On Sunday, the Senate convened for its first meeting of the semester to review Student Union procedure and discuss a new push for bringing change and advocating for students in the Senate.

Student Union President Nyah Macklin ’16 told the senators that she hopes they generate “purposeful programming” in the coming semester with a goal of bettering the Brandeis community. 

“In previous years, we were the folks that dealt with clubs … there’s so much more we can do,” said Executive Senator David Herbstritt ’17, who also chaired the meeting. “The more we do, the better we do,” he added.

Due to the summer break, there was no communications, administrative or executive board business to attend to. 

Herbstritt reviewed the seven permanent Senate committees. Class of 2017 Senator Matt Smetana, who is the chair of the Senate Sustainability Committee, floated the idea of changing his committee name to the Brandeis Sustainability Committee, as it is commonly referred to by that name. 

Herbstritt asked whether the Brandeis Sustainability Committee was a separate entity run by the University at large and also promised to look into the question.

Herbstritt noted that the Senate plans to have a renewed focus on “productive and accountable office hours” and on informing students when they can meet with their senator during office hours. This will be done both online through social media and email, and through physical leaflets and pamphlets. Senators were encouraged to hold at least two to three office hours per week.

According to Herbstritt, student union elections are scheduled for Sept. 10, and all candidates are required to attend a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3. On Sept. 18, the full Student Union will meet and begin an orientation weekend. 

Previously, orientation took the form of a retreat, but this has been changed this year to put a renewed focus on productivity and learning Senate procedure.

Macklin then joined the group to discuss her intentions to move the Union away from “programming for the sake of programming.” 

She wants the Union to be more budget-conscious, due to heavy student club spending last year, which will result in fewer funds rolling over to this year. Macklin also plans to streamline communication between Union branches to build “a more united Union” and encouraged Senators to talk to administrators on behalf of their initiatives.

Herbstritt and Macklin then clarified for the senators that initiatives are self-directed projects which look into an issue that an existing Senate committee does not already address. 

Class of 2018 Senator Skye Golann ’18 then informed the Senators that he has been working with Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan to improve transportation to “off-campus activities.” 

This will include BranVans to Walgreens and Dartmouth Street every 10 to 15 minutes. 

Golann and Callahan are currently deciding on phrasing for an email to be sent out to the student body soon, Golann said.

Future meetings will be held in the Multi-Purpose room on the Shapiro Campus Center’s second floor to give all attendees more space, according to Herbstritt. 

The Sunday meeting was reduced in size, as some senators have graduated and the Class of 2019 has not elected its own senators yet.

—Max Moran