As the song  “Cupid Shuffle” faded out, ASWC representatives gathered for the year’s second Senate.

During Senate updates, ASWC’s committees continued to prove their productivity and commitment. Anya Tudisco, chair of the Finance Committee,  solicited advice on the use of ASWC’s Savings Fund, a sum of unused ASWC budget money that now exceeds $20,000.  Nominations Chair AnnaMarie McCorvie enthusiastically presented the new College Advisory Committees, including a potential Athletics committee. Club Director Josie Furbershaw discussed her work on revising club constitutions and supporting club leaders. Since the last senate meeting, Katie Steen worked with SVP (Sexual Violence Prevention) representatives from the Greek community, while Jack Percival met with President Kathy Murray about student safety.

Max Hanson urged ASWC to ratify WhitCity as a recognized club, emphasizing its “goal of getting students out to games… and engaged in the Whitman college athletics atmosphere.” ASWC Senators agreed that WhitCity is an effective way to increase support for varsity athletics and ratified the club  16-2-1. However, Gillian Friedman, Olivia Hagel and Anya Tudisco spoke for many ASWC representatives when expressing frustration over the quickness of the decision, which was put to a vote without a formal debate. Hagel saw the minimal deliberation time as contrary to what Senate is “supposed to be about,” especially in light of WhitCity’s unclear funding strategies.

The Borders Studies program requested $500 from the Travel  and Student Development fund to support an excursion  to the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center to converse with activists, detainees and immigration lawyers. ASWC unanimously decided to fund the trip.

ASWC also confirmed Mitch Cutter and Alex Barsher as members of the new Buildings and Grounds College Committee. Cutter, a self-proclaimed wearer of many hats,  pledged “to take those garments and put them into [the] job” by focusing on sustainability and students’ input. Barsher emphasized the importance of “framing the right questions” to understand and speak for the college’s spirit.

Acts SAS 15.1 and 15.2 introduced a College Committee that will advise the Registrar’s Office, potentially about class selection, faculty hiring, and changes to the system of registering for classes. The Registrar’s office requested the committee be comprised of a student from each year and preferably from different disciplines of study. Because the Registrar’s Committee applications were distributed to the student body prior to this senate meeting even though the positions technically hadn’t been approved, Oversight Committee Chair Jon Miranda wryly  asked the Nominations Committee to “try to make sure things exists before [they] advertise them.”

Resolution SRF 15.1, drafted by Mitch Cutter, was adopted by acclamation (a unanimous vote that carries extra symbolic weight). The resolution “expresses support for the Umpqua Community College Community” following the tragic shooting of nine individuals on October 1st.

Finally, ASWC developed new speaking procedures to incorporate the ideas and opinions of non-voting members. Previously, “formal debate” only allowed voting members of ASWC to speak, leaving WEB chair Olivia Hagel and other non-voting members without a voice.  Ironically enough, a short debate led to the creation of “debate,” in which all ASWC representatives can speak, and “inclusive debate,” when everyone present can speak.  ASWC will implement these new categories of debate as a trial-run at the next Senate.