Student Senators got a small taste of the long list of issues they would be discussing during the semester at their first meeting Wednesday night.
In his Legislative Agenda for the year, Senate Speaker Michael Busada said he would like to see the Senate tackle issues surrounding campus security, scheduling, student fees, dorm move-in dates and Tiger Card operations.
While Busada, as the speaker, usually does not author legislation, he said he hopes the Senate will address each issue at some point during the year.
Busada said he would like to see the Senate work with the University Registrar’s Office to move to an electronic waiting list for class scheduling and draft legislation to improve the move-in process for all campus residents.
Busada said he also hopes to help the Tiger Card office decrease its large debt by recommending that the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation allow students to pay parking tickets and towing costs with their Tiger Card. This would ensure the solvency of the Tiger Card.
The Senate has addressed campus safety, student fees and dorm move-in problems in past semesters, but Busada hopes to take further action and get more involved in the issues affecting students.
Student Government President Allen Richey promised the Senate it will see bills soon about amending the election code, which Richey and several other SG and Senate members worked on during the summer.
SG Director of Campus Safety and Transportation Kyle Wilkinson addressed many senators’ questions and concerns surrounding bus route changes, parking problems and campus lighting.
Senators said many students had complained to them about confusion surrounding the changes to the bus route and parking problems on their first week.
In response to senators’ questions, Wilkinson said bus route maps soon will be posted at all bus stops, SG is planning to sponsor a lighting walk later this semester and he is still speaking with the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation about parking problems.
Wilkinson said SG will be sponsoring a campaign later in the semester to inform students how to stay safe on and off campus. He said the campaign’s main focus will be to remind students to not let their guard down even though police have captured a suspect in the Baton Rouge serial killer case.
Sarah Hays, SG director of legislative affairs, announced that SG would be working with the Interfraternity Council to plan an on-campus debate for the state gubernatorial candidates in the runoff in mid-October.