The Undergraduate Senate focused its first meeting of the semester on increasing student representation in the administration, revamping Phil Bender, Founders' Week and Eagle Nights and launching a bike-lending program for students.
After a semester characterized by the elections and appointments of new Student Government executives, SG President Joe Vidulich said he hoped to focus less on the bureaucracy of the SG and more on "getting things done for students."
Vidulich said one of his top policy items for the semester is getting a student member on AU's Rank and Tenure Committee, which decides which professors get tenure.
He said that currently "students can't be involved in the selection, and they don't have a vote in the rank and tenure of professors."
Vidulich said he also wants to extend the hours of the Eagle's Nest on weekends this semester.
Vidulich also spoke about Phil Bender, taking place on Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. during the men's basketball game against the College of the Holy Cross. Last year there were so many students that "we almost broke the fire code," he said.
Vidulich also said he wanted to address AU's smoking policy survey and the Student Bill of Rights, help create the Women's Resource Center, extend the hours of Student Health Center, re-establish an AU chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and create gender-neutral housing options.
New SG Vice President Paul Grever spoke about his plans for Founders' Week, Eagle Nights and other campus-wide events.
Grever also spoke about revamping Founders' Week this year, which will kick off Feb. 8 with the Inaugural Celebration and Founders' Day Ball and continue through Feb. 15. Activities during Founders' Week will also include an American's Got Talent competition, a birthday party celebrating AU's past and future, the Queers and Allies drag show and a new installment in the Kennedy Political Union's "I remember AU when ..." program series, according to Founders' Director Bettina Sferrino.
Grever also announced that Jan. 30, Jerry Springer is coming to Eagle Nights to film a show.
Grever said he hopes to plan at least one event that students will "truly enjoy." Some of his ideas for the semester including sponsoring mini-golf and Slip 'n Slides on the quad, grill-outs on the Bender Parking Garage and an end-of-the-year event.
New SG Comptroller Amanda Hesse said she plans to implement a bike-lending program within two weeks. So far, the university owns eight bikes and helmets that students sign up to rent online.
Hesse also said she wants to help improve the relationship between the offices of the Registrar, Student Accounts and Financial Aid. She said she attempts to "make things more streamlined and easier to use for students and between the three departments."
The Undergraduate Senate will hold its next meeting Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Kogod 118.
