city of Goshen and Greater Michiana region. 2. John( Jack) Shomberg Statement :- I believe I would be a good choice for senate because I...
February 7, 2013
Senate approves new open house hours
Goshen College finalized plans to change open house and quiet hours for underclassmen dormitories, taking effect in the 2013-2014 school year. The new hours will be 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Previously, the open house hours began at noon every day and ended at 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. The visitation policy has changed even from last year, when only residents from their own floor could access a hall during open hours. Now students are admitted onto floors of the same gender at...
January 24, 2013
Student Senate to hold elections this weekend
Student Senate elections will be held online this Friday and Saturday. There are two seats available for at-large representatives and one seat available for Student Senate cabinet member. Candidates for the cabinet position must currently be at-large representatives. The candidates for the cabinet position are Ben Shelley, David Zehr and Caleb Longenecker. The candidates for the at-large seats are Joanna Epp, Ben Hochstetter, Derek Johnson, Minah Kim, Ezra Ocubamichael, Priscilla Ramirez, Brian Sutter and Nikita Zook. Hans Weaver, a current cabinet member, said that while Senate cabinet members have very specific positions such as finances, publicity and sub-committee leadership, at-large...
October 18, 2012
Student Senate hopes to bring louder voice to campus
It is solely the women of Goshen College who owe thanks to the force responsible for supplying their bathrooms with feminine products. But if the group behind the gift has anything to say about it, soon all of campus will have something to be grateful for. Every Wednesday, nine students meet in the AD building to discuss tunnel dedications, ice hockey tables and bikes racks, all in the name of campus betterment. The group is Student Senate, made up of four cabinet members voted in by the previous year’s student body, and five members at-large. Hans Weaver, one member of...
September 27, 2012
Senate Update
Sept. 28: Club Day will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Union. A variety of clubs will be set up with information on how to get involved. Oct. 3: Student Senate, the Communication Department and the Public Relations Office will screen the presidential candidate between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. The live debate will start at 8:30 p.m. in AD 28. Several professors will provide a brief background to the debate before it begins. Snacks and surprises included!
September 20, 2012
2012-2013 at-large Student Senate members announced
The at-large members of Student Senate for the 2012-13 school year include, first year, David Zehr, sophomore, Caleb Longenecker, and juniors, Niles Graber Miller and Luis Lopez. Look for future announcements at the beginning of next semester if you are interested in becoming a member of Student Senate during the spring semester. Follow Senate’s activities on Facebook through the Goshen College Student Senate page. Niles Graber Miller I have grown up in Goshen – just across the street from the college – and have witnessed many changes on campus over the years. I am excited about being a part of...
April 11, 2012
Student Senate members elected for 2012-2013
Every year Goshen College elects new Senate cabinet members to lead the student body. The overall job of Student Senate members is to oversee student clubs and club budgets and be a voice for the student body to the administration. This year, Student Senate received seven applications for the three open cabinet member positions. According to Shirley Shriner, “This is the largest number of applicants we have seen in several years.” From those seven applicants, the student body will elect three new cabinet members. In total there will be four people working as Senate members next year. The fourth one,...