Senate Spotlight 3/16/22: Insights from the Speaker of The Senate
Cade Chezem, the President-Elect and current Speaker of the Senate, conveys his insights as to the inner workings of the SGA Senate as well as recaps the March 16th meeting.
Cade Chezem | cchezem@butler.edu
The Student Senate convened last Wednesday, March 16, for our weekly meeting.
The first item on the agenda was a presentation from Bookish Bulldogs– an organization seeking official endorsement by the Student Government Association. Bookish Bulldogs aims to spread their passion for reading across campus through monthly books and bi-weekly discussions. Additionally, the organization hopes to promote diversity and inclusion through literature. There are currently fifteen students interested in the organization and–while open to any major–the executive members have sent an interest survey to all English majors to gauge interest.
The Senators also heard a presentation from another organization seeking official endorsement, Bulldogs for Universal Design (BUD). Stemming from the need for campus accessibility and personal advocacy, BUD’s mission is to protect the rights of all disabled students on campus by promoting their needs. The organization also believes that disabled people are a key part of diversity and thus it is important to create an atmosphere of student belonging. BUD hosted a callout meeting before Spring Break where they had 32 students in attendance and an additional thirty students interested in the club.
Both organizations will be voted on by the Senate next week, and if passed will be handed over to the University for final approval.
Following the presentations, each of the Senate committees presented their updates to the public. Each committee is currently working on various campus improvement projects as well as planning an outreach event for this semester.
There are four Senate meetings left this year; Senators are currently planning to discuss a variety of new business as well as sponsor numerous events. Stay on the lookout for numerous upcoming grant allocations, student organization endorsements, and other resolutions aimed at improving student life.
All Senate meetings are open to students to come and listen; they take place in the Reilly Room at 7pm on Wednesdays.