In a close vote, the Senate appointed Sen. Chandler Cortina to serve as a student representative on the Student Required Fee Committee for the remaining semester. The vacancy comes former Sen. Ford Athmann relinquished his duties as one of the six student representatives on the committee. Sen. Cortina, College of Basic Sciences, received 20 votes. Daily Reveille columnist Donald Hodge received 16 votes. Two senators abstained from voting. When the floor opened for debate, some senators urged the Senate to vote for Hodge asserting he was the best candidate for the position because of his thorough research tendencies. Other senators felt Cortina had the best interest of the student body in mind. Cortina said if he was chosen to serve on the committee, he will research fee increase proposals and get student feedback before voting. “I don’t have any ideas about reform, but my job would be to sit on the committee as a student,” Cortina said. “It’s about me representing the students and getting their voices heard.” Hodge said he has fought to serve as a student representative on the committee since his previous term on the committee ended in spring 2007. Hodge said there is no evidence students will automatically fail fees presented to them. “The committee needs to be reformed to return the power to raise fees to the students,” Hodge said. “There is an obvious conflict of interest with the members who serve on it.” Earlier in the meeting, laughter filled the room regarding the language of a resolution seeking to send condolences to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concerning the tragic death of Eve Marie Carson, the student president. Several senators erupted in laughter while arguing about whether the word “slain,” “killed” or “assassinated” should be used. The resolution passed unanimously with one abstention. Sen. Andrew Remson, chair of the Committee of Academics, Athletics and Administration, wrote the resolution and motioned to move it past committee for legislative debate. During unfinished business, the Senate favorably passed legislation to appropriate $740 from the contingency account to the Alternative Service Break Club to defray the costs of a trip to Panama City, Fla. Sen. Drew Prestridge, chair of the Governmental Relations Committee, wrote the bill and said the funds would help fund the group’s trip from March 16 to March 21 aimed at cleaning up the city’s beaches. A bill requesting the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation change Easy Streets access times also passed unanimously. Sen. Amanda Gammon, College of Arts and Sciences, wrote the legislation which seeks to allow student access on the restricted streets no later than 4:30 p.m. She said it is not currently mandatory and she feels this is a safety hazard by forcing students on foot in low daylight. The Senate also unanimously passed legislation appointing Sen. Andy Palermo, chair of the Housing, Infrastructure and Technology, to the temporary Roommate Matching Survey committee. The committee’s goal is to match compatible students in residence halls.