2 May 2010

Dear Constituents,

A great deal has transpired this semester. I’m sure that you have heard about our main issue with reforming the Student Activities Board. If you haven’t, just a short history: SAB currently functions as a club independent of the USG. Unfortunately, it is an office under the USG and should not operate independently. Recently, in light of certain events, it came to the attention of the USG that some restrictions may need to be placed on the Student Activities Board in order to have it function to benefit the interests of everyone on campus instead of the interests of the membership. As such, my committee worked on a bill to totally restructure the SAB and bring it more under the jurisdiction of the VP of Student Life, the VP of Communications, and a few other entities that have programming experience (i.e. RHA and CSA). But, the bill that passed the Senate floor was not one that I supported, and instead of providing more structure and guidelines for SAB, it created an abstract organization that will easily fail in the hands of inept individuals that are unschooled in the ways of USG and of programming. I urge the campus community to fully support the efforts of the new SAB next year, in an attempt to make sure that this does not happen. We will need event planners and people on committees to manage new events and ideas. The new SAB will focus on larger campus-wide events that are planned year-round instead of a series of smaller events throughout the semesters. This will be an opportunity for those with programming experience to head USG-sponsored committees.

In addition to the SAB hubbub, I held regular office hours and presided on a committee for a new Supreme Court Justice. The candidate seemed very well-connected around campus and extremely well-versed in USG procedure and our constitution.

Currently, I am drafting two resolutions: one for the addition of signs to elevators in the library for disabled persons and the second for the use of recycled materials in Roth Regatta. I hope they pass this week!

Congratulations to graduating seniors! Your years here—I hope—were well spent and highly enjoyable. Good luck in the ‘real’ world and make your mark.

Have a happy and safe summer break!

Senator Jennifer Hand