Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The raison d’être of Student Senate is to represent the student body, to serve as its voice and to provide support for its myriad activities and organizations. But many students barely register its existence, and fewer still actually know what it does. The Senate is a terrific resource for this University, but it is all too often underutilized.
Mason Heliman, Student Senate Executive Committee Chair, said the biggest challenge the Senate faced was helping students understand what the organization could do for them. Every student pays a Lawrence campus fee each semester, of which $17.50 goes directly to the Senate for use as funding for events, benefits, clubs and organizations.
nutgraf
... many students barely register its existence, and fewer still actually know what it does.
The Senate passes resolutions that serve as the official student position on any given issue and works with the University administration to implement policies that the senators view are important to students. For example, the Senate helped implement a policy that now requires professors to post grades at the midterm of each semester. Senate also sets the amount for the required campus fee, which is currently $423.35. Ideally, it should be easy for students to contact their senators to air any concerns or rectify any grievances that they may have.
About 10 of the 93 seats in the Senate are currently vacant. Heilman says the 10 graduate student seats are perennially the most difficult to fill and seven have remained empty since the beginning of this year, but there are at least that many vacancies in other constituencies. Too often elected senators simply stop showing up to Senate meetings or are suspended for failing to finish the small amount of work each senator is required to do.
But it is ultimately up to students to get involved and take advantage of the resources the Senate can offer. Senate should not be viewed as an elite group; it is the direct representation of us, the students.
We implore any student with an inclination to get involved in Senate to contact the Student Senate office for more information. Students do not need to be elected to join, and next week applications for vacant senate seats representing a number of constituencies will be available.
Senate Notebook
Full Senate met last night and voted on several pieces of legislation, ...
Shorman: Landslide may not be so representative ...
Low voter turnout for Student Senate election is reflected in KUnited's overwhelming ...
Kenny: Students can define Senate
John Kenny responds to a recent Kansan editorial.
Shorman: Revisions to election procedures are necessary
Last year's controversial election should be the last straw in poor policies.
Students still able to run for Student ...
Students interested in running for candidacy have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to ...
Student Senate reviewing fees
To keep overall fees the same, some individual fees will have to ...
Shorman: Creating the ideal coalition
Coalitions competing in Student Senate election offer good ideas. Now, if only ...
Get to know your freshman Student Senate ...
Here are the freshmen running for Student Senate. The polls open on ...
Pork politics
Editorial: Senate redress evaluated
Student senators at The University of Kansas receive 15 in-state credis per ...
Campus fees generate more than $20 million
Student Senate finance committee reviews funds to determine what will might face ...
Commission candidates focus on student life
Candidates answer questions on issues affecting students’ lives downtown, on campus and ...
Editorial: Communication is key
Student Senate should improve its communication.
Student Senate Finance Committee will update, clarify ...
The Finance Committee hopes to clarify rules like those about the student ...
Student Senate to vote on fee increases
The Student Recreation and Fitness Center, Parking Department, Watkins Memorial Health Center, ...
Editorial: Kansan endorses Heilman, encourages split-ticket vote
The Kansan supports the top United Students ticket, but applauds other coalitions' ...
Committee discuses student fee increase
The rising cost of fuel and other products along with the desire ...
Editorial: Student Senate election code needs reform
Last year's controversial election showed the need for elections reform.
Student fees increase more than $35
In four years, student fees have increased 44 percent. They were $287 ...
FIJI faces hazing investigation for injury
The University placed Phi Gamma Delta fraternity under interim suspension after a ...
Student Senate in full swing
Members discuss funding, parliamentary procedures and other issues to tackle at their ...
Editorial: Cutting campus media fee would reduce ...
Senate should think about the consequences before eliminating the student media fee.
Editorial: Why don’t students vote in this ...
Editorial: Votes need to count
Turnout in student elections remains low. Rather than ignoring the result, Student ...
Student Senate launches campaigns
The start of spring means new candidates for KUnited and Envision.
Student Senate passes alcohol resolution
Survey says students rely on University services, know little about community resources.
Student Senate profile
Ray Wittlinger is the student body vice-president.
Coalitions offer their platforms to campus
ConnectKU, Students of Liberty, and United Students hope to appeal to students ...
KUnited running on five platforms
See what KUnited student senate candidates are promising if elected.
Meet the candidates
The elections for freshman student senators will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.
AbleHawks fight for Senate seat
Senate finalizes funding recommendations
Some student organizations will see increases or decreases in budget.
Using underwear to catch attention
For Sexual Violence Awareness Month the University is attempting to make students ...
Editorial: Students should take advantage of services
Enrollment and campus fees are often underutilized and unrecognized
Student Senate notebook
Here's what happened at the Student Senate meeting Wednesday.
Student Senate freshmen elections end today
Twenty-four freshmen are running for Student Senate. Candidates submitted biographies to the ...
Editorial Board: Ignite platform reviewed
Stouffer Apartments regain senate representation
After the on campus neighborhood's representatives were replaced, the new organization has ...
Know your Student Senate candidates
Learn more about the candidates for Student Senate
Student groups need new way to pay ...
The executive committee of the Student Senate passed a resolution to stop ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Editorial: Students should be aware of resources provided by Senate
Good editorial. Students wanting to make an impact on campus can do it now and this is a good way to get involved. Kudos, Kansan.
Editorial: Students should be aware of resources provided by Senate
Those graduate seats are perennially vacant because the other 83 senators have no respect for graduate needs or concerns. Most Senate meetings are taken up by undergrad affairs, with little regard for the opinions of those who may have been at this institution a lot longer, or even had experience at other institutions of higher ed.
Editorial: Students should be aware of resources provided by Senate
Student Senate has resources? the last I heard they were running out of cash....please tell me where these hidden cash reserves are, because my student group wants to pay for projector installation in our studio. My friend's group wants to bring in a speaker. The Concrete Canoe Club wants to build a concrete canoe. I don't know if we have enough, let alone any money, to pay for these projects, but these hidden resources might help settle our budget problems....
Editorial: Students should be aware of resources provided by Senate
The_Twelve: I do agree with you that Senate doesn't offer much to graduate students, but it's kind of a self-fulfilling situation if we choose to stay uninvolved. 10 graduate senators could have much more clout than 3.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID