Rockhurst Sentinel

Issue date: 5/6/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Student Senate

Dear Rockhurst Student:

So here it is: the end of the school year. You've been wandering around in an upcoming-finals induced haze, so it takes you awhile to notice that something is different. But then, one fateful day in April, it hits you: when are the elections for next years' Student Senate? You start to panic. Has something horrible happened to delay elections? Has Student Senate decided to forego the democratic process? Have they staged a revolt? Does this represent the end of student government at Rockhurst University as you know it?
Alas, the truth is nothing quite so dramatic, but it is equally exciting. This year's Student Senate brought about some of the biggest reforms (read: improvements) in the organization in decades, and their crowning achievement was the entire overhaul of the Student Senate constitution. So what does that mean for you, the constituent? It means a lot of things: better representation by your peers, better communication between students, faculty, and administration, better accessibility to your elected senators, and a Student Senate that you can be proud of.
But perhaps most tangibly, it also means that Student Senate elections will now be taking place in conjunction with the change of the calendar year rather than the academic year, much like elections for fraternity officers and the President of the United States. As such, your current senators will continue to serve you until November 2007, when an election will be held and the new system will go into full effect.
Now, some of you may be asking, "What exactly have you all done that is so wonderful, fabulous, and fantastic that we should just let you extend your terms like this?" That is a valid question. After all, we live in a society that not only supports but encourages you to engage in a continuing dialogue with your elected representatives. You should be wondering what they are doing for you. You should be holding them accountable to you, the people who put them in office in the first place. Luckily for everyone, this year's Student Senate has spent every day working to serve you well. They have gone out of their way to become more available to you, with a new office located in Massman 9 and an improved website you can find at http://www.rockhurst.edu/studentlife/activities/organizations/senate/index.asp.
They have modified the way the allocations process works, so that your student activity fee is distributed in a manner that is fairer and more beneficial to you. They have instituted a policy of constitutional review, to make sure that all campus organizations are running efficiently and in the best interest of the Rockhurst community. They are currently administering a campus-wide survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the academic advising program here at the university. And, they have a number of other endeavors underway that they will continue with in the coming semester, namely a reassessment of the Rockhurst grading system (you know, the pluses and minuses that affect your GPA), an effort to change the current university alcohol policy, and an ongoing project to help bring the benefits of the E-Portfolio program to the entire student body.
As you can see, your senators are hard at work, and they have even improved your life on a somewhat less serious level. Anyone a fan of the new Frappuccinos® in the cafeteria? That was Student Senate, speaking up for you. This year has been a pleasure, and we look forward with great excitement and anticipation to spending one more semester in your service.

Sincerely,

Your Ever-Faithful Rockhurst University Student Senate

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