Tuesday, November 2, the Student Government Association held its first Open Senate of the year. There are two main branches of Student Government: ICC and Senate. The Inter Class Council is in charge of planning events such as Junior Ring, Fun Day, and Big Top. Senate is SGA’s primary policy-making body, which meets every Tuesday from 8-11pm in Ladd 307 to vote on amendments to the Skidmore Constitution or the SGA bylaws, club budgets and other proposals. During this time period, Senate also discusses various programs to implement that would improve life at Skidmore for everyone.
Though regular Senate meetings are open to everyone, Senate is also held in a more public location a few times a year to give the student body more incentive to attend and participate. At the first open non-senator forum of the night, Vice President (VP) of Honor’s Forum, Dylan Quinn ’18 talked about his collaboration with the VP of Programs and Engagement, Taylor Salvartore ’18, to create a Comprehensive Community Service Forum. Dylan also reminded everyone of the Food Drive for Code Blue that will take place from November 16-17.
During Committee Reports, VP for Club Affairs, Kira Geary ’18 announced the approval of Skid Game Labs’ club charter. ICC is working diligently on Junior Ring, which will be held from December 1-4, and the Committee on Inclusion and Outreach is working on the Case Takeover dinner on November 19. The Committee on Student Life is also working on several programs including safe rides and making Skidmore more accessible to handicapped people.
Next came a discussion with the VP for Student Life, Nicole Werner ’18 and the VP for Programs and Engagement, Tayler Salvatore ’18 about their Safe Rides program. With this program, Senator Werner and Senator Salvatore hope to expand on Skidmore’s current contract with Saratoga Taxi and give each student a handful of free rides per year to be used in situations such as a doctor’s appointments, or if a student does not feel safe walking or taking the bus back to campus. Skidmore also currently has a contract with Saratoga Taxi to give students free rides to and from the stables and the boathouse, and free rides back to campus from 4-6am. Senator Werner and Senator Salvatore hope that the Safe Rides Initiative will be paid for by the school rather than through SGA funds.
Following the Safe Rides discussion, SGA President Dorothy Parsons ’17 facilitated a discussion on the Inter Cultural Center and the prospect of building a larger multicultural center in Case. After voting in favor of the allocated budget proposal for Rejoice! was the second open forum of the night. Executive VP Luca Mobilia '17 brought up a proposal that SGA has been discussing for a while now of creating a new committee to oversee SGA and Skidmore in general’s social media presence on sites like Facebook and Instagram. Senate adjourned after announcements.