Union president announces updates
The Student Union Senate met on Sunday night to discuss its current initiatives and plans, including meal plans for next year, sustainability initiatives and upcoming events such as 'Deis Day and the Midnight Buffet.
The Senate approved three Senate Money Resolutions, one for a new copy of Robert's Rules of Order for the Senate, and the other two for several upcoming events.
The first events the Senate approved funds for were Zivwoodstock and Modapalooza, occurring April 25 and 26 respectively. These will both be outdoor celebrations in the specified residential areas, and will feature food and activities. The other event the Senate approved funding for was the upcoming Midnight Buffet.
Student Union President Ricky Rosen '14 announced in his executive report that plans have been almost finalized for a roundtable discussion between the administration and students about major issues on campus. This will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 and will consist of members from all areas of the community.
Rosen also announced that 'Deis Day planning is well under way, and that the events will most likely be split between the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center's Red Auerbach Arena and Chapels Field on Sunday, April 6.
Rosen said that the event will feature many fun activities for students to participate in and will involve clubs and teams from all over campus, but said that those plans are still in the process of being solidified.
Rosen also mentioned that several senators are currently in the process of revising the Student Union Constitution in order to make it more concise and effective with current circumstances in the community.
Changes will most likely include cutting much of the unnecessary language, defining clubs in the constitution rather than the bylaws and adjustments to the capital expenditure fund, which will now be more accessible for clubs to propose community improvement projects on which to spend the fund. These changes, along with several others, will be up for a vote at the next Senate meeting.
Rosen then reported on several transportation-related initiatives. The task force created to deal with the issue of on-campus parking has been reviewing results from a survey sent out to the student body during the fall semester and is coming up with both short and long-term solutions.
Plans to improve parking on campus may eventually include either purchasing more land for parking or building a parking garage. In addition, a bus shelter to be built at the Admissions bus stop has been fully approved and funded, and should be built by the end of the year.
The Senate went on to discuss newer projects that are still in progress. Class of 2015 Senator Anna Bessendorf said that the Sustainability Committee was working closely with Sodexo to organize new initiatives, including an event during Earth Week in collaboration with Coca-Cola. She also said that there is a town hall event planned for 6 p.m. on March 18 in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium with local and sustainable food provided by Sodexo, at which all of the different environmental clubs will get a chance to speak and weigh in on the sustainability efforts on campus.
The Senate Dining Committee reported that it is still trying to work with Sodexo to find meal plan options that are acceptable to the Brandeis community, and to get them to release possible prices.
They are looking at meal programs at other schools and trying to build the best possible plan for Brandeis.
-Hannah Wulkan
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