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Student Senate Subcommittees
Subcommittees are the workhorses of Student
Senate. The small size of subcommittees allows work to be
done quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Questions can
be referred to subcommittees from Senate, questions and proposals
can be brought to Senate by subcommittees, and subcommittees
can take action on topics Senate has assigned them authority
over. Appointees to Senate subcommittees serve as full members
of their respective subcommittees. Generally two to three
non-Senate students are appointed to each subcommittee, in
addition to the several senators. The Chair of the subcommittee
decides what non-senators will be full members of the subcommittee
with voting privileges. Appointees, like senators, are expected
to attend all scheduled meetings. Any member of a Senate committee
may also be assigned to a subcommittee as well. Subcommittee
chairs should conduct regular meetings of the subcommittee
and give regular reports to the Student Senate. Any subcommittee
proposal must be presented to and voted on by the full membership
of the Student Senate.
Residential
Life Subcommittee
The Residential Life Committee works with the
Associate Dean of Students and each hall council vice president,
all of whom serve as members of the committee. The committee
focuses on concerns of residence hall policies and procedures,
roomdraw policies and procedures, and any other campus policies
and procedures that affect residential life. Students interested
in working with the Dean of Students office and issues that
affect residence life on campus should consider serving on
the Residential Life Committee. Any Student Senate member
may chair the committee, but the SGA President usually fulfills
this role. This is the largest of the Student Senate committees,
and will require between one and two hours of time per week.
Student
Rights Subcommittee
The Student Rights Committee acts as an advisory
body to the Student Senate in the consideration of general
college policies and actions of student concern. The committee
also investigates any issues or concerns that directly affect
the rights of students. Divided into several task forces,
each made up of different members and chaired by a different
member of the Student Senate, the Student Rights Committee
deals with issues ranging from library fines, discipline issues,
and car policy to Senate elections, alcohol policy, and registration.
Time commitments vary from task force to task force, but generally
run around one hour per week.
Previous Task Forces from committee: Alcohol, Car Policy,
Registration, others as deemed necessary.
Election
Commission
The election commission is to oversee the spring
elections held every year. This commission is responsible
for publicity, ballots, application information, and dispute
settlement for the elections. Please see bylaws for more complete
description of duties.
Multicultural
Concerns Subcommittee
The Multicultural Concerns Committee addresses
issues that affect multicultural students on campus and the
attitudes of the community relating to multicultural students.
The committee also serves as the advisory body to the Student
Senate in consideration of similar issues. Students interested
in working with St. Olaf’s multicultural students and
the Multicultural Student Services Office should consider
serving on the Multicultural Concerns Committee. The Multicultural
Student Senator serves as chair of the committee. Time commitments
will vary from week to week.
Physical
and Safety Concerns Subcommittee
The Physical and Safety Concerns Committee
deals with any issues that directly affect the safety of students
on campus. In the past, the committee has dealt with issues
such as lighting on campus and the safety transport program.
Any member of the Student Senate may chair the Physical and
Safety Concerns Committee. Time commitments will vary from
week to week.
Good
Times Subcommittee
The Good Times Committee is responsible for
the brainstorming and planning of social events both on and
off-campus for the St. Olaf Student Senate, to ensure that
every senator’s experience is as fun as possible. The
committee will work with the SGA Vice President in developing
ideas for theme nights in Senate. The committee will serve
as the initial sounding board for the development of senate
wear, theme nights, intramural broomball, and a variety of
social outings. Any Student Senate member may chair the committee.
This committee was formed by the 1997-98 Student Senate, and
is expected to require a time commitment of around one hour
per week. This subcommittee does not fulfill the requirement
that each senator serve on one subcommittee.
Bylaws
Revision Subcommittee
This committee is required to meet every three
years to review the Student Government Association’s
Bylaws. This committee is expected to obtain an extensive
knowledge of the St. Olaf SGA Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy
Manual and know how all three documents work together to outline
the working of SGA. This committee work will be relatively
intense, bringing bylaw change recommendations to Senate and
Constitutional amendments to the student body. The work could
range up to 1-2 hours per week depending on the changes being
discussed and comprehensiveness of the review.
Talkback
Thursday Subcommittee
This is a newly formed committee (2003-2004)
whose main purpose is to properly address the issues raised
in the Talkback Thursday forum, or any other place general
student concerns are raised. The committee’s job consists
of funneling concerns to the proper Senate committee, subcommittee,
Dean, or other member of the St. Olaf community who can address
the concern. This process must be done in a timely manner,
so that an answer to all concerns can be written and posted
at a future (the sooner the better) Talkback Thursday and on
the SGA publicity board. If action is needed, it is then the
committee’s job to plan, execute, and report to Senate
what steps are being taken to resolve the concern.
Buntrock Subcommittee
The Buntrock committee deals with questions
concerning the Buntrock building including: food service,
use of space, and other various issues. This subcommittee
works closely with Tim Schroer, Director of Buntrock Commons.
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