By John Ferrannini and Thomas Santos
There was no new business at the Associated Student Body Student Senate’s first meeting of the semester on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Instead, the focus was on introducing procedures of the board to the senators and members of the public.
Outgoing ASB adviser Tanika Byrd introduced the members of the Student Senate to the student money they will have access to spend this year.
The senate receives money from two places; student access cards, and from the student representation fee, which is only supposed to be used for advocacy purposes.
The funds are located in two separate accounts.
Jorge Riley, who was elected ASB Student Senate President but whose election was invalidated for reasons the administration and ASB have not disclosed, thought the meeting went well.
“It was good,” Riley said. “It was informative and without conflicts. It seems like they’re just making the announcements they need to make.”
Leslie Milan Fisher, who is acting as interim ASB Student Senate president, tried to inspire confidence in the board.
“We are students serving students and we are fully dedicated to making a positive impact on this campus,” she said. “Your student senate are the eager beavers shoring up dams all over the school.”
Fisher also said that the senators should keep office hours so that students will be able to reach them with their concerns.
Director of Finance Laurie Jones mentioned that students are getting fined in the parking lot by campus police for not wearing their seat belts.
A moment of silence was held to honor the victims of the attacks on 9/11.
“It was requested by our director of finance (Laurie Jones) that we have a moment of silence in observance of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy,” Fisher said. “I concurred with her that would be an important and relevant thing for us to do.”
“To give a little historical background for that day, on September 11, 2001 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaida hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States,” she explained.
After the meeting, several members of the public were seen discussing the ASB Student Senate special election that was held Tuesday. Results will be posted Friday at noon in the Center for Leadership and Development.
