The Student Senate discussed various topics including the resignation of a senate member, the addition of new registered student organizations and upcoming events Wednesday night at their Student Senate meeting.

Jack Cruikshank, the former business affairs committee chair, announced his resignation Wednesday evening in an email.

“I believe it is my only option to resign from the Senate, effective immediately,” Cruikshank said.

In his email, Cruikshank explained to the members of student government why he is unhappy with the Senate and the reason he has decided to leave.

“Since I started as a senator this semester, I have been fed up with the office hours requirement,” Cruikshank said. “To the extent of my not doing them because of my belief that other tasks, such as homework, were more deserving of my time than sitting in the Student Activities Center doing nothing for two hours per week.”

Ceci Brinker, the adviser for student government and JaLisa Smith, the internal affairs committee chair, talked to the senators about their roles in the Senate.

Brinker said she was disturbed by the context of the email.

“There really isn’t an excuse for not being productive with your office hours,” Brinker said.

Brinker said she believes it is sad when people leave an organization and they blame the organization for them not having an impact.

“You guys are doing a good job,” Smith said. “Do not let his email get you all down.”

Along with the resignation, the additions of two organizations were discussed.

Students who are from India proposed to add a Cricket team as an RSO.

Cricket is a sport that is similar to baseball and it has two teams of 11 players.

It was proposed that this new sports club be adapted because the international students from India want to be able to participate in different types of sports.

There are 150 Indian students who are in favor of having the cricket club, and 60 American students who are interested as well.

Ivan Soria, the vice president for Alpha Psi Lambda, talked about getting his organization to be an RSO as well.

Soria attended the meeting and said he hopes the Senate will approve the fraternity.

Alpha Psi Lambda is the first and largest Latino fraternity.

They are the first fraternity on campus to target Latinos but anyone can join, Soria said.

Soria said there are currently 12 members of the organization, which exceeds the 10-member requirement when starting a colony of Alpha Psi Lambda.

The Cricket Club and Alpha Psi Lambda could not be approved as RSOs because the Senate did not meet quorum.

Executive members and committee chairs also gave their reports during the meeting.

Shirmeen Ahmad, the student body president, gave her executive report.

Ahmad said the Senate hopes to have at least 1,000 student vote in the current student government elections.

Links for students to vote have been sent to each student’s panthermail.

Ahmad said next week unofficial results will be sent out, and April 6th will be the release date for the official results.

Ahmad also announced a Take Back The Night event, which will be on April 13 and is a walk to bring awareness to sexual assaults that occur on college campuses.

Take Back The Night will be partnering with the It’s On Us Campaign this year.

After the walk there will be a Survivor’s Slam, which is a spoken word event for sexual assault survivors to tell their stories.

Courtney Sage, the student vice president of student affairs, gave her executive announcements as well.

Sage said the current budget for student government is $5,842.52 and reminded senators about Panther Service Day.

Service day will be April 23 from 10:45 a.m. until 3 p.m.

There will be various sites for students and organization to volunteer at.

Torri Griffith can be reached at 581-2812 or tlgriffith@eiu.edu