By Aiden Butler
Jan. 23 saw the Student Senate meet for the first time this new year. The meeting began with an invocation from Ralph Waldo Emerson that said, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside you.” Roll call was taken, and the agenda was approved via consensus.
Of immediate concern was the issue of a lack of Counseling, Health and Wellness Center director. The Senate stated it will be reaching out to Alicia Lloyd regarding this issue.
The Senate body then moved into its special order of business. The role of secretary on the e-board was vacant, and a brief election would be held to fill the position. Candidates Eric White and Natalia Hay placed emphasis on their organizational abilities, sought to update and revise student senate bylaws, and prioritized further marketing and communication of the senate body to ensure that both the senate and student body are further involved with one another. With the major points concluded, the senators officially voted Natalia Hay as the next secretary of the student senate.
The Senate then moved into executive board and advisor reports. Senate chair Fiona Walsh discussed the opportunity for the senate to assist in running a gently used toy drive. In collaboration with RePlay for Kids, Aquinas College and the student senate would assist in the collection of gently used toys for children with disabilities. RePlay for Kids would then repair and adapt these toys so they could be accessibly used by children with disabilities. This event would ideally run through the week of Valentine’s Day.
Vice Chair Gabe Hay then took the podium, discussing the addition of arcade games into the reopening of Nellie’s Corner. He emphasized that the second arcade game would be decided via the student body, which students can vote on via the Student Senate Instagram page. Secretary Natalia Hay, having just been elected, she had no reports, and thanked her fellow senators for their vote of confidence.
Budget Director Lucas Baker was next up to the podium. He discussed his in-progress student senate sponsorship form. This would allow RSOs to request monetary support from the senate, in turn, the RSO event would be a senate sponsored activity. As this is a work in progress, more details will be available later. He also emphasized the importance of getting President Cordoba further involved with the Aquinas community, particularly through a major events calendar for the President. He also proposed ideas for spring fest, including a casino night and axe throwing.
Academic Affairs Director Grant Bickering would then take his turn at the podium. He updated the body on the recent faculty assembly meeting, particularly emphasizing the two new hires in HR, as well as the Insignis requirement reduction due to high student turnover in the program. He also announced his updates to the senate bylaws were nearly complete. The topic of most excitement came through the discussion of the return of The Corner. Returning as Nellie’s Corner, the space is aiming to be open in early February. It will return with a near identical menu, as well as the addition of a few arcade games. Meal swipes and flex cash will be able to be used for food from Nellie’s Corner. It will be open from 7 to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. With the opening of Nellie’s Corner, hours for both Wege and The Moose will be changing. Wege will be open from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Saturday and Sunday. The Moose will now be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as being open 7 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Consistent concerns arose around the operating hours of the Moose, and the senate seeks to further clarify said hours with Nellie’s Corner soon reopening.
To end the first meeting of the year, a new logo was chosen for the reopening of Nellie’s Corner, which will soon be revealed. An eventful first senate meeting of the year ended seconds after 1:30, the joyful return of Nellie’s Corner hopefully serving as a harbinger for a fantastic semester ahead for both the student senate and the rest of the Aquinas student body.
The Saint 