The Student Senate approved two new RSOs during their meeting Wednesday night: a cappella ensemble and a chapter of the American Society for Engineering Education.

 Blue Fusion, the ensemble, will travel to Illinois State University to compete in the semi-finals next month and last semester were chosen recently to compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

The ASEE formed in unison with the recent addition of the applied engineering degree that was approved earlier this month at the board of trustees meeting. 

Current Speaker of the Senate Madison Veatch, junior political science major, said she observed several committees last semester that had programming that fell through.

As speaker, Veatch wants all of the committees and senators to follow through with plans from start to finish. 

Veatch said events like Thank-A-Professor and Crammin’ with Cookies, both hosted by the Committee of Academic Affairs, had good turnouts and hopes other groups will learn from them. 

Veatch said she is grateful to former Speaker of the Senate Karolina Guzek, a senior political science major, who helped the Senate retain and increase its member count. 

Justin Richards, the business affairs committee’s graduate advisor, shared that this semester’s retention and recruitment of senators is outstanding compared to years’ past. 

With the Senate having members, Executive Vice President August Biernbaum, a senior political science major, said the student action team had worked on election outreach and helping students register to vote. 

Biernbaum said in addition to their local work, the team has been in contact with the Illinois Board of Higher Education regarding bills and laws to help improve campus. 

Biernbaum said the work may not be the most front-facing, but they are in negotiations with the Illinois Department of Transportation for how to best service EIU students with a $90,000 transportation grant Coles County just received. 

Through all, Biernbaum said people should band together to push for important legislation. 

“The strongest messages are spoken together,” Biernbaum said. 

Last spring, the Distinguished Faculty Awards were delivered via email and were not as celebrated as Student Body President Nihdi Patel would have liked.

Patel said she felt it was a disservice to Eastern’s faculty. 

The Senate is hoping to have a public ceremony where they present physical awards to the honored faculty.

Patel is considering having a crystal apple be the prize.

Veronica Gipson can be reached at dennewsdesk@gmail.com or at 581-2812.