Five items on SAS agenda pass, closing out 2008-'09 year

Before the Nebraska Wesleyan University Student Affairs Senate adjourned for the 2008-2009 academic year, it addressed a slew of legislation: in total, five resolutions and three bills - all of which were passed. Each of the bills, passed by a 2/3 quorum, made updates to the SAS Constitution and Budget Handbook.

Business first raised at the April 14 gathering was resolved with the presentation of SR-23. Addressing the increased newspaper readership during the fall of 2008, Kathy Shellogg briefed SAS on the financial status of the Readership Program. She informed the Senate that an additional allocation of up to $3,500 for the Senate-sponsored program was necessary to compensate for the atypical numbers caused by the presidential election.

Extending from April 14 to the 21st, SR-19 garnered criticism that extended beyond the actual resolution at hand. The resolution, granting up to $769 to compensate Bruce Johnson's attendance at a prestigious Dartmouth conference, raised questions about the extent to which the SAS budget should cover trip fees. The issue came to a head after a semester of irregularities when granting such requests. Finally passed on April 21, Nicholas Ware captured the sentiment relevant to the resolution, remarking that Johnson's accomplishment speaks well for the University and congratulating him for the honor.

The presentation of SR-20 was the result of the Culmination Week Project, which Jamey Kennel has worked with over his numerous years with SAS. Passed with more the 25 votes, it issues SAS' support that two recommendations be made to the Curriculum and Executive Committees for further review and implementation. The two recommendations include requiring the Academic Affairs Office and department chairs to communicate the Culmination Week Policy to all professors at the beginning of each semester (and again prior to the culmination week period), as well as instituting a new "Reading/Study Day" Wednesday of finals week that would contain no final exams or class meeting times. If approved, the changes would be made (at the earliest) for the fall 2010 semester.

Seeing a short window of opportunity, SR-21 carried on April 28, allocating up to $7,500 toward renovations in the Roy G. Story Student Center that would create a student meeting and lounge space in the Lower Level Meeting Room. SR-22 also provides funds toward improving campus services, granting up to $2,244 for the purchase of bicycles and related equipment for the Bike Checkout Program.