A RESOLUTION ADDING A SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY SEAT TO THE STUDENT SENATE

http://smu.edu/studentsenate/Documents/PotentialLegislation/17-LGBT%20Seat.doc

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

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

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

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

http://smu.edu/studentsenate/PotentialLegislation/12-Engineering%20Title.doc

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

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.

http://www.smudailycampus.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleComments&ustory_id=5d857736-c99c-4446-a31a-b60b1398ce43#postform

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=148530769659&ref=nf

-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 96^th 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

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