At its last meeting of the semester, the Associated Student Body Student Senate voted in favor of spending up to $300 on new signage and to give away excess shirts to the St. John’s Program for Real Change, discussed their experiences at General Assembly and debated a resolution to honor an American River College student.
The Senate is slated to spend up to $300 on a 6-foot banner bearing it’s body’s logo to be put on tables at “club days and other events,” according to the resolution.
Tamara Dunning, who is acting as ASB student senate president, said that Senate could buy a horizontal banner for $185.97 and get a vertical banner for free.
The Senate also voted to give away half the leftover shirts from the Nov. 20 Club Day, as well as all the ASB shirts that are over one year old, to the St. John’s Program for Real Change, which supports homeless women and children. The Clubs and Events Board voted to give away those shirts at their last meeting, pending approval from Senate.
Dunning then discussed her experience at the General Assembly for California Community College Student Senates in Los Angeles from Nov. 14 to 16.
Two members of the Student Senate, Director of Activities David Hylton and CAEB President Jeremy Diefenbacher, were sent home early from General Assembly for an incident “regarding substances,” according to Cameron Weaver, senate director of public relations.
“Think of G.A. as like this meeting, but exponentially. There are 800 people in the room,” said Dunning, who was proud of CAEB Director of Activities LeslieAnn Dameron for bringing forth a resolution supporting the new “Yes means yes” sexual consent law.
“There are 800 people in the room, mostly chatting, but at that point the room was quiet. It’s the moment where you’re at G.A. and you think that ‘This is what we came here for,’” said Dunning.
Dunning also spoke about “breakout sessions,” where student representatives learn about issues such as shared governance, campus sustainability and educational equity from an expert, and then discuss it amongst themselves.
“There are several breakout sessions offered,” said Dunning. “These are workshops specific to student advocacy.”
Director of Finance Laurie Jones brought forth a resolution commending Tanishq Abraham, an 11-year-old American River College student who graduated from high school last year.
The Senate ultimately decided to discuss the resolution at a future meeting because several members voiced their opposition.
“It is our responsibility as student leaders to not specifically shine a light to people inside our social realms,” said Diefenbacher.
As the meeting ended the year for Student Senate, Director of Public Relations Cameron Weaver was pleased with how the semester had gone.
“This semester we made some really good progress by doing things we haven’t done before,” said Weaver. “We have business cards now, that’s a big deal. We’re potentially going into the Current, potentially having a newsletter on the side.”
Dunning ended the meeting by announcing that Student Senate will reconvene on Jan. 29.
