The Student Union Senate convened on Sunday evening for the first meeting of the semester. No club business was on the docket, making for a short session.

Two members of the Executive Board were present at the meeting: Director of Academic Involvement and Communications Jacob Edelman ’18 and Student Union President David Herbstritt ’17.

In his remarks to the Senate, Edelman emphasized a Union-wide move toward transparency and better communications with the student body.

Other branches of the Union “don’t have quite as open a set-up [as the Senate],” said Edelman in a follow-up interview with the Justice.

Though the Executive Board, Judiciary, Treasury and other branches of the Student Union meet regularly, only the Senate meetings are regularly publicized, he said.

He highlighted a need to “keep the student body more informed … to keep sort of a back-and-forth line of communication about the events we put on, initiatives that are happening.”

Edelman also urged senators to send in their office hours so that public calendars can be made available.

The Dining Committee celebrated Dunkin’ Donuts’ move to Upper Usdan and noted plans to talk with Sodexo staff in their weekly meeting. With Dunkin Donuts’ newfound presence in Upper Usdan, there is now an empty space in the Village.

Committee Chair Kate Kesselman ’19 said that she will talk with Sodexo about what would be the best way to utilize the open space, adding that she will likely ask students about what they want there.

The committee will also discuss gluten-free options at Sub Connection and the inclusion of salad as a meal swipe option, she said.

Various senators brought up plans for more shuttles in the vein of the Thanksgiving break Turkey Shuttles, which brought students to Penn Station and Boston Logan Airport.

The Senate then shifted into an executive session. During the executive session, the senators re-elected Hannah Brown ’19 to the executive senator position, which she also held last semester.

Brown praised the Union for funding extra shuttles to Boston for the Women’s March, given the high demand for the event.

Senators also discussed initiatives to make cleaning supplies available to students, in addition to various proposals to renovate community spaces around campus.

The Community, Emergency and Enhancement Fund also came up in this discussion. According to the Student Union website, CEEF “serves as a source of emergency funding for student life on campus” and “provides funding for student-led initiatives that enhance the Brandeis community.”

The deadline for CEEF grant applications was recently extended to Feb. 17 from the original deadline of Jan. 20. According to the Union website, the CEEF Board, which reviews applications, is made up of Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees Wil Jones ’18, Class of 2019 Senator Kate Kesselman, Allocations Board member Alex Mitchell ’17 and Class of 2020 Senator Tal Richtman.

The first round of Student Union spring elections will take place on Feb. 1. Up for election are the senator at-large seat, Ridgewood Quad seat, Ziv Quad seat, Midyear seat, Charles River/567 seat and four seats on the Allocations Board.

—Peri Meyers