Club maintenance
The University of Maine Car Club was approved as an official student organization. An active club for the past few years, the 40-plus members get together every week at the College Avenue Car Wash to talk about and appreciate each other’s cars. The club puts on events throughout the year, including a go-karting day in Scarborough, a drag racing event in Winterport and an autocross race at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. They hope to raise money to build a go-kart to use in autocross and obtain an on-campus, heated space to meet.
Guest speakers
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Robert Dana gave a motivational speech to the Student Senate, encouraging them in their work and voicing his support.
Executive reports
President Logan Aromando has been working to get a speed-reading workshop on campus. Speed reading is a method of maximizing the value of study time, according to Aromando. The workshop is likely to be held in March but is not confirmed. He mentioned that the Student Government presidential debate will be held March 11 at 5 p.m. and encouraged all senators to attend. Aromondo finished by mentioning that the Maine Day Committee would be meeting on Friday to go over volunteering events that are planned for the day.
Vice President Bentley Simpson said that the spring Senate training went well and encouraged senators to read over the presentation.
The new Vice President for Financial Affairs Jack O’Donoghue reported unallocated funds of $199,908.
Vice President of Student Organizations Taylor Cray reported that the club of the week was the Society of Women Engineers.
Vice President of Student Entertainment Corey Claflin reported that his committee was continuing to plan for the spring concert and have either already met or will meet with representatives from UMaine Parking Services, the Emera Astronomy Center and the New Balance Recreation Center. Claflin said that he has confirmed security for the night of the concert and is working to get food trucks to the event.
A representative for Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Robert Dana said the pothole issue on campus is being addressed, but will not be fixed until spring when it is feasible to repave.
Periodic reports
Chairman of the Fair Elections and Practices Committee Matthew Akers reported that executive elections had begun with nomination forms having been due Feb. 20. Campaigning began on Friday, March 1.
Representative to the Graduate Student Senate Tiffany Tanner reported that the graduate school will be holding a thesis writing and formatting workshop on March 7, 6-8 p.m., in Stodder Hall.
Reports of standing committees
Chairman of the Membership Committee Zachary Wyles reported that the meeting’s catering for Senate meeting was from Chick-Fil-A. He apologized for the lack of vegetarian food.
Chairwoman of the Services Committee Emmeline Wiley reported that the Bear’s Den is adding caloric information to its menu. She also mentioned a slew of new improvements, repairs, innovations and renovations including leaks in the roof of Hilltop Dining that were patched and that the roof will be replaced this coming summer; carpeting is being removed and replaced in all the Hilltop residence halls and elevators are getting repainted this summer; and there is a new website to report lighting issues on campus. Wiley noted that potholes cannot be fixed during the winter because uncured asphalt crumbles in low temperatures. She told the Senate that the circulating petition will not accomplish anything, arguing that it’s too expensive of an undertaking.
Representative board reports
Chair of the Sustainability and Environmental Actions Division (SEAD) Dalton Bouchles reported that SEAD held its first meeting of the year on Feb. 26.
Community association reports
Representative for the Student Heritage Alliance Council (SHAC) Max Zakian reported that the council is preparing for its Multicultural Mosaic event. They have solidified catering and music, he said, and the event will be held on March 29 from 6-9 p.m. in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union. SHAC is also planning an International Bazaar event for the week after Diversity Week during which foods will be sold from all of SHAC’s representative committees.
The International Student Association reported that it is assembling a second annual “Oronoca” event for the coming months.
New business
$2,000 was allocated to the UMaine chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for a trip to Tucson, Arizona for the AIAA Design, Build and Fly Competition. $1,300 was allocated to the Caribbean Club for their Carnival Madness event. $3,000 was allocated to the Orono Student Nurses Association for a hotel and registration fees at the National Student Nurses Association Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. $8,000 was allocated to UMaine Cheering for registration, hotel and airfare to the National Cheerleaders Association Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. $2,543 was allocated to the UMaine chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for a hotel and registration fees for the AICHE Regional Conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from March 29-31.
The Senate voted to change standing rules, requiring that all new senators attend training before being sworn in.
