Jeremy Fugleberg

It was a busy final meeting for the Students’ Association Senate on March 19. The final ticks of the clock meant a final vote on a draft of the body’s bylaws, which passed unanimously.

“The last time the bylaws changed was four years ago,” said outgoing President Alex Halbach in an interview Feb. 27. “I think this is a reflection of what changes proved necessary over the last couple of years, and now we’re just getting them down on paper.”

The many bylaw revisions were months in the making, with many senators spending hours looking at various changes and drafts. Even after the senate began to review the changes, it took several of their weekly meetings to work through the range of changes considered.

Minutes later, incoming president Alex Brown, incoming vice president Chris Schaefer and the new senators were sworn in and immediately got down to business.

“We are expecting a busy year,” said Brown. “I have high hopes for this senate. We want to see a lot of progress not only on our half, but on your half as well.”

The senate approved Brown and Schaefer’s all-male picks for an executive board and chose which senators would represent each college on the board of directors.

Senate Bylaw Changes

The Senate:

? Raised the minimum grade point average for a senate president candidate from 2.0 to 2.5

? Decided not to review the bylaws of organizations as a body, but refer them to the organization subcommittee

? Gave the board of directors the right to appoint replacement senators, who must be approved by the Senate by a two-thirds vote

? Allowed the president or vice-president to serve as an ex-officio member of the Union Activity Finance and Budget Committee (UAFBC)

? Allowed UPC leadership to serve out their terms, even if chosen as SA president, vice president or as a member of the executive board

? Required that media managers — The Collegian editor-in-chief, The Collegian managing editor and KSDJ manager – resign their positions if they choose to run for senate president, vice president or a spot on the executive board

? No senator can jointly serve as a media manager

? Declared that finance committee meetings be open to the public

? Integrated current finance committee practices into the bylaws

In other business:? Student Affairs Vice President Marysz Rames was awarded the Jackrabbit of the Year for her service to students. “Thanks for keeping me grounded,” she said.

? For the annual pub crawl on March 24, a Safe Ride bus will run both routes between 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the normal two-bus service will take over at that time.

? There’s still time to apply to be an at-large senator, representing the entire student body. Applications will close on March 23 at 5 p.m.

#1.883639:1432047337.jpg:gavelpassing.bd.jpg:Outgoing SA President Alex Halbach hands the gavel to incoming president Alex Brown while incoming vice president Chris Schaefer looks on. The new senate was sworn in at the March 19 meeting.:Brandon DeVries