Only three senators are looking over academic affairs for the Student Association Senate after several resignations.
The SA Senate academic affairs committee has lost four senators, leaving only SA Sen. Nathan Brill (SoB-U), the committee’s chairman, SA Sen. Isa Bacardi (SPHHS-U), a senior, and SA Sen. Jenn Jackson (SMHS-G), a graduate student, to handle the committee’s business. The SA Senate has 13 vacant seats with the resignation announcement of SA Sen. Patrick Kelly (CCAS-G), a graduate student, at Tuesday’s SA Senate meeting in Rome Hall.
Brill, a senior, jokingly referred to his committee as “the committee of one” when addressing the Senate. He urged senators to make sure the Senate applicants consider joining his committee and be willing to take an interest in the Senate.
“This committee is obviously an important and core part of what the Student Association does,” Brill said. “Obviously, some of (the new senators) are going to be put on the committee.”
Brill said the committee will work on several important initiatives this year including “undergraduate experience reports.” These accounts will be used as a reference for the Senate on student opinion and experience.
“I want people to want to be on the committee and I want people to be enthusiastic about the work that they’re going to be doing,” Brill said.
Kelly’s resignation comes on the heels of the resignations of former SA Sens. Richard Fowler (U-At Large), a junior, and Nina Pedrad (CCAS-U) who also withdrew from the University last week.
“Can we have no more resignations?” joked SA Sen. Matt Cohen (SoB-U), a senior, during the meeting. “I generally like everyone in this room.”
Of the 13 Senate vacancies, seven are graduate seats.
SA Sen. Sean Cortopassi (GSEHD), who became a senator at the beginning of the year, said he was disappointed by the large number of graduate resignations.
“It is unacceptable,” Cortopassi said. “They need to show up and do what they need to do.”
SA Sen. Sarah Tuntland (G-At Large) said that it is harder for graduate students because of classes and jobs.
The Senate will meet again on Oct. 9 in the Continental Ballroom in Marvin Center to vote on freshman non-voting senators.
