Two years ago was the last time a Student Senate forum was set up for students to voice their opinions to the members of the senate.

The senate will bring back the forum titled “What’s Your Beef?” at 6:30 p.m. today in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The senate’s regular meeting will be conducted after the forum.

“I think it is going to be great,” said Ryan Kerch, student vice president for student affairs. “We had one when I was a freshman that made me want to get more involved in student government in the first place. Our top priority is to get ourselves out there.”

Kerch said students who show up would get something out of the experience.

Student Body President Levi Bulgar said he likes the opportunity to have the meeting in a more open location.

He referred to the Board of Trustees that has its meetings in the Grand Ballroom and how cookies and drinks are usually provided at its meetings.

“Student Senate hopes to make this a tradition,” Bulgar said. “Maybe we could have one or two meetings a semester and move to other locations around campus.”

Whether or not students will stay after the forum has ended is still up in the air.

“If we have two to three people show up who normally wouldn’t, I think it will still be a success,” Bulgar said.

Kerch said it would be hard to tell if people would stay for the actual meeting because a lot of people have busy schedules, but he thinks people will most likely stay for the first part.

Student Senate member Zachary Doiron said he hopes students would stay after for the actual senate meeting, but said the majority of people are going to split after the forum part because they have other things to do.

“I’m hoping they will want to stay, though,” Doiron said.

Doiron said everywhere he goes he sees flyers for the event.

“The free food will hopefully bring out the students,” he said. “I think it is a good idea and a good way for Student Senate to reach out to the students. Plus, we are here to serve the student body.

Justin Barrett, the chair of the diversity affairs committee for the senate, would like to see students stay for the actual meeting and come to the forum.

“This is ultimately what we need to be doing,” Barrett said.

Panther Catering will provide cookies and juice for the event.

“It will just be a few small snacks, though, not a banquet or anything,” Bulgar said.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.