Benton Hurt, sophomore biology major, called the 195th session of Union University Student Senate to order Wednesday night in Harvey Auditorium.
The session began as Christian Winter, senior Christian studies major, opened with a word of prayer. The senate then swore in new officers.
The first bill of the night was a resolution asking that the university increase and extend open dorm hours. With only a few murmurs of disapproval, the bill passed with a firm majority.
If approved by administration, the bill would extend open dorm hours in the Quads on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays would be from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday open dorm hours would range from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Heritage, while having extended hours on Friday through Saturday, would not be given extra hours during the weekdays. This point was contested during the meeting. The bill was presented by Ben Melton, junior biology major, and David Taylor, junior biology major.
Allen Bradley, senior accounting major, argued that in the interest of privacy, some students may prefer to have their dorms free from members of the opposite sex. The senator from Union JAXX, Jesse Dahms, senior business administration major, responded that students should use extended open dorm hours as an opportunity to foster community between peers.
The next bill called for extended hours of availability for the Education Department’s materials lab for Union’s student teachers. Dahms and Winter presented the bill, and it passed.
The last piece of legislation presented asked that Dining Services consider implementing a mobile ordering system. The bill was struck down, however, after senators argued that the bill would put too much pressure on Creative Dining staff.
Senate closed by electing new officers. Trey Gerrell, senior Christian thought and tradition major, was elected clerk; Dahms was elected president pro-tempore; Winter was elected chaplain; and Danielle Lisk was elected sergeant-at-arms.
