Piece failed [12-1-09]
A RESOLUTION ADDING A SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY SEAT TO THE STUDENT SENATE
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/Documents/PotentialLegislation/17-LGBT%20Seat.doc
November 17, 2009
Legislation: Add Leftover Finance Committee Funds to Scholarship Endowment
Piece approved on 12-1-09
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING SMU STUDENT SENATE TO REALLOCATE UNSPENT FUNDING OF THE STUDENT SENATE FINANCES TO SMU STUDENT SENATE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/Documents/PotentialLegislation/16-Scholarship.doc
November 17, 2009
Legislation: Internal Affairs Board
Piece approved on 12-1-09
A RESOLUTION MANDATING THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE TO CREATE AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS BOARD
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/Documents/PotentialLegislation/15-Scholarship.doc
November 17, 2009
Legislation: Anonymous Legislation Submission
Piece voted down. 12-1-09
A RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE STUDENT SENATE BY-LAWS IN ORDER TO MAKE POSSIBLE THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING LEGISLATION WITHOUT ATTACHING THE NAME OF THE AUTHOR
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/PotentialLegislation/14-Anonymous%20Legislation.doc
November 17, 2009
Legislation: Main Quad Irrigation
Piece approved on 12-1-09
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UPGRADED IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON THE MAIN QUAD
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/Documents/PotentialLegislation/13-Irrigation.doc
November 17, 2009
Legislation: Engineering Title
A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE TITLE OF THE ENGINEERING SENATOR
POSITION
http://smu.edu/studentsenate/PotentialLegislation/12-Engineering%20Title.doc
November 5, 2009
Code of Conduct Revision: Message from Senator Kearney
Senators,
I urge you to take note of this message and communicate it with your constituents. Let’s get the word out!!
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VOICE YOUR COMPLAINTS!
As SMU Students, we are directly affected by the Student Code of Conduct. This is where our RIGHTS, FREEDOMS, & RESPONSIBILITIES are defined and described. The policies and procedures for dorm life, Fraternities & Sororites, organizations, and alcohol & drug violations and penalties are all addressed in this very important document.
As students, YOU HAVE THE POWER to voice your concerns and amend this document!!!
The Conduct Committee begins meeting next week, and we want to hear from YOU. SPREAD THE WORD!
THE DEADLINE IS TOMORROW, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 AT 5PM!!!
Visit http://smu.edu/studentsenate/codeproposals/default.asp to review the current Code of Conduct and submit your proposal.
(All comments may be submitted anonymously, or not.)
Let’s make this a document that better represents the interests of our student body!
Thank you,
Senator Kearney
October 23, 2009
Should Senate add a “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Senator” ?
One of the most pressing issues for the 96th Student Senate this year has been the topic of representation in our senate. There has been much discussion over one particular group’s request for an additional representation seat in senate. There has been a large push for a “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” Senator to be added to the chamber.
Since this blog is supposed to be a place fostering healthy debate on important issues to our senate. It seems that this post is late in being created. Please discuss to your hearts content!
Below are some links to reference to find out more that has been going on lately.
October 21, 2009
A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE GIFT OF MUSTANGS TO THE UNIVERSITY AND THE FUTURE OF PERUNA AS OUR MASCOT
Thanks for all of the support!
-Jack Benage (Membership Chair), Jake Torres (Education Senator) & Alex Ehmke (Chief of Staff)
Piece Passed
Bill Number: F-09-10-06 Final Vote:
Authors: Jack Benage, Jake Torres, Alex Ehmke _Student Senate Secretary: Peter Goldschmidt
Dean of Student Life: Dr. Lisa Webb Student Senate Chair: Alaa Al- Barghuthi
A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE GIFT OF MUSTANGS TO THE UNIVERSITY AND THE FUTURE OF PERUNA AS OUR MASCOT
WHEREAS SMU has been presented with two mustangs in the hope that their “rugged determination to survive and thrive” will be put on display as a symbol of the rugged determination of SMU’s football team and athletic programs, and
NOTING WITH SATISFACTION the selfless and honorable work of the National Wild Horse Foundation and the generous Mrs. Madeleine Pickens, and
DEEPLY THANKFUL for the Pickens’ dedication and commitment to the spirit and traditions of Southern Methodist University, and
CONSCIOUS of the university’s plans to have these new mustangs represent SMU at university events as well as at football games and on the boulevard as supplements to our current mascot arrangement and not as replacement mascots, and
MINDFUL that some of the only time that our university interacts with other institutions is at athletic events, and that this time is often the only opportunity that other colleges and universities have a chance to form opinions about who we are as a university, and
NOTING that our current mascot and symbol of the student body, a black shetland pony named Peruna, has represented us so well in the past, and
RECALLING Peruna’s history as the most dedicated fan of SMU football for the past 77 years, having been in attendance at every home game since 1932 and having led us to three National Championship titles, 10 bowl games, and over 350 total wins during his tenure as our mascot, and
DEEPLY DISTURBED with respect to Coach Jones, about his statement that his “football team wants to come out behind a mustang. I mean, that’s really what it’s about” and differing from Coach Jones in suggesting that “really what it’s about” is toughness, strength, dedication and “All Grit. No Quit,” all qualities possessed by our current mascot, Peruna, and
