Two resolutions are up for vote at tonight’s Student Senate meeting, one of which is intended to survey students in the effort to better serve those with disabilities.

The purpose of the survey will be to gather input leading to a more inclusive representation of the student body.

Last Wednesday, the resolution was met with opposition from senators who suggested rewording or omitting some of the questions on the survey. Consulting the psychology department to produce an effective survey was also expressed as a condition prior to circulation.

The Student Senate will also vote on a proposal to purchase 11 Visa gift cards in the amount of $5 each, as an incentive for those who log the most office hours. The proposal received unanimous support from the senate.

“It’s basically to reward senators who devote the most time for Student Government’s sake,” said Kendall Jackson, chair of the internal affairs committee. “It will hopefully promote healthy competition.”

A resolution will be introduced concerning Student Senate support for an open forum on the mandatory senior seminar course.

Over the past few weeks, Jennifer Prillaman, chair of the academic affairs committee, has been working on a survey that she hopes will generate student feedback on the effectiveness of the seminar.

“It’s a pertinent topic,” Prillaman said. “As a requirement at Eastern, it’s a capstone course that’s supposed to challenge students to use all the knowledge they’ve gained over the past four years, but a lot of feedback from the faculty and students consider it as busy work not challenging at all.”

Prillaman worries that students choose courses based on simplicity and would like to see the requirement tailored to specific majors.

“I think that theoretically, it’s a really good idea, but it could be better and more interesting, so it’s not just viewed as a waste of time.”

The senior seminar forum is expected to be held in early November.

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7942 and elwhelan@eiu.edu