The third Senate session of the semester kicked off Wednesday, March 7 in Harvey Hall, passing one resolution and three bills and rejecting another bill in an unusually fierce debate.
Alex Huguenard, director of the Vocatio Center, opened the session by explaining the Vocatio Center’s mission to help students discover, respond to and live out their life callings. He encouraged students to attend the College to Career Expo on Thursday, March 8 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Grant Center. The expo will showcase 44 organizations, including education systems, nonprofits and banks, and will be an opportunity for students to learn about potential careers and network with potential employers. Huguenard said that this will be an opportunity for students to practice important skills and stand out from the hundreds of resumes employers may have to sort through.
“80% of all jobs never get posted on a public job forum,” Huguenard said. “If you want to find your way into the field that you feel like God is calling you into, that means that you have to figure out how to penetrate that 80%, that 4 out of 5 jobs. The way you do that is through networking, building relationships, having connections.”
SGA Treasurer Madeline Fleming then gave the Senate treasurer’s report, as well as the ambassador’s report in the absence of the SGA ambassador. Fleming reported that the bill requesting a sidewalk behind the Lex will not be implemented until summer break or another sidewalk job is needed. The resolution requesting the removal of an obstructive parking spot near Warmath was implemented, and she warned students that they will get tickets if they park in that place. She also relayed a message from Bryan Carrier, dean of students, who commended students for “seeking ways to make the campus safer and better.”
Fleming then informed students that there was $1,800 left in the Senate budget for the semester and warned students to carefully consider the four bills being presented, reminding students that only $1,000 would be left in the budget for all organizations for the rest of the semester if all four bills passed.
“I think it’s fiscally irresponsible tonight to spend $800,” Fleming said. “If we pass every bill, we would be spending $800. I just think that we need to take our jobs as senators seriously. If you don’t agree with a bill or you don’t think that the reasoning for the bill is right, then you can vote no. You have the right to vote no. And you should vote no. So use your right to vote no and voice your opinion.”
The first piece of legislation, Senate Bill 197-5, requested $200 to be allocated to Students Engaging Culture, a student organization formerly known as the Sociological Inquiry Society. Josie Carrier, the sponsor of the bill, stated that the club has struggled financially due to much change in the sociology department over the past year, including the departure of an old professor, the arrival of a new professor and mismanagement of funds. The bill would help provide free dinners for TED Talk discussion nights that the organization plans to sponsor in the future, as well as help support a voluntary, faculty-sponsored smartphone-free day in April.
“As students who understand how cultural change happens, we study how important social media is in describing our culture and some of the negative effects that it’s had, so we really want to help out with that day, including hosting some games that are basically smartphone games in real life,” Carrier said.
The first bill passed with no debate.
The second piece of legislation, Senate Bill 197-6, requested $200 to be allocated to Sigma Alpha Epsilon to help with the costs of an upcoming charity philanthropy run, a race that will support the STAR Center in Jackson, including amenities, such as water bottles and T-shirts, for participants so that all proceeds can go toward the STAR Center. The bill’s sponsor, Jonathan Greer, stated that SAE has received over $1,200 in sponsorships, but said that some of the money will come in after the race day.
The bill was immediately met with questions and concerns from the Senate body.
“Why do you think that you can ask for money for your organization to support something that your organization is technically supposed to raise money for and create fundraisers to actually fund-raise that money yourself?” asked Sabrina Clendenin, junior public relations major.
“Any part of a fundraiser’s mission is to find all possible avenues to raise money for your fund,” Greer said. “When you’re passionate about something, you want every single dollar that you can to go toward that.”
Ted Murphy, junior business administration major, voiced his support for the race and the STAR Center but also voiced his disagreement with the bill.
“I am personally against this, only because we have limited funds and $200 is going to go a long way towards other organizations that might need funds in order to survive or in order to provide other services to students,” Murphy said.
Fleming also voiced her concerns about the bill.
“SAE did get $200 last semester, so this is their second time this year asking for money,” Fleming said. “It’s not a bad thing, it’s not against the rules, but it isn’t nice to. Second of all, if their bill does not pass this Senate, they can ask again for money for the same thing. So if we have extra money next Senate and they need it for [reimbursement], then they can ask for that money. Just saying no today doesn’t mean you’re saying no to them for the rest of the semester.”
After much heated debate, the bill failed to pass.
The third piece of legislation, Senate Resolution 197-7, requested that Union provide Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in the Lex once a week.
According to the resolution, Chick-Fil-A would be offered every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Original chicken sandwiches, spicy chicken sandwiches, sandwich meals and chocolate chip cookies would be offered, with original sandwiches costing $4.25, spicy sandwiches costing $4.50, meals, which would include chips and a cookie, costing $7.25 and cookies costing $1.50. Prices are set by corporate at Chick-Fil-A, so Union would not be able to control the prices.
Meal swipes and Buster Bucks would not be able to be used because Chick-Fil-A would be serving students directly and because all of the money allotted for students’ meal plans has already been allotted for the food and cafeteria workers.
As the floor opened for debate, Clark Hubbard, junior English major, lightened the room by alluding to the Old Testament and joking that Chick-Fil-A has ties to the Bible.
“The Hebrew word for manna, some modern scholars have actually suggested that can be transliterated as Chick-Fil-A,” Hubbard said. “It’s not only good for Union University, good for us as students, but also good for the furthering of Jesus Christ’s kingdom.”
After some questions and enthusiastic expressions of support, the resolution passed.
The fourth piece of legislation, Senate Bill 197-8, requested that $200 be allocated to the International Student Union for the cost of the International Food Festival, which aims to give students an opportunity to experience international food and environment. The funds would be used to reimburse cooks for ingredients, which tend to be more expensive for international food. The bill’s sponsor informed students that Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Greece, Morocco, South Africa and Sweden are some of the countries that will be represented at the festival.
Jessica Barton, an intercultural studies major who grew up in France, advocated for the bill.
“As somebody who grew up in a different country, this is a great opportunity, for me at least, because I get to feel like I’m back home,” Barton said.
The bill passed.
The fifth and final piece of legislation, Senate Bill 197-9, requested that $200 be allocated to the Union Jillz Ultimate Frisbee team for equipment and expensive tournament bid fees. This is the team’s second year of existence, and all of their previous money has come from dues and fundraisers.
The bill passed.
Fleming then reported that $1,200 was left in the Senate budget, reminding students that only six organizations will be able to get money for the remainder of the semester.
SAC President Abigail Johnson announced that SAC will be hosting a movie night in the Bowld for Sibling Weekend on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. and that Be Our Guest will take place next week.
A variety of student organizational announcements closed the session.
Student Leadership will host a Dine and Discuss session on Thursday, March 8 at 6 p.m. The Zeta Kickball Tournament for breast cancer awareness will take place on Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. at West Jackson Baptist Church if there is good weather or in the Bowld or field house if there is rain. Kappa Delta will be holding a fundraiser at McAlister’s to raise money for Prevent Child Abuse America.
The Society of Physics will serve free cupcakes outside of Brewer Dining Hall in celebration of Pi Day on March 14. Alpha Tau Omega will be hosting a Spaghetti and Pie Night on March 15 to raise money for St. Jude and will pie several faculty members in the face during the event.
Cardinal Ball will be held on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. The theater department will also be showing “Frankenstein” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the novel on March 16. The annual AIGA poster sale will also take place on March 16.
Senate will reconvene on Wednesday, March 28 with a special address from President Dub Oliver.
