Treasurer Richa Bhala '07 reiterated that students interested in receiving club funding must attend a mandatory meeting this Friday. President Mike Simmons '06 discussed the dining services' proposal to extend Valentine's hours to 8 p.m.
Senator Emily Silberstein '06 reported that the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) approved the environmental studies concentration. Senator Rob Cobbs '06 reported that the Committee on Priorities and Resources (CPR) was still searching for childcare options. Senator Josh Stein '08 also announced that the Elections Committee succeeded in electing Mike Donovan '08 and Rohit Raj '08 as new senators for the class of 2008. Kevin Nattinger '08 won the election for the chair position on the Judiciary Council (JC).
Senator Mira Serrill-Robins '06 reported that the professors have withdrawn their objection to allowing students to view their professors' book list prior to the beginning of classes, but that the problem concerning students being unable to afford books is still being addressed.
Simmons then swore in Nattinger, who in turn swore in Donovan and Raj as new members of the senate.
A sophomore visitor from Hampshire, Teresa Anderson, next addressed the senate, asking for funding support for Brian Hunley, an independent journalist, to come to Hampshire to show his stunning documentary of his visit to Iraq. The event, scheduled for sometime around March 7, would be open to Five Colleges students. Talks with UMass about co-sponsoring the event are already underway.
Senator Josh Stein '08 motioned to endorse the event and commit its possible funding to the Budgetary Committee (BC). Silberstein moved to amend Stein's motion to include that Anderson must first seek funding from Five-College, Inc. before coming back to the senate. Senator Avi Das '07 stated, "I agree with Emily's sentiment ... It's probably a good idea," and the motion passed.
Vice President Noah Isserman '07 announced that "certain of our senators have violated a constitutional cap on [being members of] four committees." Suggesting either resignations or an amendment to the bylaws, several senators agreed that they would step down from their posts.
Senators elected eight members to committee spots: Senator Samantha Siegal '08 was elected to the CPR; Senator Nick Pastan '09 was elected to the class of '09 position on the College Council; Donovan was elected to the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee; Senator Dan de Zeeuw '08 was elected to the Interdepartmental Student Fund Committee; Senator Raj Borsellino '08 was elected to the IT Policies Committee; and Senator Adam Bookman '08, Donovan and Borsellino were all elected to the Bradley Shuttle Committee.
After discussing this week's budget recommendations, senators debated the funding of the Darfur Awareness Group speaker. Simmons stated that the speaker cost $4,000, and that President Anthony Marx as well as several others had already contributed. His motion to increase the funding to $1,273.57 passed. Due to little interest in the Harvard Business Conference, the Senate has reduced funding to $688 until further interest is confirmed.
The meeting concluded with Das' resignation from his spot on the Dining Services Committee. He stated that the recent proposal regarding dining services "had been my big push since freshman year." Because he believes it will most likely succeed, he would therefore "like to respectfully step down" to give another senator a chance to pursue their own ideas. Seeing, however, that two senators wished to accept his position, Stein resigned as well, and senators Anneliese Koehler '09 and Jackie De La Fuente '09 were elected unanimously.