Elie Wiesel said he has spent his entire adult life fighting indifference. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and author of 57 books gave a speech on Sunday that centered on the topic and how people should avoid it.
Thousands of students could be locked into paying for health insurance that they do not want unless they waive out of the University’s mandatory health insurance program today. This oversight could cost each student who already has insurance and does not want the plan $361.50 per semester.
Although she was the lone contender in the race for speaker of Student Congress, sophomore Deanna Santoro is anything but isolated.And in her first full meeting as speaker of the 92nd session of Student Congress, Santoro said she will strive to make student government’s legislative branch more inclusive and transparent.
During Student Congress’ full- body meeting Monday night, members voted for a bill that will shorten the student election season from 28 days to 21 days. The bill, which was introduced by Student Body President Jasmin Jones, is designed to cut down on voter fatigue and reduce campaign costs.
Student Congress committees met Tuesday and discussed reforming elections and approving executive branch nominations.Student body electionsThe rules and judiciary committee voted 4-2 to report favorably a bill that would decrease the length of the election season from 28 days to 21 days.
Student Congress took another step toward making runoff elections a thing of the past Tuesday night.Members passed a bill that could allow students to rank candidates for student body president by preference and eliminate runoffs for the position.
Student Congress committees debated several bills Tuesday that could affect how student groups obtain money in the future.These bills will be voted on at next week’s full-body Congress meeting.Some of the bills are intended to correct the current problems with the budgetary process.
Student groups are asking for more money from the University as outside funding is drying up because of the economy.The Student Congress finance committee will begin its review of funding for student groups today, cutting an average of two-thirds of each group’s requests to fit this year’s budget.
Forty-one new members of Student Congress were elected to serve in the 2010-11 legislative branch of student government on Tuesday night.Congress allocates money through an annual budget process and throughout the year during the subsequent appropriations process. Congress allocated about $364,000 during the 2009-10 annual budget.
Student fees could climb higher if voters approve three new referendums in Tuesday’s elections. The proposals, which would increase the student organizations, legal services and security fees, would raise each student’s fees by about $6. Student Congress voted to place the referendums on the ballot during its full meeting Tuesday night.
