Marquette Student Government senators want a student representative on the university’s presidential search committee.
The Senate unanimously approved a recommendation last Thursday calling on the board of trustees to include a student voice. The legislation was authored by MUSG President Meghan Ladwig and Executive Vice President Joey Ciccone.
Ladwig, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said student listening sessions offered by the board of trustees and its presidential search committee have proven their efforts to attain student input. Allowing one undergraduate student to participate on the committee would be the best way to continue these efforts, she said.
“This is an important time for the student voice to be heard,” Ladwig said. “We acknowledge that the student groups have been heard, but we feel a student needs to be in those rooms and meetings as a part of the discussion.”
Ladwig said it has not yet been determined how the student representative would be chosen.
Chris Miller, vice president for student affairs, said he has no indication from the board of trustees that they plan to change the committee structure.
“Due to the nature of the selection process for the president, it would become problematic in the event that the board is expanded,” Miller said.
Sodexo
Following an April forum with administrators and Sodexo officials regarding food service, MUSG senators said some questions were met with vague responses. The Senate unanimously passed a recommendation, calling on the Office of Administration to respond to student queries they said are still unanswered.
The questions relate to the funds collected from meal plans, where the money is distributed, food quality, and how the Office of Administration plans to use the data from student satisfaction surveys in decision-making regarding its dining services vendor.
“We appreciate Sodexo coming in to hear student perspectives, but the students are still unsatisfied,” said Senator Bill Doerrer, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and one of the recommendation’s sponsors. “Today we’re in a position that we feel that our questions were not answered. We feel it is their duty to answer those questions in a more direct manner.”
Election dates
Students will vote for MUSG residential senators at the same time as Residence Hall Association representatives starting in the fall. That will push MUSG elections ahead one week, to be held the third week of the fall semester. Supporters say it will improve the efficiency of the electoral process.
Senator John Heflin, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, spoke in favor of the amendment.
“Having experience on hall council, I think this will make it a lot easier for all e-board members of hall council because they will get to know the residential senate members at the same time,” he said. “This will allow for smoother transitions.”
