Student Government leaders are looking to usher new members into a more professional Student Senate.

A bill to create an oath for inauguration of new members to draw attention to the responsibilities of their office was tabled last Wednesday.

“(The oath is a way) to make (inauguration) more of a formal event to hold senators more accountable for what they’re doing,” said Cole Rogers, chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee.

Induction should be more than announcing a name, clapping and taking a seat on Senate, Rogers said.

Ryan Berger, speaker of the Senate, said adding the oath would help members realize the importance and responsibility of holding a position.

“(Senate needs to) step up the bar about seriousness and the image we have of each other and on campus,” Berger said.

Senate also tabled a suggestion to create an annual tradition of tree-planting on campus.

“(Planting trees is) a great way to give back and (create a) lasting impression,” said Lauren Kluge, chairman of the University Development and Recycling Committee.

Locations for the tree will be explored by the committee but will ultimately be determined by the Senate as a whole, Kluge said.

Approximately $150 has been reserved in next year’s Student Government budget for the event, but because the planting is still on a trial basis, Kluge said details will be worked out by the committee this semester.

Kluge said if the bill passes, she anticipates the event will be a “fun, annual tradition with fewer rules than other things (Senate does).”

Student Senate will meet 7 p.m. tonight in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr University Union.