Student Senate transfers leadership to close out the school year

Photo description: Student Senate President Julia Witt gives her farewell address before next year’s senate members are sworn in
Photo credit: Kayla Korb
Nora Betts
Sower Staff

Student Senate officers for the 2023-2024 school year were sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting after a farewell address from President Julia Witt that emphasized how the Senate has worked to be the student voice on campus.

In the fall, senior Aaron Fosse will be Senate president, junior Victoria Perry will be vice president, sophomore Emma VanTol will be secretary and senior Alec Johnston will return as treasurer.

Witt in her farewell address said that the Senate has worked with Chartwells, the Student Life Office, Buildings and Grounds and university administration to represent students.

“We have actually gotten our voices heard in a lot of different places,” said Witt. “We’ve started to kind of re-establish better connections with leadership.”

Witt commended Senate members for their involvement over the past year and encouraged them to continue working with the Senate.

“Graduating seniors: Thank you for what you have done in the past and blessings on your next adventure,” Witt said. “Everyone who is returning: keep doing what you’re doing.”

Witt concluded her address and her presidency by joking, “Thank you for not impeaching me.”

Student Activities Fair

Rebekah Freed, Director of Student Development in the Student Life Office, discussed the possibility of relocating the Student Activities Fair for the upcoming fall semester. She noted that availability and weather are the biggest factors to consider in moving the location.

Senate members had suggested moving the Activities Fair out of the Cattle Conference Room to provide more space and allow club booths to be more interactive. Freed suggested that booths be spread out through the Cattle Conference Room and Janzow Campus Center, and out to the plaza, to provide extra space but allow connections to electricity if needed. She said the Student Life Office will continue to consider their options.

Freed also brought up the Senate’s suggestion for a second, spring-semester Student Activities Fair to reach students whose new schedules might allow them to participate in clubs. She suggested that, instead of a second Activities Fair, clubs set up booths in the dining hall during a designated period to reach prospective club members.

Freed said that the crowd appeal of a second Activities Fair would not be as strong as the traditional fall semester because it would seem like a “been-there-done-that” event.

“Another Activities Fair in and of itself would probably draw some of the 15 new people we have [joining in the spring semester],” said Freed. Instead, she said that clubs should find “different ways to highlight throughout the year,” such as booths in the dining hall and advertisements on social media.