The Notre Dame student senate met Wednesday and voted to suspend a vacancy election and fix a naming mistake. The meeting also entertained future proposals to amend the constitution and discussed the future of the senate in light of the end of the fall semester.
Student body president Dawson Kiser began the meeting in prayer before secretary Eileen Berger began roll call. After attendance was taken, Miller confirmed that there were no executive announcements and that proceedings could begin immediately.
First on the general orders agenda was an order to suspend an election to fill a vacancy on the First Year Class Council (FYCC). This order is based on Article XIII, Section 2(a) of the undergraduate constitution, which requires that after an elected position becomes vacant an election must be held within the next two weeks. The constitution further states that in “Cases of elections where there is one candidate/ticket running unopposed the Judicial Council may recommend that the Student Senate suspend the election and the candidate/ticket shall be declared the winner.”
The vacancy in question was for Carroll Hall’s FYCC representative. As the sole candidate, freshman Michael McDonald will fill the position.
“The aforementioned election be suspended and the aforementioned candidate be declared the winner of his First-Year Class Council vacancy election,” student union parliamentarian Thomas Musgrave wrote. The order was passed without questioning, debate or opposition.
Next, the senate moved to pass another unanimous resolution to fix an oversight in an order from the last meeting. This order clarifies the names of student judicial bodies. The order amended the wording of Article XII, Section 2(a10) in the constitution to say “Student Union Ethics Council” instead of “Student Union Ethics Commission.”
There were multiple proposals placed in “new business” for the future, but they were not discussed during the meeting. The proposals included clarifying the role of the Club Coordination Council and creating a Committee on Historical Oversight.
To close the meeting, sophomore class president Aleah Applin announced a few upcoming campus events. Adopt-a-Family Initiative gift wrapping is on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Stepan Center and the Harmonia concert is Friday at 7 p.m. in Washington Hall.
The meeting was adjourned after approximately 10 minutes and student body vice president Maeve Miller reminded senators that next week is the last meeting before the end of the semester.
