The Associated Students Senate presented Stuart L. Farber with a resolution renaming the AS Senate Chambers in his honor.
ASI Executive Director Richard Haller read the signed resolution, which recognized Farber’s contributions to the university. The resolution recognized Farber’s accomplishments in “academics, sports, his professional career and community acclaim.”
Farber, who served as the dean of students, a professor of Health Science and Human Resources Management, assistant vice president of student services as well as many other positions on campus, accepted the document and told the senators that the oath of office they take is the single most important document to rely on.
He read from the oath taken by senators, commenting on each line. He finished his speech with a comment on the last line of the oath, “that all of the students are properly served.”
“You’re their leaders,” Farber said. “You are the leaders elected to serve them. You come from the colleges, you come from the clubs and organizations. And in the spring, when things get hectic, keep that thought in mind. All the students should be properly served.”
In addition, the Senate discussed the need for senators for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Jeanne Cavaness said she would like the Senate to pick and prioritize issues, from an exercise on campus problems, to follow up on so it can impact the campus.
“It’s probably likely that you’re not going to be able to do seven, eight, nine initiatives, but if you have two and you accomplish it this year, you’re going to touch so many lives,” she said.
Senators also received a document that provides general information about becoming a senator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The college currently has no representatives in the Senate.
“The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has now gone almost an entire semester without representation,” Haller said, encouraging the senators to recruit students. “The college should not be going without representation so long. [No] college should.”
Sen. Ashley Crowder of the College of Business Administration reported that she met with members of the campus administration to put doors back on the stalls to the men’s restrooms in the College of Business Administration building. Crowder’s announcement prompted input from Sen. Justin Todoroff of the College of Health and Human Services, Sen. Christopher Chavez, of the College of Liberal Arts and Holler on the need for privacy when using the restroom.
The Senate debated the need for a meeting the week of Thanksgiving. Todoroff, who served as chair pro-temp for most of the meeting, said Vice President Okahana plans to hold a meeting the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving. Several senators voiced objections, noting that there is no school that Wednesday. In response to these comments, Sen. Shelena McClinton of the College of Liberal Arts said the issue will be the top priority at the next meeting of the committee for rules and ethics.
Chavez said he did not understand the opposition to having a meeting that day, saying that is part of the job. Todoroff agreed with Chavez, saying that the senators made the obligation to be at the meetings every Wednesday when they took the oath of office. Sen. Austin Meiners of the College of the Arts suggested having the meeting earlier that week in order to fulfill the obligation to the students.
