To listen to Megan Ogulnick’s thoughts on her newfound responsibilities and her future goals, click here.

Nine senators will be appointed as committee chairpersons during today’s Student Government meeting. In between candidate interviews, newly elected Speaker of the Senate Megan Ogulnick sat down with The Daily Eastern News to discuss her thoughts on each committee’s work last semester.

Committee minutes were not available to interpret, but Ogulnick called numerous members who served on the committees in order to ask further questions. She also released the five available folders created by former chairpersons to enhance communication during the turnover.

The five committees that organized information for new members were the Academic Affairs, Diversity Affairs, External Relations, Internal Affairs and Shuttle Bus.

Here’s a breakdown of the bylaws of each committee, as well as Ogulnick’s take on the strengths and weaknesses of each committee from last semester.

Academic Affairs:

Bylaws read: “Shall investigate areas where students’ academic interests are concerned. Shall report to the Senate any matters of academic nature. Shall send at least one representative from the committee to Faculty Senate meetings and CAA meetings.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: The committee developed more ideas for the Student Interaction program.

Weakness: It demonstrated poor communication between committee chair and vice president of Academic Affairs.

The turnover folder consisted of a large packet of documents and e-mails pertaining to the Biology Graduate Assistant teaching situation. However, this information was not referenced when Biology professor Bud Fischer and annually contracted faculty spoke at a senate meeting during the fall semester.

The committee also referenced to its work on the collegiate readership program and how it would allow newspapers to be placed in all buildings and not only in residence halls.

External Relations:

Bylaws read: “This committee shall.Establish and promote productive discourse between the citizens of Charleston, the Charleston City Council, the Mayor of Charleston, other non-University affiliated groups, the entire university community, and other groups who interact frequently with university students.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: Appointing Eric Wilber as Eastern’s student representative on the city council increased communication between the city and student government.

Weakness: Few new ideas were developed and old issues kept arising without effective resolutions.

Documents within the turnover folder referenced a project to improve city safety by increasing overall city lighting and visibility of traffic signals. There was also reference of a plan to help the Charleston post office host a passport fair. The plan is labeled “dead” do to a change in passport laws.

Senator Jeff Melanson’s Suicide Awareness Initiative Committee was labeled as “in progress.” State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, confirmed that Melanson and others from Eastern had a meeting with him last semester to discuss potential legislation. Rose ordered a legislative research request pertaining to all current state resources for suicide prevention. He said the results have arrived and he has been waiting for the new semester to begin so that student representatives are back in the area.

Diversity Affairs:

Bylaws read: “Shall be committed to addressing the needs of the students as it relates to diversity in regards to education and programs. Shall sponsor, support, and/or promote programs which build individual awareness, interaction, and understanding of diversity issues among students, administration, faculty, and staff.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: New diversity activities within the senate were created. The committee also attempted to aid Student Activities in creating new diversity programs.

Weakness: No diversity forums were conducted for the students.

The diversity activities were documented within the turnover folder and the plan consisted of making senators attend campus functions that were considered culturally diverse.

“We did a good job in addressing diversity requirements for senators, but I think we can do more with it by having the senators work more with the students in promoting campus diversity instead of simply meeting a senate requirement,” Ogulnick said.

Internal Affairs:

Bylaws read, “Shall ensure that all Senators are performing their required two office hours per week. Shall notify Student Senators in writing informing them of the total number of absences they have accumulated immediately after they miss an office hour, committee meeting, senate meeting, or absences of any nature that may be counted toward their limit of three absences.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: Creating new ideas such as Pizza with President Perry.

Weakness: It needed better organization in documenting senator absences and logging their office hours.

Tuition and Fee Review:

Bylaws read: “Shall serve as an advisory committee to the President on tuition increases. Shall review information provided by the University’s Budget Director on the funding status of general areas such as salaries, the library, equipment, and deferred maintenance, as well as a projection of the University’s needs based upon the Higher Education Price Index, and recommend an appropriate increase.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: They successfully distributed and collected surveys regarding students’ understanding of tuition on fees.

Weakness: The committee chair was switched during the semester and the committee was not represented in the Council of Chairs meetings.

Shuttle Bus Advisory:

Bylaws read: “Must vote on any proposed changes to the Shuttle Bus service. A change will be instituted upon a majority vote of the committee members present. Shall be responsible for promoting the shuttle bus.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: The committee successfully developed and distributed new handouts and flyers with bus schedules.

Weakness: The information needed to be dispersed in additional areas that would allow more students to become informed.

Student Relations:

Bylaws read: “Shall be responsible for conducting Student Government surveys that the senate recommends. Shall publish to all Colleges of the University, Recognized Student Organizations, and Residence Halls, a complete list of names and districts (if applicable) of each Senator, Executive Officer, and Supreme Court Justice. The Student Relations Committee will be responsible for a Grievance Program.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: The committee conducted a student technology forum.

Weakness: They only held two events and senate publicity could have been stronger.

University Development and Recycling:

Bylaws read: “Shall work in conjunction with the University Recycling Department to maintain and promote the campus wide recycling program. Shall work to properly educate students about campus recycling and direct efforts towards change when necessary. Shall at least once a semester conduct an investigation of lighting and safety issues on and near campus.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: They were able to get Allan Rathe, Eastern recycling coordinator, to attend a senate meeting and give a presentation. Creating the Trashformers competition was a successful way of encouraging recycling on campus.

Weakness: Motivation was an issue and they did not reach their goal of getting proper recycling program in University Court.

Housing

Bylaws read: “Shall study and report to the Senate on all campus housing matters. Shall send representatives to the Residence Hall Association. Shall study and report on all off-campus housing matters as per the following: Each fall semester, plan a housing fair to be conducted in November informing all students of off-campus housing information. Maintain the Landlord Registration Program. Update and publish the Off-Campus Housing Handbook every fall semester.”

Ogulnick’s take

Strength: Conducted the housing fair.

Weakness: There was poor organization and planning of the house fair and there was not enough communication with local landlords. They did not serve as a liaison between student government and RHA and there was no communication between the organizations.

Fact box:

ON THE AGENDA

-The approval of Kyle Collum as a voting member on the Apportionment Board to replace Keith Darby, who resigned because of time conflicts and an intention to become more involved with student government.

However, AB Chairwoman Leah Pietraszewski said another voting member has resigned because of a time conflict. She is re-meeting with other applicants to fill the second vacant seat.

-Also, a presentation of a bill to fund Bill Nye the Science Guy for a lecture on campus will be presented. Ogulnick said this bill will probably be tabled for one week in order to allow students and senators to discuss the information before it is voted on.

Rick Kambic can be contact at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.