RECOGNIZING that this tradition is one of the most deeply ingrained and long-lived traditions of SMU, with stories and facts about Peruna and his history being shared and taught to every incoming student, including our “Pony Up!” tradition, at our AARO and Mustang Corral events, and
DEEPLY TROUBLED that university decision makers did not seek the opinion of the student body (represented by the 96th Student senate) in this matter, one which affects the representation of the entire SMU community, specifically students and alumni, whose image is the one actually being represented by either Peruna or any other mascot-like additions such as these mustangs, and
CONFIDENT that based on Peruna’s career history he will continue to represent the ideals and strength of our university and its athletic programs with class and honor, and
CONCERNED that any additional symbolic representation of our university will be destructive to a legacy that SMU is trying to achieve through it’s hard work with the “Unbridled” campaign, and particularly
CONSIDERING that mustangs at our events would be bridled which contradicts the spirit of our current capital campaign which aligns very well with Peruna, who is unbridled, and
FURTHER NOTING that while the spirit of the mustang is, in many ways, in keeping with our ideals as a university, the student body is concerned that the addition of the new mustangs will detract from a long-standing and important university tradition, however,
ENDORSING the work being done by Mr. and Mrs. Pickens to help the mustangs across the country through the National Wild Horse foundation, and
HOPING that SMU can somehow partner with Mrs. Pickens and the National Wild Horse Foundation to establish sanctuaries for these mustangs, so the university can be responsible for the rescue of these proud animals which are indeed representative of the spirit of our university in many ways, be it therefore
RESOLVED I. The Student Senate urge the university to consult the opinion, spirit, and wishes of the student body prior to making important decisions that affect the image of the university and its students.
II. That the student body supports Peruna as SMU’s only mascot.
III. That the student body wishes Peruna to be the only figure symbolically representing SMU at university athletic events, regardless of whether any additional figures are considered official or unofficial mascots or figures.
IV. That the student body is thankful and deeply appreciative of the Pickens’ donation, dedication to our university, and the mission of the National Wild Horse Foundation.
V. That the student body retains a great interest in the university aiding the National Wild Horse Foundation and any other organizations aiming to help the overall welfare of these mustangs in any way appropriate.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jake Torres Alex Ehmke
Education Senator Chief of Staff
Jack Benage
Chair of Membership
October 21, 2009
A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BENCHMARK REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSOR USE OF ONLINE COURSE TOOLS
SMU STUDENT SENATE
Bill Number: F-09-10-07
Author: Alex Ehmke, Jack Benage Student Senate Secretary: Peter Goldschmidt
Dean of Student Life: Dr. Lisa Webb Student Senate Chair: Alaa Al- Barghuthi
A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BENCHMARK REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSOR USE OF ONLINE COURSE TOOLS
WHEREAS currently, many professors do not inform students of any grades that they have earned throughout the semester, and
COGNIZANT that many students are currently required to make a private appointment with their professor during office hours or email their professor with a request in order to find out their grades, because the professor maintains only a physical record of students grades, and
OBSERVING that this current system is not only an inefficient use of students’ time, but also interferes with professors’ ability to accomplish more important tasks with their time, and
BELIEVING many problems could be addressed prior to their growth into larger conflicts if students had constant knowledge of their grades, and that for example their ability to contest a grade could be realized within days or weeks rather than weeks or months, and
APPRECIATING that many departments within this school require that their professors share with students their individual grading system and how percentages are assigned to different kinds of assignments, but
RECOGNIZING that such a practice, while appreciated, stands to benefit from students’ having knowledge not only of how the grading system functions, but also of how their own grades fit within that system, and
FURTHER NOTING that students’ knowledge of teachers’ grading systems would be greatly enhanced with constant access to course syllabi, particularly in the event that a student misplaces his/her syllabus, and
BEARING IN MIND that our university already has an online system in place, Blackboard, in which professors may optionally report the grades of their students, and
KEEPING IN MIND that many student and professor frustrations could be avoided if professors were required post syllabi at the beginning of the semester and to report grades throughout the semester, and
REAFFIRMING that the system to make this idea viable has not only already been paid for by SMU, but is also already in place, let it therefore be
RESOLVED that the students of SMU request that professors be required to report all grades on the online Blackboard system, and that they be required to do so within a time frame to be decided upon by the professor and shared with the students at the beginning of the semester, but not to exceed one month from the date on which the grade was earned.
FURTHER RESOLVED that the course syllabus be posted and available on Blackboard prior to the beginning of the course, and that it be updated throughout the semester to reflect any amendments.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jack Benage
Chair of Membership
Alex Ehmke
Chief of Staff
