The Union Senate convened on Sunday for its first meeting of the spring semester. During the meeting, the senators reviewed committee structures and spoke with the new Allocations Board chair. 

Student Union Vice President Hannah Brown ’19 reported that Executive Vice President of Communications and External Relations Ira Jackson reached out to her and Student Union President Jacob Edelman ’18 to propose a video interview with University President Ron Liebowitz. The video, Brown explained, would improve transparency and access to the University Administration.

Brown also reported that the Brandeis Counseling Center is looking for students for its Student Health Advisory Board, which will allow students to have input in the decisions of the Counseling Center. 

Brown reminded the Senate that the first round of Spring elections is soon, and that the informational meeting will take place on Tuesday. 

Racial Minority Senator Hangil Ryu ’20 asked incoming Allocations Board Chair Aseem Kumar ’20 to explain the duties of his position. Kumar replied that he oversees the budget and acts as the liaison between clubs on campus and the entities which fund them.

Rosenthal Quad Senator Elizabeth Dabanka ’20 asked about Kumar’s previous accomplishments on the Allocations Board. Kumar replied that he worked to allow need-based aid for students on community service trips and to ensure that contractors employed by clubs are properly paid.

Bylaws Committee Chair Abhishek Kulkarni ’18 asked the Senate’s committee chairs to look through the bylaws for their respective committees to find ways to improve the committee structures. He suggested having cross-committee meetings so the committee chairs could work with the Bylaws Committee to improve their committees.

Dabanka, also the chair of the Social Justice and Diversity Committee, stated that her goals for the committee are to be more involved with cultural clubs and to make them more involved with one another to facilitate intersectionality.

Charles River Senator Oliver Price ’20, standing in for Sustainability Committee Chair Benedikt Reynolds ’19, stated that the midyear students seemed to have learned a lot from the new Environmental Ambassadors during Orientation.

Chen, also the chair of the Dining Committee, stated that the Dining Committee is looking for new members. 

The Senate then voted to re-confirm Executive Senator Aaron Finkel ’20. 

International Senator Linfei Yang ’20 presented a Senate Money Resolution for the upcoming Club Support Workshop, which would teach club leaders about graphic design. Yang stated that there would be a raffle for a year of free Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for an attendee of the workshop. Senator-at-Large Shaquan McDowell ’18 countered that giving Photoshop to one person would only be beneficial for that person and not for their club. Ryu responded, saying that the person’s attendance at the workshop was a show of their dedication to their club and that the Photoshop would therefore benefit the club. Dabanka suggested that a club win the raffle rather than an individual.

The Senate voted to approve the SMR for the workshop.

Health and Safety Committee Chair Samantha Barrett ’20 stated that her goals for the semester are “to get the student body more involved in Health and Safety” and to meet more with administrators.

Ryu stated that he wishes to create an organization for club leaders of color to discuss issues pertaining to their clubs. Meanwhile, Yang stated that he wishes to create a hotline for commuting international students arriving to campus late at night from the airport.

North Quad Senator Josh Hoffman ’21 stated that he is working to make thank-you cards for Sodexo workers.

 —Emily Blumenthal