Spring Break
Student Senate elects Speaker
By: Melissa Appel
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
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Loveless, whose senatorial experience included serving as Academic Affairs Chairman for the 61st Session, defeated fellow senator Jess Fields in a vote of 34-30, with one abstaining vote.
"I ran for Academic Affairs Chair because I wanted to give students a voice in representation, and that's why I ran for Speaker, regardless of the position," Loveless said.
The Wednesday night meeting was the first of the session, which is considered the most crucial of the term because elected leaders will set the tone for the entirety of the term. A total of seven chairmen were elected during the course of the evening.
"It is crucial that we pick the right person for the position of Speaker, because he/she is charged with the task of maintaining order among the body internally, while serving as the body's spokesperson externally," said junior political science major Kenneth Bell, Senator from the College of Liberal Arts. "I believe that Kolin was definitely the right choice for the position; he will do a fantastic job."
Off-campus Senator and previous External Affairs Chairwoman Michele Breaux was elected as Speaker Pro Tempore. The Speaker Pro Tempore deals heavily with internal affairs, but Breaux also stressed dissipating information to constituents through the Senate website.
"I want us to get moving forward and make sure the Senators can get that information [on the website] and make sure our constituents can get that information from us," Breaux said.
Mike Simmons, Senator in the College of Business caucus, was elected as rules and regulations chairman, and Matt Wey, Senator in the Off Campus caucus, was selected as academic affairs chairman. New Off-campus Senator Daniel Dick was elected as external affairs chairman.
The 62nd Session is comprised of two-thirds new senators, as elected in the spring 2009 elections. New senators quickly learned to take part in the debate and procedures of the Senate Wednesday night.
"I believe this meeting was very successful," said Eric Fitts, new senator in the Liberal Arts caucus and sophomore political science major. "I'm extremely excited and optimistic about the potential of the 62nd Senate."
Throughout the speeches and debate Wednesday, a central theme was encouraging and eliciting greater participation of the general student body in Student Government Association and Student Senate.
"We've got to get out more," Loveless said.
Students can increase their participation in Student Senate by consulting the Senate Web site at www.senate.tamu.edu. The Web site lists meeting agendas and profiles of the senators. Students can also contact their college or residency senator.
After electing the Senate officers, senators left the meeting with a sense of readiness for the upcoming term of legislation and action.
"This time, this Senate, we have no limitations," Breaux said. "This year, we are going to do this."
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