On Sunday, the Senate met to recognize clubs and discuss a proposed amendment to its bylaws that would require the recording of all Senate votes.

Student Union President Nyah Macklin began the meeting by swearing in recently elected Rosenthal Quad Senator William Jones ’18.

The Senate then heard from two clubs seeking recognition and charter. Representatives from Behind the Scenes — a technical theater group — told the Senate that their goal for the club would be to allow theater “techies” to utilize a better training system and to “be part of a community.” After asking the representatives a few questions, the Senate began a private debate and voted unanimously in favor of recognizing the club. The representatives then asked the Senate for chartering, arguing that while they had some limited access to funds through the Undergraduate Theatre Collection, having a charter would allow them to bring theater professionals in for workshops. After a brief private debate and three abstentions, the Senate voted to charter to club.

Student representatives from Spoon University — an online food publication for students — then approached the Senate to ask for recognition and chartering. The students said they wanted to show students different ways to utilize food options on campus and locally.

One senator asked about the group’s link with the national Spoon University organization, and a representative answered that they have a close relation with the community advisor for the chapter but that that link is mostly for guidelines and stylistic streamlining. After a brief private debate, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of recognizing the club.

The students then asked the Senate for chartering, stating that the national organization requires its chapters to put on monthly events, and the University chapter would like to have money to purchase food and supplies for the events, in addition to funding for group bonding activities. The representatives also acknowledged that there was no penalty for not hosting events. After a lengthy private discussion, the Senate voted 8-8 with 3 abstentions, and the charter did not pass.

The Senate then moved on to executive officer reports. The senators briefly discussed an upcoming “storytelling” event for professors and senators, which would be taking place during the first week of November.

Macklin, filling in for Student Union Vice President Dennis Hermida-Gonzalez ’17, then gave an executive report, announcing the creation of a Student Union WBRS show on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.

Next, the Senate moved on to committee chair reports, and the Senate discussed ongoing issues and initiatives, including ensuring that all clubs have constitutions, improving campus awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Questioning equality and pronouns, issuing students University ID cards with their preferred name, reducing the University’s energy intake, inclusion of more options for meal swipes at the Stein, organizing the Turkey Shuttle and ensuring that all clubs have submitted the proper anti-hazing forms.

Senator at Large Lorenzo Finamore ’18 added that there are currently 92 clubs that have not submitted anti-hazing paperwork, including the Student Union. Executive Senator David Herbstritt ’17 noted that the large number of clubs that have failed to submit the paperwork was “indicative of a systemic problem that clubs don’t know they have to do this.”

After briefly mentioning that appointments to the Allocations Board and other positions would be completed in the following week, Herbstritt transitioned the meeting into a discussion of new business, specifically a new constitutional provision that would require the Senate to record its votes.

Class of 2018 Senator Skye Golann ’18 asked whether this provision would mandate the recording of votes. Herbstritt replied that the clerk of the senate would automatically record votes for, against or abstaining from legislation, but a senator could motion to not record the vote, and if that motion received enough votes in favor, then the vote would not be recorded.

Several senators argued against recorded votes — especially those that would be available to the public — stating that they would hinder efficiency and invite lobbying. Additionally, many senators worried that public voting records would negatively impact personal relationships with constituents. After a lengthy discussion, Herbstritt motioned to cap the discussion and continue it at a later time before the Senate moved into executive session.

—Abby Patkin