By Nolan Ostrowski, Senate Reporter
On April 16, Student Senate met for the fifth time this semester.
Chair Grant Bricking called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m.. He began with the announcement that this was the last senate meeting with the current executive board. He then introduced the new Chair and Vice Chair that will preside next semester. The new Chair is Michaela Faith, who served as Secretary this year. The new Vice Chair is Evan Bennett, who previously served as a junior representative.
Faith did roll call, and then Grant kicked off the meeting by asking everyone to go around and name their favorite memory from Senate this year one by one. After this, Bricking asked if there were any immediate concerns that anyone would like to call attention to.
This led to a brief discussion on the recent tornado warning that students on campus had to take shelter for on April 14. Faith brought up the fact that various Resident Assistants did not knock on the doors of their residents to inform them that they had to seek shelter. It was also brought up that some messages from Campus Safety about the tornado did not accurately go through.
Bricking then said there was not much to report on and gave some brief plans for the next meeting, which is largely going to be a celebration of the new executive board. After this, the members of the executive board gave brief updates on their respective responsibilities, which included Budget Director Lucas Baker notifying the senate that their remaining budget for the remainder of the year is $20,770, and that he is trying to acquire $8,000 more.
Faith and Bennet then moved to a prominent position in the front for a brief introduction to begin to break into their new roles on the executive board. Baker asked both of them what they would change about Senate if they got the opportunity. Faith said that she would like more cohesion between Senate and its executive board. Bennet agreed with this, and added that he would like to see more engagement for the Senate elsewhere on campus.
Things then shifted to the election for the Secretary position on the executive board. Two candidates competed for the role in the “Secretary Showdown,” a Q&A discussion that was streamed live on Instagram. Both candidates, sophomores Eliana Mandarano and Mitchell Chrapek, attempted to win the votes of their fellow members of Senate.
Mandarano kicked off the Showdown by introducing herself. She emphasized her background in student advocacy and her previous experiences that make her qualified for the Secretary position. For his turn, Chrapek emphasized his passion and love for the college, and how he embraces it even with its flaws.
The first question asked was why each candidate believed they were the best fit for the Secretary position. Mandarano said that she had previous experience with the secretary role via AQ Pride while Mitchell further emphasized his passion for AQ.
The second question asked was what skills each candidate possessed to help with transparency, event planning and related things. Chrapek said he was friendly and transparent, while Mandarano discussed helping put on Aquinas’s Coming Out panel for LGBTQ students.
There was a question directed specifically at Chrapek, and it was how he would address people concerned about his personal religious beliefs impacting his role as Secretary. He referred to universal moral principles that are not specifically religious.
There was also a question directed specifically at Mandarano, which was how she has done her part in her short time in Senate so far. She said that she always tries to exert her voice and has let many people know she is on Senate, as it is a big way to promote any social movement.
With the Showdown concluded, Bricking opened up the floor for any final Red Flags updates. There was an update on accepted students day from senior representative Conrad Eichbauer and then a discussion on advising sessions and some of the problems students and professors have had with them.
With all topics of discussion exhausted, Grant adjourned the meeting at 1:13 p.m..
The Saint 